The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1881-04-28

NoOSe ~ Iva Ill " dI0
the only daughter of my dear brother. I
promised him on his death-bed to take
charge.of yous I~shayestried to do my
best"
4You have been commence,
my eyes filling with tears, and a pang Of
remorse shooting through my heart for
having said a word or committed an
act that could wound Aunt Deborah's
gentle spirit.
But Aunt Deborah interrupts me.
81 don't need any thanks - she ex-
claims; ST have only done my duty.
Answer me one question, and this pain
full subject shall be dropped. Do you
love anyone else? Are .you fonder of
any one than you are of Jack?'
My color mounts to my forehead.
"No," I reply.
My aunt rises, and putting her arms
about my neck, kisses me ~affectionately.
s'Thank Heaven for that, my DEAR"
she.says with much emotion"
And so the conversation ends.
Aunt Deborah's house is situated on
the parade OF Ramsgate. have lived
with her for more than seyen years, and
she has proved a mother to me in every
way. / have to-day, for the first time
in my life, told her a deliberate false
hood. I do love some n better than
Cousin Jack. This afternoon I mean to
meet him on the beach. He has asked
me to be his wife, and 1 have all but
consented. Ours have been clandestine
meetings. To own the truth, I spoke to
him without a formal introduction.
One, afternoon, when was alone upon
the sands; he made ansexeuse for speak
ing to me. He warned me of the in
coming tide, sayingshe feared I might be
surrounded. Since then our meetings
have been frequent; since then my feel
mgsfors Cousin Jack have grown colder
and colder.
It is afternoon, the afternoon of the
same day on which I have told Aunt
Deborah the deliberate falsehood as to
my affections, my newly-found lover is
at my side, my handsome g~ay-hearted
Arthur. Soon, I trust, the day may
| come when Ishal be his wife; when I
shall bear the name of Stanford.
Itell him about my aunt's lecture.
"An this kind of thing" he says,
t'must be put stop to, my little Jane,
as soon as possible. Don't you think it
far better that it should be so?"
Chow can it be put o stop to? I ask.
s'sThere is bat onerway, The answers,
''apd to that I hardly dare hope yon will
consent"
..TelLme what it is, = say.
"For us to elope,. Jane"
The color mounts to my cheeks, and
my breath comes quickly.
"Jane, my darling Jane" he murmurs,
twill you fySwith me to-night?"
Before we have separated I have con-
sented to his proposal.
The wind is blowing briskly as he
wishes me an reuoir.
I am just going to have a sail in my
f~avorite little skiff-a farewell SAIL" he
says; 'tand then I must return to my
hotel and make all necessary prepare
tions."
"Its blowing so strongly" I answer;
"and I'm always afraid of some accident
when you go sailing in that slender
craft"
"Never fear,p he responds gaily, "1
can swim amileor two if need be; there's
no danger ofmy coming to grief. Fare
well until tonight; tonight, darling
and then we shall meet to part no more"
Ii. He, grasps my hand, oh, SO warmly,
and then he leaves me. watch his re.
treating figure as he makes his way to
wards that portion of the beach where
he hires his sailing skiff.
Presently I see him on the bosom o
the sea; the white sail set, andsthe LITTLE
skif lying oyer on her sideZso far ovel
that / expect to see her capsize momen
tarily.
Farther and farther out to sea he sails
away in the afternoon sun, my lover, TO
whose safety tremble.
The wind freshens every moment.
Others eyes, as well as mines, are di
rected towards the bold young English
man who ventures to ride SO daringl
upon the treacherous ocean.
A cry goes up from those assemblies
on the beach, q cry in which my voic
joins, for the white sail of my lover
boat is seen to dip into the water, 10 Ii
upon the bosomof the sea; the frail Graf
has been.taxed too heavily, and in an
other moment it has capsized.
AS that wall of agony escapes my lip
a hand is laid upon my shoulder, .ashan,
that is ever ready in the hour of DANCE
Cousin Jacks hand. s.
"Don't give way" he exclaims, "i
Heaven grants me strength I will say
himlnp : An% Re- II.
And then 1 see Jack Randall plung
into the sea. and strike out to the rescue
A minute later I fall senseless anon
the pebbles.
When consciousness return, I fin
3 myself in bed. -Myfrst inquiry is:
"Have they saved him?"
"You must not attempt to talk at pre-
entsdear, y answers Aunt Deborah, VIII
is watching by me.
sBut Imust know" I cry excitedly
~endeavoring to rise.
At this moment the doctor appear
upon the scene. r
st must and wiU know If he
saved" T shouted frantically.
J; Gone moment, my dear, one MI
ment," says the doctor kindly, "and 70
shall have all you require->hear all 70
wish to hear"
Then a few hurriedly whispered wort
are exchanged between Aunt Debora
and him, and she hastily leaves til
room.
''You have been very Ill, my dear,
says the doctor, taking my hand; 'bl
! I'm thankful to say, if you will onl
! keep quite calm and quiet, you will 500
be perfectly well. You have been in be
ten days, You know"
''Ten days." I exclaim with extren
establishment. It doesn't seem ten hou,
to me. But" flying off to the old topic
! 81 must and will know where he is-h
Arthur Stanford, whom I leve."v
3 I broke down in a wall of agony. !
, ""Oh, don't hide anything from me
+ ! sob. 81 am prepared to hear the wors
I expect to hear the worst; only be Ca
8 did with me, and I will do anything yc
9 please"
. The doctor puts his finger on n
9 pulse.
d "You know, my dear, that acciden
will happen to the best of u.s."
o HE is dead," I cried; 81 know I
t your face that he is dead"
4 As the words pass my lips the do
q opens, and Aunt Deborah re-enters fl
lowed by Cousin Jack.
= SO Jusin Jack " cry. holding ont n