The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1882-10-12

CORTLAND stood by the piano, and every one
was begging her to sing.
"My music has gone to be bound" she said,
"and / can not sing without it."
Her uncle would not accept this refusal,
and produced a portfolio OF old mus!s.
His niece selected a duet for soprano and
tenor, and said that she would sing II any one
would take the tenor; she stood with the
music in her hand, looking obviously at the
circle of men around her. Not one could sing.
Mrs. Delaney, my companion at the dinner
table, looked at me.
"Mr. Valentine sings, Helen. I an sure he
will be happy to sing with you"
Miss CORTLAND turned to me with a smile
that was positively bewildefing. "Win you
sing this duet with me, Mr.. YalentineFn
Mr.. CORTLAND flashed a furious glance at
niece" OF all my humiliations this stung me
the most. Mr.. CORTLAND, however seemed to
regret having shown so much feeling, for his
manner changed.
II hope you viii oblige us by singing, Mr..
Valentine" he said, stiffly.
OF course 1 sang, although l was tempted
to refuse and leave the house instead. How
could | refuse Miss Courtlanda Her voice was
exqufsite-sympatheiic. 1t made me feel as
though 1 could confde in her. What If l
should Yes, and be cut he next time we met.
1 felt painfully the chasm thai divided US,
gentle and cordial as she was, and left as soon
40 IL oOIS WAS ONCI. L IN UhCbLOl L
shall see her againa
FEBRUARY 13.-Ihaye been out several times
this week, and twice have met Miss Courtland.
Her uncle never goes out, and Mrs. Delaney
chaperons her. She always seems glad to see
me, and certainly has the most charming man.
ners. Never mind the fact of my being a
viii ed sepulchre. Let me enjoy the goods the
gods have sent me. That COMPOUNDED Morton!
he is always at Miss Courtland's elbow, and
when he succeeds in engaging her to dance
before l do, he looks at me with his insolent
smile.
FEBRUARY 15.-Morton's malice is unspeak-
able. Feeling convinced as l do that he sus-
pecis my secret, it is positive iortu~e to see him
talk to Miss Cour land as lie did Last night.
He evidently spoke of me, and she listened to
him, looking at me meanwhile with a surprised
expressions That man has me in his power.
FEBRUARY 20.-I feel that it is unprincipled
to send Miss CORTLAND flowers, for two reasons
first, because can not do it and pay my bills
as well; secondly, because it adds to my decep-
tion in making a friend of her, and yet / can
not resist the temptation to show her my ad-
miration. 7 t-au
FEBRUARY 2L.-Matters are coming 10 a
climax. Last night Miss CORTLAND said, with
a digniied sweetness that was irresistible:
"Mr. Valentine, l have noticed that you have
never been to see me. 1 have not asked you,
because | supposed you would feel at liberty
to come after having dined with my uncle"
81 assure you, Miss CORTLAND, I said, 81
should Of course have done so, but the truth
Il j udNC d d bllSub MISUNDERSTANDING II
your uncle, and l do not feel that l can go to
his b ,use."
OF course 1 added a lie to the rest of my
duplicity. Her face was lighted with a charm
ing smile. "ThatiS no reason for not coming:
you owe my uncle a call at all events. / will
be at home to-morrow-no, Thursday after
noon. Come in about five O'Clock, and l will
give you a cup of tea. My uncle is never at
in, never sees visitors. Even if you do meet
him, it will be a good opportunity to make
your peace with him."
In a kind of dream I recklessly consented.
Norton came pushing up at that moment.
"By the way, Miss CORTLAND" he said,
twill you be at home Thursday afternoon2
you" t
or course he had overheard me, and wished
to ~irritate me. fortunately some one spoke
to Miss CORTLAND at that moment, and she
turned away without having heard Morton
For once my anger famed out. Icaught him
by the arm, and held it like a wise. 80
''Be careful" I said, between my teeth.
This sort of thing may go too far"
He gave me a furious look, and shaking me
of, left The room.
FEBRUARY %, 2AM.-My brain is reelirg.
My world is upside down. There is no use
in trying to sleep. I will write down what has
happened. 1t may calm me. This evening
when l entered the house where 1 was to en-
terrain Others at the expense of my self-respect
l found l was before the. time. The rooms
were empty, with the excep ion of my hostess,
a very old lady, who held a formidable ear
trumpet in her hand. Preceding me down the
brightly lighted room was a gentleman.
There was something unpleasantly familiar in
the cut of his coat and the carriage of his
head. 1t was my evil genins, Morton. 1
made up my mind to wait until some one else
came, before going in. As Iistood in the
background this scene was enacted before me:
Morton bowed. The oldlady looked blanklY
Z" / I'm Mr.. Morton, madam" said he. 4
She Continued to stare at him, and then held
out her trumpet. Morton look 1t and repeated
his words into it's depths.
Horton 2' she said, interrogatively.
Morton" he called.
so, yes, Lawton-Mr. Lawton.n
"Mortonl'hh he fairly shouted f'I aaEl
over her face. .'Morton-Mr. Morton, from
the Globe office, Where's the othera There
were 10 have been two. Just take care of
yourself, please, for a moment. 1 have to go
and see about something"
She tottered out of the room, and Morton,
turning, confronted me. He saw that 1 had
overheard all. Before 1 could speak he came
toward me with an air of desperation.
For heavens sake don't betray me, Valen-
tine, now that you know my secret, ''Ihe ex-
claimed. 81 have felt from the first that you
suspected-that / was in your power. / throw
myself on your mercy. In your safe and pros
porous condition you don't know-you can't
know-what a %frightful position l am in"
My face must have chan ged in some ghast-
ly manner as he spoke, for he stopped and
looked at me with deepening Consideration.
what ISL? What's the matter?" he asked.
1 saw my mistake and tried to look uncon-
cerned, but at tnat moment the old lady came
back into the room. i -t.e -
80, there's the other,' she said, as she saw
me. II names Valentine, SO that's all
right"@ iL4
Several people came into the. room and she
went forward to greet them. Morton looked
at me in dazed silence for a minute; then he
seemed to master his establishment by q mighty
effort. =
80" he said, huskily,- 1--WE are quits. lam
in your power, but you are equally in mine,
Be careful how you interfere with E..."
We did not speak again together during the
evening. What is to be the end of thisa To.
morrow I goIo see Miss CORTLAND, and have
made up my mind TO C rnfess everything. Per-
haps she will think no worse of me. The queen
S i'll loved Ruy Bias after she found he was a
lackey. - z.t4rfT z
What nonsense am I dreaming off.
FEBRUARY 23.-The game is up. / went this
afternoon. to Mr.. Courtland's house, and found
Miss CORTLAND at home, alone. She was in a
d m little room, with the freight Pickering on
her beautiful face, She saw that was con-
strained and anxious, and at once asked me
the reason. Something in her kind manner
broke down my composure.
"Miss CORTLAND, y 1 said, show would you
feel IL l were to confess that I have been de-
ceiying you-that l am not what I seem to
be2" .ell!r.
aWhat do you meant" she asked, anx.
iously.
"TelI me %first,'' I said, shat whatever I tel
you, you will still be my friend, and will be
lieve mt when / say that / have not wished -tC
deceive you-that I have bitterly regretted it. .
She looked at ne with a frank smile. ".You
may depend upon me-" :
In a few words 1 told her everything from
that moment. She listened gravely; then she
turned to me again with a smile:
"You have told me nothing dishonorable
(aithough you can surely find something better
to do), and Twill still be your friend. I am
glad you told me, for Mr.. Morton said some
things about you last night that made mt
fear" I.s ;t,l .
This was too hard, and I interrupted her
"Morton! !" l said. morton is the last per
son to dare to say anything against mel
Here checked myself, but Miss Courtland's
curiosity was aroused.
"What do you mesnf' she asked.