The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1882-08-10
A BRAVE DEED.

Ada Carfit was decidedly the belle of
Scarborough; and as that small but
bustling Midland town had a reputation
among its neighbors for lovely lasses,
the distinction was great one. In fig
ure, the girl was somewhat small and
slight; but in feature she had attained
almost to perfection, both of outline and
of tint. She had lofty. well-propor-
toned brow. around which rippled rich
waves of auburn hair. She had eyes
Of dreamy blue, cheeks just sufficiently
tinged with delicate carmine to throw
into relief the pearly whiteness of her
teeth. The worst of it was, she knew
that she was beautiful, and the knowl-
edge spoiled her.
Ada was the only child of wealthy
Scarborough manufacturer, and added
to her other charms that of being a very
considerable heiress. Naturally She had
of suitors not few. But Ladies Clara
We're de We're can exist in much lower
circles than that of the poets faulty
heroine, and Ada Carfit had caught the
vice of a proud coquetry. She relished
her power over susceptible hearts, and
did her best to extend it. The breath
of homage was q life to her. She led
her wooers gently on till the tolls were
all around them. and then, of sudden,
they found an impalpable, impossible
barrier erected, and Ada's smiles were
for newer comeEs. It was an amuse-
ment, half the zest of being. to her; she
never wasted an anxious thought on
what 1t might mean to her victims.
Men were strong, and must protect
themselves.
The last to enter the charmed circle
had been youth from the North, who
in appearance and manners was certain
ly at disadvantage with those whom
he quickly came to consider his rivals
Roger Herlestone was stwo-and-twenty;
but his thick-set, burly figure. and his
abundance of beard, made him look
years older. He was heavy in feature,
uncertain In movement, and awkward
in address. AS the nephew of Mr..
Marston, of Marston & Marsh, cotton
mill owners. his prospects were very
good. But the knowledge of this fact
somehow failed to give him the needed
self-confidence.
Rogers many blunders made him to
% A"A 70 CAbOAO tAO UuSt oA AHtlc uC-
quaintance, and 1t was probably this
that caused Ada Carfit. out of sheer op-
position, to treat him with marked favor.
Philip Dare. the lawyer. had likened
Rogers to the proverbial "bull in a
china shop" and Philip Dare should be
made to bite his lip with vexation at
her Difference to the despised one. But
once again she was kind only to be
cruel.
II cannot tell whether she cares for
me, Or whether she does not" said
Roger Herlestone to his younger brother,
Martin. Sometimes think one thing,
and sometimes another. But this /
am sure Of, she Is all the world to me-"
'Then I'd ask her, old fellow"
"But-but-she has always so many
round her. Ada Carfit Is the queen of
@ large circle, and L"
Have been the best Of sons. the best
of brothers, and have no doubt, would
make the best of husbands"
"And l." said Roger, resuming slow
ly, and paying no heed to this enthus-
iastic praise, "am rough and homely
man. who has almost as good right to
dream of becoming Prime Minister as OF
winning such a wife"
Nonsense, Roger! Don't be so un-
necessarily modest. You are just as good
as she, and the girl must know it."
Then" and the elders tone changed
suddenly. ''rll put it to the test and
see. If Ada refuses me, it will be just
another dream dispelled, and l shall
face the worst"
The opportunity soon came. The two
were thrown much together at sum-
mer picnic party, and some malign
genius made Ada more than ever gra-
cious. 1t seemed to her that she had
succeeded in thawing the ice of her ad-
mirer's awkwardness, and the studied
compliments he paid her awoke the
CLEAN of sunny, satisfied smile. She
little suspected the commotion that was
working beneath the surface. They had
wandered out of sight and hearing of
the rest, on pretence of examining some
curiously shaped rocks
''How still the air Is, under the SUM-"
said Ada, stopping at low fence that
crossed the hillside. For O moment her
companion did not answer, and she cast
a casual glance upwards at his face
What Ada saw there made her start and
slightly shiver.
"Yes," he said, with n hoarse and
mighty effort, ''this is Just the turn of
the seasons, and this hush is frequent
and very suggestive then. You and l
have come to d turning-point, too, Miss
Cartit, and must break the stiffness by
. very important question. Can you
not guess what that is-the story have
TO tell, Miss Carfit-Ada9"
mo, no. We had better return, !
think. We shall be lost, Mr.. Herle-
stone"
Ada was keeping her conlposure Won
derfully, and she hoped that by this
coldly spoken hint the confession she
feared might be ayerted. She did not
know the speaker.
Wait an instant, Ada. Roger cried,
abandoning the last shelter Of reserve;
II have this to tell that you arc more to
me than any one else in the wide world
can ever be. love you. Ada-surely
you must have OWNED it! Can you love
me back again, however littleP Will you
some day be my wifep'
His words were coming swiftly enough
now, and his beseeching eyes, emphas-
lied their truth. The man was trans
formed, and faint response of admira-
ratl0n was raised IN the R1rlS heart.
But he was-could be-no more than
others she had rejected. This triumph
she was used to, and gloried in; thou gh
usually she had been better ON her guard,
and had stopped the deluded one before
this stage was reached.
II am sorry, Mr.. Herlestone, you have
said such things" she replied; Il
thought you were above romance. That
is partly why Itrusted you. You seemed
$3.50 sensible"
at must surely be q sign Of that &c
admire and to love-"
pray don't, Mr.. Herlestone. It Il
all a mistake, assure you"
IA mistake that you can ever care
for me7''
Eyes, certainly"
There was levity about the sssur.
ance that stung the young man we'll
nigh into madnesa- He had beard