The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1882-02-28

purest white, sat smiling amid throne
of May blossoms waiting t" be crown.
ed.
The Colonel, with crown Of flowers,
stood over her making some jest'ng
merry speech and the queens eyes were
smiling into his as fine young fellow
came up whose looks darkened as he no.
ted her rapt gaze aud the Colonel's ad.
miripg glances.
When Nav saw the new conner her
fair face flushed joyouslv and she held
out ber hands to him He would have
been less than human if, loving her as he
did, he could have resisted her overture
OF friendship. ~ ~ I0S
After this there was dancing under tne
MAY moon, and Frank forgot all jeal.
onsy as he claspei his girl-love 10 his
heart
"There is a wonderful witchery In {
waltz, Miss Woodville. Will you allow
an old friend to tempt you to trip
among these young folks ?"
"Im too old TO dance, Colonel" :"
Bah! as we'll say you are too old 10
smile. Come, dance with me for aulo
lang syne."
Janet yielded to his tone Of command
Whirling round, encircled by her old
lovers arms, Janet renewed her youth
and tue Colonel, seeing the calm heaven
of her eyes lifted by pleasure. stopped
his head ani pressed Kiss uron The
graceful head, saying:
"Janet, cannot you match me this in
memory 7"
Janel's thoughts hew hack through
the dull years to when she, in her golden
youth, bad fret learned 10 love this man,
and the most subtle lessons, perhaps, had
been given during such dances as this
Like all pleasant things, Mays birth
day came to a close, and she, tired out
ami heavy with the drowsy sleep Ct
youth, sank into dreams of lnve-rapture,
while her aunt tossed her graceful brown
head upon weary pIllow,and wondered
why her old sweetheart had broken
through the silence Of years. and hope
whispered that there might he as much
glow and gold at sunset as at its rising.
Week after week the Colonel fingered
at Woodvile Waste, as the old Tudor
mansion was called, because in building
it the last of the fortune OF q spendthrlft
head Of the house had been sqrander-
ed.
The squire was ela to keep 80 dis
linguished guest and saucy May found
him most sympathetic companion du-
ring the enforced ab .ence Of her adora-
BILE Frank.
Miss Woodvlle found this time one OF
trial and suffering 10 her faithful heart,
for since that night Of Mays birthday
her old lover had never b, word or deed
recalled their old friendship or sought
to reklndls the lovelight OF the past.
Poor Janet! she was q brave, good
woman, but now she seeDed to be loos.
ing courage. 1t was SO hard to see her
hero dancing attendance upon girl
Young enough to be her daughter Then
she liked Track srd felt sorry for him,
knowing his teslous and exscting love
for May.
month passed like this, and then
Frank, who was captain Of dragons,
got leave of absence and came down
10 Woodvlle to persuade the squire to
consent 10 his engagement with Nav,
consent which two years before bad been
withheld on the plea of Mays youth.
Frank. after the first day, found that
he could gain but little attention from
May, who was continually engaged with
the colonel With the hot-beadedness
of youth he jumped to the conclusion
that she bad changed to him. poured his
wrongs into the sympathetic ears OF
Janet. and won her to say she would
speak TO Nav about her uDkind conduct.
One night May. as usual attended by
the colonel, walked in the grounds, chat
ting merrily about many things, and
Frank came upon them in the moonlight
to hear the colonel say in an impassioned
tone:
Tell me, child, IL there is hope for
me. it is the one love Of my life. II it
fails, there is nothing left TO me worth
living for. Oh, child. you do not know
how s,rong men love!"
Frank, mad With jealous pain. strobe
awav with murder in his heart. He dared
not wait to hear more, his fate was set
tied beyond dispute, he thought. He
would give his false love her freedom
and exchange into a regiment ordered
to foreign service. Very bitter was his
resentment, for his had heen long and
faithful wooing, and he had been so sure
of bis prize. How long be satin gloomy
thought upon the hank of the river he
never knew. Presently tall, slim shape
glided out of The shadow and stood be-
side him with shy, sweet eyes scanning
his white, set face inquiriugly.
Frank, are you vexed with ne about
anything, desrP"
"Vexed were too gentle term, you
cruel, false woman How dared you
treat a mans loyal love 90 contemptu
ously7 If you had no love for me.why
did You let me come down here to make
an exhibition of myself TO please YOU
vanity? You are worthless, hesrtiess
firt, and I should thank Heaven fo
opening my eyes to your true nature be-
fore 1t was too late. ! 60 from here 70
night with the heaviest heart man eve
carried, and leave you free for highe
game than poor captain With little be
si,le lis pay. Don't touch nee, or ! sha
kill YOU. Misery has driven me mad
would rather see you lying beneath th'
quiet water OF. the river there, than know
you for the deceitful, ambitious creature
you are ] am grsteful I have sens
enough left to dispise you"
Mays face changed terribly as b;
spoke and her eyes grew stormy as sh'
answered him hotly, defending hersel
with 80 much spirit that Frank confes
se,l he had "never heard so musical Y
discord, such sweet thunder" as tina
which poured SO eloquently from be
vivid lips Her. versions OF the affai
/ seemed to satisfy him. for, with new
born fondness. he qrieted her rage an
hushad her on 9 heart that was her
alone, confessing as he did 40 that ''h
fancied he had found vixen
!. Meanwhile the colonel had gone bac
to The house, and stood watching Jan.
, as she sat In 9 doye.c olored satin dres
: thai chung to the lines Of her ptatt,
graceful shape Her face was turpe
from him. and her eyes followed th
words Of song she was singing wit