The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1882-08-15
Then he seemed to dive down and dis.
appear upOn the sloping road.

must not give wav to these foolish
Thoughts. know l am stupid girl,
overwhelmed by the prospect of nv
own happiness; and yet, do all l can, l
cannot tear this presentimeut from my
heart. Heigho!" she sighed, Il hope
the three davs will pass quickly
Well might Nelly Z ,veton be assured
Of her happiness and drive from her all
Thoughts of gloom and sorrow.
She and Frank Eversleigh had been
engaged for nearly two years with The
full consent OF Col. L,veton, Nelly's ia
.ther
Frank, who was an orp' an, was conf
dental clerk in the clearinghouse of Sir
John Craddock & COMPANY, and was a.
ready promised junior partnership for
his z'al and ability.
Nelly could have married richer man
had she chosen, for Caleb Alder, the sec.
ond partner in the bank, had on more
than one occasion cast bis heart and his
fortune at her feet; but apar, from h l
love for Frank she enterta ned feeling
akin to loaihing for the sallow-taced,
thin, evil-eyed man Of fifty.
Everything was now prepared
Frank hsd bought and furnished 8
house in one OF the pret,iest of the L n
don suburbs; presents bad already been
made nv the Colonel and by Sir John
Craddock; and after the quiet wedding
at the Deepsea Church the happy pair
were going off to the Lakes for their
honeymoon.
Nothing seemed more improbable
nav, even more impossible than the &c.
currence Of anyth. .ng to spoil the pretty
plot which all parties had planned for
their mutual happiness.
And yet, as Nelly went on up the lane
leading to Laurel Cottage, her pleasant
and ru tic b me over which the dusky
twilight was now settling, she could not,
strive as she would, drive from her the
presentiment that the serenity and calm
would pass away. and that some storm
coming from she knew not where, would
hurst suddenly and dissipate this frs,
love-dream of her life.
Meanwhile Frank Eversleigh passed
on TO the little house where he had tenn
porary apartments, some half mile
from the sea in the village OF Camerton.
His thoughts we're of far different
nature.
Across the brightness OF his path no
shadow seemed I, fall.
Confident in the future, in the knowl.
edge of his integrity in the love of Nell
", in his own earnest devotion TO her.
he could boldly face life and see no cloud
on the horizon
There was sharp turn in the road
just before you reached the village; and
here you had to pass through an avenue
of over-arcbing trees which even in the
daytime cast dep shadows on the
ground.
Now, in the rapidly deepening dusk!-
ness of approaching night the gloom
and was preparing to Cross the meadow
to his temporary home, be started at the
form of man who had been approach
ing and whom he had not seen ia the
darkness.
"Uue moment" sail the stranger ~
want word with you, Mr. Flank Ever
Sleigh"
Why did Franks heart sink
Had the cloud come suddenly2
"Ce'tainly," he said, "tbo ugh have
not the plea,ure OF your acquaintance
I am going across the meadow to the
cottage yonder Will you accompany
me2"
"Y,s," said the man, "I will walk with
YOU but won't come into the house.
Wait till we are out in the light"
In moment more they were over the
s,ile and in the meadow and there Frank
paused TO glance at he speaker.
Even in the dim ard uncertain light be
could see what his unexpected compan.
ion was like-s man about thirty, ,hough
looking Older, perhaps, a man with face
bloated and mi shapen through dissipa-
ton, with ill-dtting and ragged clothes
and an unpleasant slnuching walk.
He seemed to become instantly impa-
tient because Frank did not speak, AMI
said in jetky, sullen voice:
Don't you know me2 Have four
years 80 altered me that you don't recog.
nize your brother Dick ?"
"Good heavens! Has it come to this,
Richard ?" cried Frank in husky voice.
Il thought"
The man Interrupted him with laugh.
"Ha" he cried, ''you thought / was
in Australia; you thought that YOU had
seen the last of me; that poor Dick, who
was never petted up as you were, and so
created scandal in the old village, had
set bis foot un foreign shore never TO
return. But YOU were wrong. YOU see
I've been in England long time, though
| never troubled you; but now that you
are in fine position. going to he mar
ried and he partner in the firm, and all
that, | thought it but right that you
should give me helping hand. If you
do. I'll 60 back across the seas and you
shall never hear of me again.
They had reached the wicket gate OF
the cottage now.
"Will you come in, D'ck," said Frank
family.
"No; we'll take q few turns up and
down the 6eld,' said Richard Eversleieh,
the me black sheep of the fnck, the man
who had cast the only stain upon q no.
BILE and honored name. II know you
don't want me there, ! should only dis.
grace you; and I've no wish to do that
though | don't say what Id do il you
turned round on me What / want is
money; | don't think there's any one
else in the wide world but you, Frank
that would give me sixpence; and so,ou,
Of your plenty. ! ask llttle."
They had reached the stile again now
and against 1t, in the bright moonlight
they leaned. =.
IL am very sorry for you, Dick" saiG
Frank; "tell NE how much it is yor
want"
"Well," returned Richard Eyersleigt
thoughtfully. "let me see-there are Ger
tain debts must pay before leave En-
gland. Debts of honor, you know. Anc
there-well. thousand pounds will Dc
nicely; not fraction duder."
IA thousand pounds, Dck!' cried
Frank IN a voice Of dismay; "why
haven't got two hundred left in the bank