The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1882-03-23
WHOM DID SHE LOVE?

Do ] love him?n said Alexia GRAY,
mcditatively lifting her blue eyes up to
where the conVolvulus leaves made zig
gag lines of golden green against the
midsummer sky. '1ndeed, Madge,
don't know whether do or not?''
''You - don't - know?'' repeated
Madge Fielding, with a face of grave
apprehension.
''How is one to tell?'' said Alexia,
wrinkling her pretty forehead. 'sAnd,
besides, you ought not to take one so by
surprise. | know like him dreadfully
and I'm almost certain that l love
him-a littlen'
''ln that case" said Madge, severe
young mentor of nineteen, ''why are
you encouraging Mr. Haynes?''
''Im not encouraging himn' said
AleXia with the prettiest and most in
fantine innocence. Il only gave him
some Marechal Mel roses, and told him
how gratifed / should be if he would
write in my album. He's genius,
you know, and has published book of
poetry. Besides, like Mr.. Haynes ever
SO much, and I am not by any means
certain that he is not my chief favoriten
''And how about Paul Revere?" re-
lenflessly persisted Miss Fielding.
There it is again." said Alexia
"When I get to bothering my brain
about it, | think that l prefer Paul. He's
so animated, you know, and so anus
ing. One never gets stupid in his So
Ciety-"
''AleXia, hold your tongue!'' cried
out Madge in frenzy of Indignation
How dare you talk in that ridiculous
manner? Don't you know that you are
the most unprincipled little coquette
that ever ilirted fan?''
~ cried AleNia, coloring to the
roots Of the soft little fringe of golden
brown hair that mantled her forehead.
''1es, you. Here you have acknowl-
edged, with your own lips, that YOU are
amusing yourself with three gentlemen
at once, each of whom is deal too GOOD
for you, with no intention whatever be-
yond the passing amusement of the
1T isn't truer' exclaimed Alexia,
stamping her foot on the ground, and
looking very much like a human hum
n ing-bird in a passion. ''And l won't
stand here and listen to your wicked,
cruel words, Margaret Ficlding'' d,
Madge stood out there among the tall
white lilies and crimson-crested sweet
williams, after Alexia had disappeared
behind the convolvulus vine, and frown-
ed intently at the distant church spire.
Poor Ralph!" she said to herself.
''He has given his life's happiness into
whether she has heart OF not.''
So she went back to Major Charters
and told him what she had learned. For
Madge was the Major friend, confdante,
and cousin, who had been brought up at
his side, and believed in him with staunch
and loving loyalty.
Forget her, Ralph" said this sage
adviser. "Who would value the atlec-
tion of n girl who don't know whether
she loves you or not? You are one of
three among whom she finds it impossi-
bic to deciden'
Major Charters looked gravely at
Madge. Dark, tall, and handsome, he
seemed Il prince among men.
''But you do not know how dear she
is to me, Madge," he said quietly.
The girl shrugged her shoulders i'm
patiently.
There is only one thing in the world
more incomprehensible than man."
said she, "and that is a woman. Where
is your pride, Ralph? Do you intend to
allow yourself to be made plaything of
in this sort of way?''
"a plaything off, he repeated slowly,
"No, certainly not. You are msappre-
hending the drift of my remarks. If she
so much enjoys the society of Mr.. Hay
nes and Mr.. Revere, l will not interfere
with it. 1t is, perhaps, better that |
should withdraw from the field at once" "
Madgc clapped her hands approvingly:
Il admire your spirit, Ralph" said
she. ''Alexia is darling, but she has
no business to play at battledore and
shuttlecock with mems hearts"
Major Ralph Charters had been very
happy in the old stone house on the hill,
until Alexia Gray tluttered, like a bright
living butterfly, into the sweet serenb
quietude OF his horizon, and first touch
ed the hidden chord of love i'll his heart.
''It is impossible" he said to himself.
Here have | lived thirty years without
ever finding woman's smiles necessary
to my happiness, and is my whole
scheme OF happiness to be thus upset in
a second?'
Love, like any other disease, goes
hard with those who are no longer
young-and Major Charters found HIM
self hopeless captive to pretty AleXia's
charms before he quite realized it. But
he had goodly heritage of pride to fall
back upon, and when he heard, in
Madge's words, that he was zone of the
three" he quietly decided to withdraw
from the lists.
MY wife must be very certain that
she loves ms,' he said, land me alone"
A week passed away-tWO weeks
and Alexia Gray began to be dimly cOn=
sciOus of something wanting in the
completeness of her life.
Things seem awfully dull,' said she
to herself, supporting her round chin in
both her hands as she leaned out of the
window and pensively watched the reds
and violets of the sunset. That Haynes
is d tiresOme sentimentalist, and Inever
want to see him again. Only to think
of his bringing his tedious book of poe
try here and boring me with it for two
mortal hours! And Paul Revere is the
most flippant man l ever knew. How
man can 90 giggling through life like
that, | am sure | don't know. | would
as soon be circus-clown and done with
it. l wonder why Major Charters never
oh, there comes Madge Fielding
now. l am SO gladr'
And Alexia ran, laughing and dimp-
ling, to meet Madge's advancing foot
steps.
Il have only come to say good-by,"
said Madge, 1--WE are going abroad
next week. Papa, and Ralph Charters
and Ir'
Going abroad! The roses faded out
of Alexia's cheeks, a sudden startled
light came into her eyes. ''And-and