The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1882-11-09
DID HE LOVE HER.

GeOr@ette was born with q silver
spoon i'll her mouth; indeed, if | mis-
take not, it was q gold spoon, richly en-
crusted with Jewels, and bearing in its
bowl y monstrous lump of good for
tune.
In the first place, she was one of the
lovliest girls | ever saw, both in soul
and body. Her beauty was of dark
magnificent type, which suggested to
me the diminutive name of jet" by
which | ALWAYS called her.
She was barely twenty, and heiress-
it fairly takes my breath away to write
it-heireSS to sixty thousand pounds,
left her by her uncle, Il German of high
rank, but singularly destitute of kim
dred
Georgette's mother had been an
American girl who had met young Ru-
dOIph Schubert during a summer tour
in the Rhineland.
They had married against the wishes
of Rudolph's family. who were shocked
ut what they regarded rs Il nlesdtLid7lce.
II was only after the lapse of years,
when Death seemed striving to exter-
inmate the Schuberts, that the old Herr
Uncle, rs he was called, opened his
heart to the orphan child of his dead
brother.
Georgette had been born in the United
States, and she was an American to the
hearts core. l remember having
thought-that afternoon when we sat
out on the lawn together under the pink
aWning-that there wasn't the slightest
trace Of her fathers nationality about
her.
She was sitting in camp-chair with
:: bit of delicate embroidery in her
hands. There was table near by on
which ''high tea'' was to be served when
Ralph bearing and his mother arrived.
jet had invited them; but l should have
known they were coming if she had not
told me, for when did her eyes ever
shine SO brightly, or when were her
checks so rich q crimson, as when this
pcnniless barrister was near at hand?
Yes, Georgotte was in love with him;
| saw it very plainly, and it made me
Ralph bearing, it wouldn't have both
cred me an instant. But, though it
seemed most unlikely that he should not
love her, was haunted by u mortal fear
that her money had something to do
with his devotion.
Loving jet, as only solitary old
maid knows how to love, it was torture
to me to think of my darling as the VIC
tim to the grovelling passion of mer-
cenary man. l had never limited to her
the drift of my thoughts, but l had
made up my mind to do SO, and tried
it that afternoon. Jet opened the way
for me just as though she had known
what meant to say.
emily" she said, ''what would you
say if | were to get married?"
God bless YOU" answered prompt
Iy; ''that is, of course, provided the
match was all that it should be-"
'What-whatdo you-think of Ralph
Dearing?n
She was bending low over her work,
but l saw that she was blushing.
Are you going to marry him, Jet?'
I asked quickly.
MOO that isl don't know. TO
tell the truth he hasn't asked me. But
| think he means to-
''Of course"
eff he were to, what would you do
about it?''
| looked up in surprise, for | knew
that she loved him with her whole gen.
crous soul.
Il think | would try to find out his
motive | said bluntly.
lie lovesme-- ut least he has told me
So" she answered softly. ''And-and l
think | can trust him!'
He told YOU he loved YOU, and vet
went no further!' l cried. That was
unmanly, Jet l hope you did not listen
to him.
She blushcd still more deeply.
He would ask NE if he dared" she
said; defending him not only by words
but by expression. ''But he-he thinks
I know he feels there is difference in
our positions ~
'Decidedly," l said laconically, for
what she had told me gave me a very
unfortunate impression.
He is very proud and sensitive"
she added, and would have said more.
but | took her hand and spoke to her
with great gravity.
jet | said tenderly. ''you know
that have no other wish than to see
you happy. Forgive me, then, if what
| say wounds you, but | cannot help
feeling that Ralph Dearing may have
thought quite as much of your fortune
as of yourself"
''Do you know" she said, with lit
tie catch in her breath, ''that has
troubled me, too. 1t would kill me if 1
were ever to find it out.''
NO" | answered; mot unless you
found it out too late to avert the con-
sequences"
s.But l could not give him up," she
cried. Il wish l were poor, then I
would know whether he loved me for
myself.
The tears started to her eyes, and her
red lips quivered.
"Hushr' 1 said warningly. "They
are coming-Mr. bearing and his
| mother, Jet"
She regained her compOsure in an in
| stant When she gave her hand to
| Ralph her face was wreathed in smiles.
He looked SO handsome that after
noon that l would have given anything
| to have been able to trust him.
Within the sound of his musical
voice some of my doubts did vanish,
and, knowing that he had to go away
on the morrow, had the grace to be-
guile his mother indoors, while he and
Jet went down to the lake after water
liles-at least that is what they said
they were going for.
Il can hardly realize that am going
away tomorrow" he said, with an aud
ible tremor in his voice. Il wish there
was no occasion for me to do so. l
suppose it's an old story to you, Miss
Teorgette, to hear a man say that he
would like to spend his life in your So
ciety?'
Il have heard it BEFORE" she said
slowly; ''but l have not believed it al
WAYS"