Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1882-02-23
AL0VER's TREAOHERY.

all it, pleasures, all its pains. my head
dropping lower and lower on my han Is
as | leaned ont on the easement, seeing
only in vision twilights such as this
seeing. for a moment, u amoonit path,
bright handsome face, and my own
heart.
How happy was then. If life could
have gone on forever as it was then
If my own heart, my own conscience,
did not cry aloud in its agony over
what came after. | would try to bear up
until God called me home.
was engaged 10 Harry Farnesworth.
He was handsome, witty. and admired
by all. And loved him well. As for
me, / was fair, with Il beautiful face
and golden hair.
Don't smile. dear reader; the fair
round face and golden hair have long
since vanished, and may speak Of it
now without vanity.
We were to he married in the fall,
and never was girl so happy rs /.
The birds were twiltering in the
branches one morning rs he came in
and drew me toward him.
"Annie," lie said, the girls are going
on an excursion to the woods in The
morning, and want us to 60. Are you
willing"
ooh, to be sure" cried delighted.
"Well. them" he said, ''litlle one.
will be here early, so prepare to start
at eight"
So it was concluded we should 60.
The next morning comes bright and
fair. 1t seemed as though the sun new
er shone SO bright, the birds never war;
bled so sweetly, as on that day when l
threw open my shutters and looked out
on the country with its fields of grain
and tasselled corn.
/ hurried downstairs. happy with the
thoughts of the day, and prepared 10
get ready to start.
l can see myself now, as I stood.
dressed in my white muslin, with lilac
ribbon in my hair and at my throat, and
my gypsy hat coquettishly hanging over
my arm.
All, me! I'm an old woman now, and
when t ese things have all vanished, it
won't seem like vanity to tell you that
. of all the maidens | should meet that
day, knew would be fairest. Women
know these things. if they do not tell.
l heard the latch of the gate lifted, and
sprang to meet Harry, but stranger
voice than his spoke to me.
Waiting for Harry, Anniep He can {
come; business will keep him away to-
day."
Can't comer' answered. stepping
back pace. and angtred. "How do
you know. George Seamorrp'
But he took my hand very gently.
YOU'RE disappointed, Annie" he
said, and looked sad ut me. Il know,
because l met him down the roai. He
told ME, and thought YOU might be
waiting, and would like to know"
''But why didn't he tell me?" I asked.
feeling the crimson tide surging to my
forehead, rs | thought of Harry having
SO little thought of me, and this fellow
knowing it. Did he think I'd get ready
for nothingP
"If you are disappointed, Annie,
60 with me; I'm gong alone, and
there's no girl round I'd rather have
with me-"
I looked up quick at him. He was
tall and fine looking. I was proud.
felt hurt and indignant at Harry. II
he thought was WAX in his hands he
was mistaken. would let him see that
| could get others if he would not come.
I took tine to think this, and gave him
my hand.
''Yes. I'll go with you, George. Why
notp''
And so we turned and walked down
the road until we met the rest of the
party.
How they stared at us. As for me, ]
was full of laugh and frolic. l felt sore
and sick at heart, and to stifie the
thoughts in my mind, l joked and
laughed rs had never done before.
All. it was sad, sad day to me,
with Harry's face coming to me which
ever way turned. and the worst was,
as the day wore on, George grew more
attentive.
I tried to keep it back; God knows
when | saw the look in his eyes that nc
woman can mistake. my heart flew as
1t were to Harry, as though to seek pro-
lection.
o, hadn't come, if | hadn't come
God knows what he said. | only re-
member looking up at him with wide,
frigh ened eyes, unable to move OIL
speak; twas after we had strolled and
sat down to rest apart from the others
indeed, they had all wandered off il
couples ~-and had grown tired for the
moment, as it were, of trying 10 keeE
the words from me that he had spoken
words SO tender, so passionate, so be-
reft of self-control, as to make me
tremble; words grander, more passion.
ate than even Harry had ever spoken
to me.
God help you, George Seamore! Goo
.tAxgive your weakness and my wicked
~ Is in going with you that day.
He did not have long to sin, for be-
fore I could open my lips to answer
him, heard q sudden jump and cry,
and Harry and George Seamore were
down, struggling liercely on the
ground.
I screamed. I Iwrung my hands. I was
down on my knees beside them, implor
ing them for my sake. tried with my
small strength to separate them, and a.
my eyes took in the savage, cruel de-
termination in the eyes so near eacl
other, and the tightening of the hands
around the throat, | grew faint, an aw
full blindness came over me, and
knew no more.