The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1883-01-11
MARRIED AFTER ALL.


Ethel and are cousins, and both or
phans; but, as is frequently the case
with daughters of one race" we are
as unlike as we well can be, for while
she is decidedly ''fair in the face" she
is an heiress as well. AS to disposition,
there we differ, too; for, while l am
full of spirits and have an opinion of
my own which is frequently asserted,
she is yielding, gentle-amiability it.
self.
will relate a little incident. Once
we were invited to visit together an old
uncle who had lived in solitary bachel-
orhood up to the advanced age of eighty
years.
Joan, what would you do with mon
ey if it were left to youP' he asked me
one day.
why, spend it, of courser Ireplied,
without hesitation.
Now, nothing had been further from
my thoughts than disrespect; but that
answer certainly cost me the fortune
which only six months later came to
Ethel.
That happened two years ago, and
since then Ethel has had and refused
five offers of marriage, although she has
but just passed her eighteenth birthday.
l am twenty, and have had as yet not
one single proposal.
''You are too sarcastic, JOAN" Ethel
says. Gentlemen do not like critical
young ladies'
"Then they should not lay themselves
open to criticism" l reply promptly.
ut isn't that, cousin mine; it's because
I'm plain, and beside you | look even
palmer still.'
Ethel smiles a little consciously as she
says:
Now, Joan, you know you're talk
ing nonsense. Only the other day Hart
Holman told me he thought your eyes
were glorious.
''Oh, Hart Holman-he doesn't
countn l say lightly.
Ethel shakes her yellow ringlets at
me.
You are incorrigible, Joanr' Then
her face suddenly grows sober. ''Cous-
in," she says, Il want to ask you
something. How do you like Mr.. De-
Vere?''
mot one bitr' 1 answer concisely.
''But why?" she asks. 'Surely you
and entertaining.
Just as open my lips to reply an ell
egant equipage draws up at the gate,
and the veritable individual under dis
cussion alights. He has come to take
my cousin for ride.
watch them drive off with sensa-
ton of discomfort strong in my mind.
Not because | am jealous of her supe-
rior attractiveness-a thousand times
no! love my cousin and am prouder
of her beauty than she is herself! but
because something tells me that of all
her admirers Ethel likes him the best,
and that he is not the true good man to
whose keeping she could resign her
sweet self and be sure of the happiness
her tender loving heart deserves.
Seeking Auntie | pour out my trouble
into her sympathizing ear.
Don't worry, Joan dear" she says
reassuringly; ''for you know that you
are both my wards, and neither of you
can marry without my sanction before
YOU are twenty-one. Three years is a
good while If Mr.. DeVere is what you
think him, Ethel will surely find it out
before that time"
am comforted, for although she does
not say so, can see that auntie shares
my views, and that Mr.. Raoul DeVere
has found no more favor with her than
with me.
A month rolls by. During that time
something happens, something surpris-
ing-l have proposal.
Il love YOU, JOAN" Hart Holman
says. ''You have never given me the
have been very cruel oftentimes; but,
nevertheless, love you and have loved
you ever since I first knew you"
That's impossible" say, for |
was an infant in arms. Auntie has oft
en- told me what friends our mothers
were, and how frequently they used to
visit each other and compare their ba-
bies.'
But he disregards my flippancy.
Don't try to evade an answer, Jo-
an" he SAYS. Il love You dearly-do
you not like me the least bit?''
His tone is so earnest, that as l look
up into his frank wistful blue eyes, l
cannot help but feel thrill of compunc-
ton for all my unkindness, past and
present After all, it is not unpleasant
to be loved so truly even if one cannot
return it.
Certainly | like you," I hasten to
say. Haven't we always been friends,
almost as near as any brother and sister
could be?''
His frank face clouds.
That's the trouble" he exclaims.
'Joan, don't want you to think of me
as brother, am not your brother, and
some day l want to be something
else"
rise.
81 wish you would not tease me,
surely you know it; but please stop
talking of love-"
Dignity is becoming to Hart; as he
draws himself up with an offended ex-
preston, the thought strikes me for the
first time how very (not handsome
Mr.. DeVere with his swapping black
eyes and his insinuating smile is that)
fine-looking Hart is. But do not tell
him what is in my mind. and we part
not to meet again for some time.
That is how l receive and answer my
first proposal.
Poor Joan, you have succeeded in
driving away your sole admirer," Ethel
says banteringly, as after awhile she
notices Hart's unusual absence. ''Hart
has certainly become discouraged and
transferred his attentions elsewhere. :"
.:And welcome" l reply lightly, but
mendaciously. for, truth to tell, find
as the days 60 by that l miss his quiet,
unobtrusive presence more than could
think possible.
Mr.. DeVere continues his attention to
my cousin, Notwithstanding auntie
frowns upon him most decidedly.
He has not lived long in this vicinity,
and while here his conduct has been ir-
reproachable, but of late vague rumors
Ln,..a nnhnl Inn. aarS Of a in