Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1883-06-14

me. Il ne mOOn tnOnt across tne organ
keys and across my face; and the trail
ing folds of my white dress looked al
most ghastly in its light. o quaint old
churchl o quaint old chimesi Too
soon / would be far away from you,
over the sea 70 my suitor's lordly home,
carrying with me heavier heart than my
years should warrant
But il was too late to look back; and
the fault was mine. / had ruined my
own life, and must pay the price. Be
cause had been forbidden the desire Of
mine eyes, hSd sealed my fate. l had
bound my hands, and had intoned Peebe
Cary's wailing words:
have turned from the good gifts Thy bounty
Because Of the one which Thy wisdom denied
me;
| have bandaged mine eyes-yea, mine own
hands have bound me;
I have made me darkness when light was
around me.
Now cry by the wayside. o Lord, that might
receive back my sight
'.Peccavi, | cried, and my head sank
upon the organ and tears stained the
red roses at my throat.
''Helenr' and my head was lifted
gently and Alan Leighton's tender eyes
met mine. "Alan" was all my aston
ishment could utter.
"My girl, You have suffered" j" he ejac-
ulated. in tone of exquisite tenderness.
.'Helen, my first and only love, how we
have been wronged. l only learned, an
hour before embarked, that you were
not the false woman you had been
painted to me. Mrs. Granger wrote me
eighteen months ago that you had mar
ried Mr.. Dacre, and left with him for
Cuba A subsequent letter, without
date or signature, inclosing the tiny
pearl pin | had given you, left me no
room for doubt. left England forever
and have been on the wing ever since,
finding no rest for my heart on sea or
shore. Helen, suffered as few men
suffer because of losing you, and be-
cause of your apparent falseness. But
| could not waste my whole life because
of woman's untruth, so l tied up the
broken threads and tried not to look
back. 1t was by chance l met Herman
Sloan, and in the midst of mutual conf
dences he asked me why l had never
returned to America and to the beauti-
full Helen Preston, who had declined all
suitors, and was still unwed. Helen, |
embarked that afternoon, and am here,
never to be parted from my darling,
| When will we be married, Sweet?"
married! Alan" and the dreary
present recurring to me, Withdrew my
| self from his arms. and almost uncon-
sciously my lips framed the words.
had died for this last year to know
| You had loved me. Who shall turn on fate?
| / care not if love come or go
| Now; though your love seek mine for mate?
tits too late.
Too late! Helen, my only love, ex-
plain your meaning for Gods sake"
Then came broken, disjointed tale
of my sorrow and temptation when |
heard of his handsome and high-born
bride; of my WEAKNESS of the hall; OF
Mrs. Granger; of myself, of Mr.. Dacre' 5
constant wooing, and at last of the little
note only this ni~ht tNrut between the
leaves of his look. !nHE ng Alan's
coming fo eve" 700 80 to NV happi-
ness.
Rapi@ read. and
my cor
"Saved! Alan and my words came
thick and fast.
Engage him in conversation, Alan,
regarding the hall, Mrs. Granger. the
weather, stocks, etc., etc. will escape
by the vestry door, fly to the hall! secure
the note! and then, o, Alan! -
my darling, my bright darlingH'bu
| broke from his clasp and sped away
like chamois to the hail. | did not
heed that the roses fell from my throat
that portion of my lace flounce graceC
thornbush, or that my hair, unlooseG
from its fastenings, hung about my
shoulders. | think if | had possessed s
piece of paper l should have held il
aloft, and should have shouted re-
pireve! reprieve!
Shall try to tell of how secured the
note and hid it in my bosom, of how
ran upstairs and peeped for one mo-
ment into the mirror, twisting up my
shining hair, and trying to hush the
loud beatings of my heart, of how
rapidly traversed the path leading te
the church, dodging behind an osagt
hedge to escape meeting Mr.. Dacre
hurrying on as soon as | was free, to bt
folded close to Alan's heart?
"And you will not laugh at me
Alan?"
Laugh at you, my darling, ani
wherefore?'
"Oh, for my mad flight, for the rec
roses scattered all along the road; fol
my unbounded joy at your return; fol
proposing to run and steal the note, and
and-things.
For answer came tender kisses pressed
upon brow and lips, and closed eyes
and Mr. Lord Lovel (Mr. Dacre) rode
forth from the castle gates alone.