The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1883-01-18

Gordon to Irene; he Is 30 comfortably on
worth half a million. maybe o now,
in his own right, with a prospect of a fort
une at his mothers death. She can't
live forever-and he is really unusually
gentlemanly; don't you think SOP"
30, yesr' responded Irene, readily.
Wear that white Grape dress the
Hindns embroidered to the Symingtons'
ball o-morrow night, and I will lend
you my garland of water-lilies. I want
your costume to suggest ~India-keep
up the lotus illusion"
Irene smiled dreamily.
The next evening she went to tho
Symingtons'. About midnight the heir
apparent lured her away from the ball
room into an adjoining conservatory.
Here the rich, exotic ,plant-life was
lighted by colored silk lanterns, cum
nfngly arranged with reference to mir.
rors, SO that they saw themselves war.
dering through long vistas of azaleas,
cameflias and palm trees.
He began with the usual common
places about the evening, the dance, the
Italian opera; but the aromatic air, the
roseate light, the mysterious shadows
which enveloped the young girls ethe-
real loneliness; more than all, the wine
he had taken so freely with his guests
were too much for his senses. The com.
bined influence crept over him with an
overwhelming power.
hand, which rested lightly on his arm,
with vigorous. meaning pressure. She
drew it away with a quick, indignant
cry of rebellion.
t.Stay, beautiful Irenem he implored.
ut is a Paradise when you are here"
Then the song,birds. whose home
among the palm branches, started q
wild accompaniment 10 his voice.
Even the birds tell US to love. You
will not go away from New York, as You
were saying just now. You will stay
here. You will marry me, and make
me all you wish. Will you notp"
He leant over her with the intent,
eager pleading of a lover who will not
be refused; but no answering chord
awoke in her heart Physically he was
repulsive to her with his dark, Jewish
face and his passionate tones; mentally
they were fathoms apart. Natures sell
had put them asunder.
But Just then she glanced between the
velvet portieres at the dancers in the
distance, where a bewildering sheen oil
satin, lace and jewels reflected the blaze
of myriads of wax candles and soft
lamps; the melting, sympathetic strains
of the waltz enthralled her, and the
sensuous perfume of hyacinths near BY
waited her into a region where it seemed
impossible to resign all that wealth alone
could bring.
She stood spell-bound by this thought
the slave of luxury enchanted by ''the
things of the earth, earthly.n She need
only give herself in return for all these
and why not?
81 shall revel in an aesthetic atmos
phere forever!-Forever?"
Then a sudden sgonyconyulsed her
1t could not be foreuersand the minis
ter's warning words anne back to her
"My child, take care Of your soulr'
"My soula Have / already lost it
How many souls do we have in life
Where is the first unsullied soul of Irene
Van Wyck. to whom love arid duty were
all things, and a simple. home with
Elmer Paulson the Eden OF hopep Die
that soul 60 with the ring?"
Her silence had inspired Symingtol
with fresh holiness; he essayed to draw
her head down upon his shoulder in tn
bliss of yielding. She broke away from
him. Her face now recalled the pictur
at the Academy. The clairvoyan
genius of the artist had foreseen thi
moment.
Would the angel latent in the woman
assert itself?
She found words at last n
30, aotere is my charm against tn
Evil Eyer"
And she awokel
She had been dreaming.
There was the ring on her finger; sh
felt the break on the under side. Sh
was not in r, Bruce Symington's con
servatory in New York. She vas il
Mrs. Wilbur's small parlor in Philadel
phia; some one had come.into the ad
Joining room while she was asleep
turned up the gas, and was playing on
of the Strauss waltzes-'AOn the Blu
Danube;" the white hyacinths Elme
Paulson had given her early in the even
ing were spending their sweetness on he
bosom. When could she have fallel
asleep? )
1t must be very late, for she remem
bered hearing ten strike not very lon
after Elmer left her. By the 1ickerin
freight she looked in stupeied inquir
at the face of the clock on the mantel
The hands pointed to nine minutes pa
ten.
20. God! is it possible?" she gasped
ga life drama in nine minutes! 0, Time
what is eternity ?"-Fanny Albe,
Doughty, in Our Continent.