The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1883-04-12
ALTERNATIVES.
A Love Story Prattily Told.


care there no underwriters for human
hopes? for the most precious of interests is
there 10 insurance.
had been tempted all day, tempted
by fate and the devil. Allsummer long
| had been trying to clasp hands for a
life Journey with a man | did not love; a
man noble OF soul and born to the pur-
pie. who sat up high lineage against my
poor gifts OF beauty and song. He
threw some love into the scales, too,
but l, God help me, had none to give in
return. | had bartered erewhile my
whole possessions for few glances of a
dark, dark eye, and my note had gore
to protest.
Could l. could I? 1t kept following
rue about with fateful persistency, for
tonight | yeas to give my answer to my
high born lover.
/ tried to look things in the face, to
count the cost.
Money was q good thing; it insured
one warmth in winter and delicious
GOODNESS in summer, and pre4tiness and
dantiness. and the entrance into good
society. Yes, money was good thing.
and position and power, and houses and
lands SO far GOOD; bat my soul hun
gered and tIirste, for love commen-
surate with my own. which this man,
who offered me purple and gold, had it
not il his power to give, Or, let me quail
fy that, had it not in his nature to give.
The stars came out golden and soft,
and the fragrant summer dusk crept
around mo where | sat inhaling the
scent Of the roses. Ambition and love
tore ny heart by turn, and WEAKNESS, too,
put in a poor pitiful plea, for was so
tired, so tired.
1t was q brilliant future that Reginald
Dacre offered me, wherein toll and
weariness could never come. thought
of the purple and fine linen; the luxuri-
ous rest; the elnolumentS! Then my
daily life passed in review before me-
that of companion to a naughty, fine
lady, and q singer in a fashionable
church, among fashionable saints and
sinners. | began to Groom over the old
satire:
In church which is garnished with mullion
and gable.
With altar and reredos, with gargoyle and
The penitents dresses are sealslin and sable,
The odor Of sanctitys eaude cologne.
But surely if Lucifer, flying from Hades,
Could gaze at this crowd, with its paniers and
paints,
He would say, looking round at the lords and
the ladies'.
O where is Ali Sinners if this is All Saints?
1 had entered upon this life from an
unloved and unlo7ing home, home
doled out to me by the tardy justice of
a granduncle who had robbed me of my
Inheritance. | thought at first | might
find the sangreal somewhere in this new
country, which seemed so fair, but alas!
had not even heard the swish Of wings.
thought of it all-the fever and the
fret; the petty jars; the misunderstand-
ings; the pain of incomprehension; the
unguerdoned toll; the tagging hours; the
awful pauses.
This or marriage; this or marriage.
1t seemed written like a placard on
earth and sky. ] seemed bound like
phylactery upon the brows of the peo-
pie as they passed to and fro; and soon
! the word marriage lost all its signiti-
canoe for me, as words do after oft re-
peating. Did it mean misery or happi-
ness, bliss or Wo? This marriage that
rung its changes through my brain
was it God-appointed? Did it mean
Gods blessing or His curse?
You know L did not love this man
who offered me rest from my labors. He
! had not power to evoke one thrill at his
call. But then love is only one reason
why one should marry a man. There
might be love and plenty of money, and
yet one 90 hungry all ones life. / have
| known such things.
had tried to make my life straight
and fair | had tried to keep clean
hands and pure heart; tried-God,
who knows the secrets of all hearts,
| lrpnvy- tbis- +n fiOht InGnair
Long, green days,
Worn bare of grass and sunshine; long calm
| nights
From which the s;lken sleeps were fretted out
We see through shadows all our life
| long. We come into this world without
our being given a choice rs to our ad-
vent. and 60 out of it in the same man
! ner.
We have not been consulted as to
birth or death. More and more the
prayer of Epictetus haunts me. ''Lead
me. Zeus and Destiny, whithersoeyer |
am appointed to 90; will follow with
out wavering; even though l turn cow
ard and shrink, | shall have to follow
all the same -
Should l marry Mr.. Dacre? Was he
a good parti? as the world said. Too
good for me, as my lady elegantly
! phrased it.
| had been born into the world amid
fierce throes of mental anguish.
Through the pain of her travail my
mothers heart was rent with the greater
/ pain of my fathers sudden death
drowned off the Cornish coast, for was
born at sea. She lived until was 10
wears old, a life of sorrow, and poverty,
and remuneration. Then she died, leav-
ing me to the care of a compassionate
world and my uncle. Of him have al
ready spoken.
My life dragged on with clogggod
wheels. was always at war with my
surroundings. Though too proad to
express it, had never realized my ideal
j of Wnnanhnod or in anY MaV UroWI