Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1883-10-11
An Idle Word.

i shall never tell you love you again,
if you go down on your knees and beg
for itl'
A pale, stern faced, somewhat elder
ly man, with threads of siver gleam-
ing in his brown curls, doubtful,
hesitant, half-sarcastic mouth, beneath
the nut-brown mustache, sad eyes,
listless and wholly weary in their ex-
preston; and the world.worn attitude
of one who accepts all that comes, nev-
er surprised.
Andrew Carleton raised his eyes to
the storm flushed face opposite. They
softened in that look as no other NOR
tai woman could cause them to, but
Lucie was too angry to notice it.
A round faced apple-cheeked NOR
sci of womanhood, with brown silken
hair, tender, earnest eyes, and a ripe,
glowing mouth, like strawberry.
For six months she had worn this mis-
anthropical gloomy mans betrothal
ring, and given to his life a brighter
tint than it had ever worn.
AS directly opposed as the anti
podes, these two in character and dis
position, and vet together they were
very happy. There was something SO
vivacious and hopeful, so sunny and
affecticnately frank about his hancee,
that Andrew Carleton's saddened, sus-
picious heart, so deeply wounded years
before, by an unworthy woman that
he had truly loved, beat high with an
ardor and joy that surprised him.
He was trying; he reasoned with
himself despairingly as he went out,
with a detected, crushed air that cut
Lucie to the innermost depths of her
loving heart First, only for mo-
ment, he came and stood beside her.
Bear with me-" he said slowly, 81
told you what l was in the begin
ming" and then he went out and closed
the door.
Poor Lucie. Her tears fell fast
81 have tried she sobbed, 'am | to
blame?" Her Thoughts went fast over
the past few weeks; True, she had
grow up here where she was petted
and loved of many. Her merry chat
ter, her social outspoken courtesy tc
her old playmates was as natural as
the breath she drew. For her lite she
could not help dimpling and smiling
for all. There was Arnold Holmes
betrothed, it was true, to her friend,
who was lounging III low chair, ano
chatting over paper of caramels
when Andrew came IN, with all the
freedom of an old friend. There was
brown-eyed Nick Hazelton, who hac
drawn her to school on his sled years
since, and shared his apples and sleigh
rides with her all her life. There wa'
host of college boys who always
bowed, and laughed, and familiarlJ
shouted from immediate hooks whel
she walked down to the dusty llttl'
post-ofice in their diminutive village
There was handsome young Docto
Courtright, who never failed to smil
and say, allow do you do, Lu? whel
they met.
In vain Lucie had explained to An
drew Just how it was. His broy
would grow stormy and dark, his hear
would sink, and he would repeat tn
doubtful, half-supicious, wholly unjus
words "I don't believe, Lucie, tha
you love me"
Days passed, no signs of Andre1
Carleton; like shadow he and val
ished.
Two months, three and winte!
with It's storms, with its merry roun
of pleasure, was once with the youn
people of Marshalltown and right roy
ally they feasted and feted the way
ward Monarch.
Repentant, sorrowful Lucie, with 8
times wounded, indignant sparkle
the soft eyes, and surprised quive
to the ripe lips that hurt you, went he
way one of the gay circle, ever incon
plete without her bright face.
There was discordant chord In tt
rippling laugh, gravity over tt
hitherto happy countenance and a
wavs the silent, secret feeling of il
Justice; of ingratitude for purest kim
ness; hardest of all heart burdens
bear, and the haunting remembrant
Of the sad face as it looked at her f'
the last time, when sometimes, despi
herself, her whole womanly being erie
out for the man who had seemingly
basely returned her kindness. Whe
her tears rose unbidden and her SO
clamored for the sheltering heart ar
arms that had so cherished her,
valued her every gift of love and 10
atty, "for I do know he loved me, +
the time reasoned Lucie, chokil
back her tears, and trying to forge
"bul why" then her eyes wou
wander to the costly ring that he hi
twice tried to remove, and her ia
would again resume its troubled lot
of wonder and saddened questioning
II will take it off now Lucle W
preparing for May Harrington's birt
night party. Her evening dress "
of pale pink nuns yelling, white ra
yellow lace. Roman pearls worn MI
about the slender white neck, t
dainty feet in their pink silk stocki1
and white slippers, blush roses cluste