The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1883-07-19
f as no more among the living as her

|
hands, and signed ''Douglas Rhodes"
! There is silence in tho room; but sud
denly 1t Is broken by plaintive heart
broken cry, and the reader slight figure
sways forward and falls prone upon the
| floor at her successful rivals feet.
| Ringing bell to summon servant,
the stranger only parses to give one
| glance down at Alice's white, stricken
face; then, with triumphant smile up
| on her own, she trails her silken draper
les from the room.
Three years have elapsed. Is this
Alice - this quiet, somberlv-dressed
young woman bending her sad face oven
her needleP
Yes, it is she. 1t is the old tragic story
| of fathers failure and sudden death,
| followed by the flight, like swallows be-
fore frost, of the friends whose name
during her days of prosperity had been
legion.
Alone, poor, and friendless too proud
| to sue for help, Alice had left her native
| city, and hero we find her in the hum
Bile position of companion to an invalid
lady.
A gay voice sounds in the hall, and
| the door opening, there enters the young
| daughter of the house.
'tAh, Miss Howard, here you are. 1
have been seeking you to ask of you n
favor. 1t is this: viii you play awhile
this evening for US to dance? Cousin
Hal writes that he is coming with a
friend-the one-armed hero he is always
talking about-and I've invited a few
others to make it lively. Nowplease say
yes know your distaste for meeting
strangers; but the piano can be moved
into the alcove, and you will be quite
secluded"
The evening has come, and the guests
have assembled. Alice has been play
ing until she is tired, and now she sits,
her fingers idly resting upon the keys.
The piano stands within 81 lace-draped
recess adjoining small conservatory;
and just as she is about to begin the
opening bars of a favorite waltz, voices
fall upon her ears, and a name is uttered
that causes the blood to rush in startl-
ed flood through her VEINS
Here, Rhodes, is a quiet cool spot.
Come, let's sit down an havo an old
time chat" one says. Il didn't half
want to come this evening; but had
known should meet you, Ishould have
felt differently. l didn't even hear you
had returned When did you arrivep
And where is your wifep"
"My wife? Montague, are you crazy2'
"Why, didn't you marry the incom-
parable Olga, after alp Now, old fell
low, don tpretend ignorance. 1 Glanced
to meet in society the handsome creature
whose lamentations caused you to re-
main 80 long In that frigid Russia, and
when she found out that knew you she
confided to me all about your engage
ment. OF course supposed, if betroth-
ed then, you would be married by this.
What broke it offp''
''Stay, Montague; give me chance
to put word in edgeways, and as you
know part of the story, will tell you
all.
With suspended breath, and hands
clasped tightly together, Alice listens.
''To the Incompatible Olga as you
term her," Douglas goes on, "you will
perhaps be surprised to hear that owe
the injury that lost me my arm, and ten
dreary months of suffering in a Russian
prison.
ITO be brief, met her through visit
ing her uncle and guardian, appointment
official, who seemed bent on friendship
with me. His niece was polite to, as
| would be to any lady, although what
| saw of her character and domineering
disposition would have rendered me i'm
pcrVous to the attractions of her beauty
had l not already possessed the safe
guard of as pure and faithful a love as
ever q man was blessed with.
I'm the course of time her uncle form
ally rendered me his niece's hand in
marriage, offering me, should consent
to his plans, position that would en-
sure me wealth beyond my most sangu-
inc expectations.
"You know how hasty and passionate
Ghe Russian temper is. Well, my de-
cided and prompt refusal angered both
the gentleman and his nieco to such
degree that another month had not pass
ed over my head before [ found myself
arrested, charged with being foreign
agent of that secret society that in the
name of justice eXerts such q terrible
and dreaded influence in the country.
81 was imprisoned. Though, of
course, was not certain, suspected
whose were the Vaccinations that had
brought me into such strait.
''But the love of life within me was
too strong to allow me to remain quiet
ly and INTERESTINGLY in my bondage.
''Twice / attempted to escape when
opportunity occurred. The first time 1
received the bullet which shattered my
arm and MANNED me for life.
"The second effort made with the as
sistance of keeper whom had bribed
was successful.
al came to my own country to lind
the being loved before all others lost
IN mo r. x.,oo tbop thot 7 Iaarpod for
the first time, of the appearance one
season of the handsome Russian lady,
who had so boldly asserted the fact
which was, of course, believed-of her
betrothal to me, and of the forged let
ter, which, purporting, to come. from
me, had been the means of almost break
ing my gentle loves heart
mo wonder my friends were indig
nant, and until l explained, had only
the coolest, most averted looks for me.
''Do you know, Montague, l have
never known really happy moment
since then; for though / have searched
increasingly, have never found q trace
of my Alice, whose trusting heart was so
cruelty Bruised
Unheard, Alice rises, and gently draws
aside the lace draperies that part the
alcove from the fiower-filled nook where
the friends are conversing, and now, as
Douglas concludes and glances up, his
eyes rest upon her face. With a cry he
springs to his feet
One long questioning gaze, and then,
surroundings, another presence, all else
forgotten save the unexpected bliss of
their meeting, the long parted lovers
are clasped Heart to Heart.
An Ungentle Reminder.
81 saw a lady get a gentle reminder