The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1884-07-17
HER EVIL GENIUS.

He was not SO much to blame after
all, for he loved her even against his
will. He had striven. but in vain. to
Danish the sweet young face. all framed
in sunny hair, from his memory. 1t
had haunted him with its fair beauty,
from the day he first saw it till this
day, when, with white woeful face, and
tear-tilled eyes. she cried out that he
had broken her heart.
'sIt was crueln' she cried, sit was un-
Just, unmanly, and unfairi You spoke
words of love to me, and / believed
you-earth was heaven for the bright
summer past, and all the time another
woman held your promise, another wo-
man wore your ring, and had listened,
before | saw your face, to your VOWS of
love-"
IL never loved her," We're ST. George
said; ''you, and you alone, are the one
love of my life. You must believe this,
AVIS; YOU must not think me scoun-
drel"
Avis Leigh smiled half-pitifully, half
scornfully. -...s..k
'.How that would lessen your right to
the title | cannot see," she said quietly;
sit would be no worse, nor even as
were engaged to another, than to win
her with words of love, make her your
promised wife, and then be false to
your VOWS. 1t makes little difference
which you love-nothing can excuse
YOUR action
Vere's face flushed hotly, for he
knew that Avis spoke the truth; but
love for her had been conqueror over
every other feeling-eVen honor itself
had been hushed silent for while; but
there was, if no excuse, at least some
extenuation of his conduct.
Before he had ever even seen this
fair-faced Avis Leigh, Sibyl Meredith
had come to his mothers home to make |
it hers-Sibyl Meredith, the orphan
daughter of his mothers dearest friend :
a friend to whom she owed the very
gift of life itself, who had saved her
from death at the risk of her own life,
when they were both girls. ;
Sibyl was about nineteen years old
then, q brilliant dark-eyed girl, with a
rarely beautiful face, a crown OF ebon
hair, and royalty graceful in every
movement.
Sibyl Meredith, though beautiful as
woman seldom is, seemed to care for
nothing or no one save We're and his
mother. They seemed to be her world.
and Mrs St. George loved her for it,
and We're, man like, felt tiattered.
How it happened We're could not
very well tell, only it was his mothers
wish, and then'the girl was SO beauti-
full herself, and yet-and yet
Well, he had not the slightest inten-'
ton of asking her to be his wife that
summer afternoon, but somehow they
had strayed down past cliffs and crags.
away to the woodland beyond, and then
the thunder and lightning had broken
SO suddenly over them, and Sibyl was
frightened and clung to him, and he
in the passion of the moment bent his
head and kissed the trembling lips, and
called her darling.
After that-well, he had made fool
| of himself; he would not be a knave,
so he asked Sibyl to be his wife, and
she had answered him yes.
He was satisfied enough for while;
he did not love the little dark-eyed
beauty, and lately he had come to feel
with vague uneasiness that there was
something under all the soft childish
ness of Sibyrs manner-something
that he could not understand.
But she had promised to be his wife,
and his ring glittered on her finger;
and, then, he had met Avis Leigh, and
learned what love meant-passionate
abiding love that thrilled his heart with
its very presence.
In vain he struggled against the spell
of her fair face and the CLINT of her
yellow hair, but love conquered every
other thought, and he put tho memory
| of his faith to Sibyl aside, showing
Avis his love in every word and look,
knowing all along. however. that ne
was acting the part of villain. but
pleading his love to himself as his ex-
cuse.
One evening he pleaded with Avis to
become his wife-to give herself to his
keeping for once and for ever.
Il cannot wait, my darling. he said.
..Oh, Avis, will you not listen 10 me?''
She raised her clear pure eyes to his
face, half startled by the vehemence OF
his manner.
..There is some reason, We're, why
YOU urge me to secret hasty marriage,
She said. There is something you have
hidden from me. What is it, Vere?"
What could he do then but tell hel
the truth, for she would find it ouI
later-tell her the truth, and ask hel
to pardon him and listen to him fol
their loves sake?
But Avis only turned away in pas
sionate despair, and then he caught hel
hand.
s.You must listen to me, Avis! My
darling, my darling. have mercy or
me!' he cried. ''Do not wreck my
life"
She smiled bitterly.
''You had mercy on mel she cried
then, suddenly: 'Do you think woult
rob wife of her husband, the bride
Of har hridanrnnmp Oh shame tha