The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1884-02-19

ment ?"
"If you think it good, dear Mees
Simms."
''And will you trust tne TO see that the
note reaches him 2"
81 will trust you in everything; you
are my friend"
"1hen think you will not regret it"
And ALA took the note and went
home, metamorphosed herself into re-
spectacle Irish washerwoban, and went
directly to the hotel Mr.. Theodore Lacy
had specified. She delivered ii in person,
was not recognized, and returned home.
The next day che sought Oalone arm
ed with photograph Of Eustace Hou.
team, together with some significant little
notes received ttusipg their summer So
|iourn together. she presented the pho
|tograph. as sg.ss,.sssa IS
"Do you recognize 1t t2' asked ALA.
eyes, very much, mees."
Then ALA gave her the name under
which she and others knew Theodore
Lacy and, though she paled in sympa-
thy with the girl as she did so, gradually
laid open two chapters Miss Fribert and
herself were cognizant of-one through
direct knowledge, the other through
sharp personal exlerieDce-under the
regime OF Mr.. Eustace Houtean, ALA,
Mr.. Theodore Lacy. Concluding, she
told her there was certain reception Ia
take place at the house of prominent
lady in the city, which ALA and hel
friend expected to attend. Mr.. Houtear
would doubtless be present.
"You GO with NE as my maid for the
evening; remain discreetlv above stairs
and at certain time, while in Mr.. Hou
teams company, l will suggest a COO
retreat, previously letting you know
where and when You shall then listen
and discover but too plainly the truth Of
ms disclosures"
"Oh, mees! mees! I believe too much
- too much!"
"Dear Osloue," said ALA, stroking
the soft hand, II know l have beer
hard; but you know I once loved him
too, and thankful would have been had
any one warned me in time"
Magnolia blooms, with their delicate
fruitv fragrance, do not of their lovely
selves suggest avoidance; but when the
fragrance OF the choicest exotics is
waited to US on the physical atmosphere
while the spiritual is quiyering with the
keenest and most torturiDg vibrations,
| it is ever after to US as the sound of q
clanking cham to the prisoner emanci
psted from his, dungeon-keep.
Oalone Retichko never could endure
the odor of the magnolia blossoms at
ter the ha'i-hour she spent in Mrs. B s
conservatory, hidden in dsrkened mock
behind one of those southern trees, while
she listened to ALA Simms and Eustace
Houtean-listened and watched.
"On, ALA! ALA darling! you must
you UiU be my wife! ]"
He had repeated the impassioned Ian
guage ere ALA, with her sickeninglv
white face, slowly withdrew her hand
from his clasp. and gathered herself to
her full height. Then, steadily and dis
tinctly, as though she was repeating the
marriage service, she said:
"You, Enstace Houtean, Mask me to be
your wife ?"
And he thought she was remember
ing his indifference at the close Of their
Summer intercourse. He appeared
slightly disconnected, but esssyed to
speak again
Then folding hersarms, and turning
her glance from him into space, she re-
peated, with the affirmative falling inAec-
tion:
"You, Eustace Houtean, ask me to be
your wife ?"
He began to appear more embarrassed
at her manner.
"Then, tell me, should I accept this
honor you tender me, how long would
1t be ere numberless other Washington
bells like beautiful Edna Thrope, mum.
berless other delicate little foreign ar.
lists like Oalone Retichko, would lure
you from my side? You say you would
make me happy. Think you, could
be happy, even though l loved you
which do not-wilh the pale, haunting
faces of those broken-hearted girls ris-
ing up before mep You look dszed-
confounded. You knew not that / was
aware Of the extent your weakness has
led you to; am. have long known
you to be an uupriuclpled man, tamper-
ing with the angel natures thai unsophis-
ticsted girls have opened to your artfnl
wocing. You say you love me-you
wish to marry me. God knows whether
you mean it or not! II you do, and
suffer in consequence, you may thus rea-
lize, in part, at least, the pain Others
have been made to suffer through you;
and pray other victims may thus be
spared. You will say that ! am deceit-
ful to you also. You are right. Since
my discovery OF your character. / have
endeavored TO make myself impene-
trable to you. l am no longer the trans.
parent maiden you once believed me. /
assumed the role that has deceived you,
with another motive than that of en-.
you TO make love to me, that
/ might scorn you. though l might have
heen justified in sollowing such course.
Did you imagine l could he blinded since
that little Summer episode of ours ? But
it is of no personal resentment that /
have allowed you to proceed thus far
It is to prove to the trusting, believing
Oalone keticbko that base man is tam
perine with her. It was for this al
lowed you to hold my hSnd-to call me
your love-to ask me in marriage. II
has been loathsome to me. II has been
almost unbearahle 10 talk with YOU, even
10 tell you these truths. / dreaded the
task, but it is done. l will say but one
thing more before l leave you. Remem-
her though Society NAV receive you
with its surface approval, and women
may yield to your smiles and glanoes,
there is one who must ever hold you 10
low regard, and will ever feel justified
in warning your victims, until bearing
of true manhood may reinstate you in
her esteem"
Houtean had grown white at the men,
tion Of Oalone and E1na Thrope. Then.
as ALA proceeded, fame shot into his
cheeks and his eyes sunk to the earth
He shiverel, shrank back to the wall,