Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1884-09-25

Tell me it again as you told IL once be-
fore-the time You kissed me-"
His face grew more annoyed. but II
Francoise noticed it this time she gave
no sign. only clung closer to him, her
beautiful eyes fixed on his face, her
long hair falling like q cloak around
her.
1t was not pleasant now to Charles
Hamilton. with the knowledge that the
woman he loved better than his life
was coming there, TO be reminded Of
his treachery to her.
He remembered his own last words
as he had kissed her good-bye:
keep this kiss for me, my darling,
till claim 1t, and l will keep mine
for you."
"Your kiss will be on my lips till
YOU return" she had answered. and he
knew she had kept her word, and her
kiss-ah, he had wiped it away many
times on the red lips of Francoise.
A silence fell between him and Fran
coise now, and he felt her hands drop
from his arm as shudder swept over
her.
He glanced.at her, and noticing her
pallor, felt how contemplate his act
had been-felt it this time, not only in
memory of Viviane, but in sorrow for
the girl herself.
He saw that her eyes had turned in
the direction of the blue waves that
lay below them.
She seemed to feel his gaze. and she
turned her eyes suddenly back to his
face. and their expression startled him.
..Do YOU know" she said, II would
sooner leap into that water there. never
to rise again, than know you loved
another; but, ahp' with low laugh.
81 could not lie there If left you with
her."
The next moment, without waiting
for him to speak, she turned and left
him.
One week later, Viviane Wentworth
and her uncle arrived in Mexico, and
Charles Hamilton clasped the girl he
loved so dearly, despite his love-mak-
ing to Francoise, close to his bosom
again.
A few days passed, during which vi
viane rested. Then she announced
herself ready to see the sights.
II would like to see the great cliff, "
she said; the one you mentioned in
your letter"
Charles Smiled.
ut is very near the home of Mrs.
King" he said. 81 wrote you of her,
also; she was the dearest friend my
mother ever had, though Mexico has
been her home for years. My most
pleasant hours here have been spent
with her."
Most likely when he said that he for
got the hours spent with little dark
eyed beauty, beneath odorous Southern
tress, or rambles through valleys and
dells, when the same little beauty was
his companion.
He had only seen Francoise once
since Viviane had arrived, and that
time something in her manner had
given him vague feeling of annoy
ance-a feeling he found it strangely
hard to Danish.
Looking in the fair pure face of vi
viane, he wondered how for moment
he had let the dark beauty of Francoise
move him-how for an instant he had
yielded to its spell.
A vague feeling-could it be fearp-
haunted him, and FRANCHISES face rose
before him as he had seen it last, all
the bloom faded from it, the strange
passionate light in the beautiful eyes.
He tried to Danish all memory of it
in the light of his darling's presence,
ia the JOY of her smile, and the music
of her voice.
He tried, and he succeeded, and his
heart was light enough the day he drop
ped line to Mrs. King, telling her he
was bring Viviane to see her.
The morn of the appointed day rose
tair and clear; not cloud dimmed the
azure of the sky, and Viviane came
down all smiles for her visit, feeling
sure she would like Mrs. King from
her lovers description.
Charles spirits were light as we'll,
and any fears he had about Frahcoise
he had put aside with firm will, and
almost laughed at the forebodings that
had hauxted him for some time.
III UHC dltCluOOu buC uOI5ts
stood waiting, and soon Viviane came
down in her riding-habit to where hel
lover awaited her.
How proud he was of her, how rare.
ly fair she was, the deep blue of hel
close-fitting habit making the purity
of her complexion more noticeable, as
we'll as displaying her beautiful form
perfectly.
In his after life, when all hope was
dead, and living itself was bitter as
death, Charles Hamilton never forgot
that ride with his darling. Her words,
her smiles, her every attitude lived with
him forever.
Soon they reached the pretty seques'
tered home of Mrs. King.
AS they approached the door aftel
dismounting, their hostess met them
with out-stretched hands, welcoming
with smiles the beautiful girl she was
prepared to love.
After they had spent about an hour
with Mrs. King y messenger followed
them. Viviane's uncle must sec
Charles at once about something CON
cerning the mines. He could return in
an hour or two, if he pleased.
Mrs. King would not hear of Viviane
returning with him. and Viviane
seemed willing enough to stay till his
return.
Il will return as quickly as possible,
my Viviane," he said, with proud
possession in his tone that made Mrs.
King smile.
Half an hour after Charles rode
away, Viviane announced to Mrs. King
that she was going up the cliff.
'My head aches slightly" she said
ssand walk will do II rood -