The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1884-07-29

spot where she stood2 Arnwood Tow
ers was the only place near the Traffords.
1t was as II her whole being was strained
to hear the rest; she never thought OF
eaves.dropping, poor child it was life
and-death work with her.
"And Why didn't It come about 2'
asked the purple brocade.
"Heaven knows! A lovers til,
suppose, or some such rubbish. It's .
thousand pities! A lady Fielding has
always been st the head OF the county
society, and Gladys Ttafford is just made
tor the position, with her beauty and
cleverness and talents. She has always
been immensely POPULAR" ~
"Aud who is the girl he has married
She seems nice little thing enough"
"Oh,a harmless sort of creature pink
and.white prettiness, nothing more. She
VAS q planters daughter in CeyIon, OF
some where; aud he was staying with
them when the father died. She Was left
lquite friendless and destitute, and be
married her out Of pity. He Was always
Q Qlixotic goose, Harry Fielding"
| The spell was off now; and Nests,
white as death, was hurrying up the stairs
to her room. There was little sofa in
sheltered nook 10 the corridor, and
there sat Hsrry-the missing Harry
and the woman be should have married
Nesta sped past, but as she 6ed she
saw Harry bend bis head to kiss the beau.
tiful hand he Was holding, and she heard
III Ihad only known years ago, things
might have been difYerent!'
| On, on, till her own door closed be.
bind her, and she eazed wildly round at
the pietty ornaments that strewed her
bower, as il sbe had never seen them be
fore. She 6ung the diamonds from her
throat and wrists ss il they hurt her and
sank into chair beside the qusint old
ebony table, leaning her head, with it's
tangle OF crisp brown hair, down on her
folded arms. She did not shed tear but
her brain seemed on Gre.
Beside her stood the tall vase Of rush.
es that Harry and she had gathered from
the lake only yesterday. Wasn't 1t .
hundred years ago2
".Nevcr another sorrow be could guard
her fromf" Well, it was true; he
couldn't help this; It wasn't bis fault; be
had meant to do right; be had married
her Tout of pity"'when be loved another
woman. 1t must be her own fault, not
bis; yet, because she was pink a cd. white,
and nothing more ;and she ought TO have
known pity wasn't love, only 1t had
seemed 90 likeit!
"If he had known years ago, things
might have been 80 differeAt!" Might
they not stilli What If she we're to 60
away that very night and never trouble
him sgainf She had not friend in the
world except her old Brigton school
mistress; she would 90 to her and beg
her to take her 10 aud let her teach the
little children. And perhaps she might
die soon, and Harry could be happy with
the woman be had always loved. Nesta
felt as II death would not be long in
coming, che felt 30 i'll now.
She got up to fetch time table. Yes,
the mail train passed through Middle.
hampton at 1 o'clock; It Was only IL
now, and though she couldn't very we'll
understand the puzz ing fgores, she
thought 1t must stop at the little station
just the other side Of the park.
She drew her b'otting. book to her and
bsgan to write fast. A big tear or two
splashed down on the paper but she wip
ed them patiently away il must be clear
that Harry might read it.
"Thsy say you only married me for
pity" she wrote. II might have guessed
it, my darling, but you have been so
| good to me that I never, never did. ]
can't make You free again, but it is better
for % never to see eaeh other any more,
and perhaps nay die and you can 60
back to the woman they say you have
always loved. saw you jost now when
you kissed her hand and said things
might have been 90 different had you
only known years ago. Yes, they would
have been different for Us oil. God bless
you. my poor. good boy! you were NO.
to blame"
She paused and looked up.
"What shall I sign 1t !" she said ;"I
am not bis wife any more, for only love
really makes . marriage"
Her eyes fell on her little wedding
ring, i.s brightness scarcely tarnished
Iyet. She stopped aud pressed he- lips
to It gently, solemnlv.
"Ob, Harry, my Harryr' she whisper.
ed; "if it had. only been love and not
ply"
She rose and slipped of the golden
satin gown and put on dark warm dress
instead.
II must not even 60 away from him in
the things he gave me-" she said as she
fastened ber long fur cloak with it's silver
clasps. II haven't . single gown that
was mine before I knew him. He has
even dressed me out Of charity. His pity
has been more generous than other peo-
ple's love-"
She opened the French window in her
dressing.room and slipped out on the
balcony whence fight OF steps led down
to the terrace below. She glanced back
at the pretty room with it's Japanese cab
inets, and blue-and. white china, and the
ebony table where the letter to Harry
lay. with the light full upon it, 90 that he
could not miss 1t. Then she shut the
easement sharply behind her and reso.
lutely turned away. :.
The moon was bright with q fitful
brightness-now almost as light as day,
nov hidden behind hurrying clouds-and
It was bitterly cold. Nesta drew her
closk tighter around her aud tried to
walk fast, but she Was desperately weary,
and could only stun BILE along. Some
how the way to the little gate had never
seemed so incomprehensively long. Sure
" she could not have missed her way :
The moon and the clouds we're playing
such pranks that enc could not be sure,
and her heart bad been too foil to notice
all the turns. 1t WAS rs black as Erebus
now.s darkness that might be felt
Nesta took few steps forward then
stopped short, BY some mysterious In
stinct. just as the moon shone out clear