The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1884-11-11

to fall in love with her? The question
came to me as left the cars at the little
station and walked on to Mabel Grant.
With 1.-THE picture. 1t was not pleas
ant one but fate was fate, and stranger
things had Glanced. did not laugh
again; could not telp q, very sbudder
as | stepped upon the pretty vine-clad
porch at Hale and rang my entrance TO
her.
| =
"Miss Grant p
eyes"
l had fancy I would find Dick at 1s-
let, 80. took the night-boat tbither. !
must find him at all events some way |
speedily must be revenged on him for
the grim trick he had played and-other
things. Eor that was pretty, dark-eyed
girl who had come down to me that day
a. Hale to be stared at as my eyes had
never stared at girl before.
"Miss Grantf"
"Yes; and you, presume, are Mrs
Geoffrey's brother. have heard o great
deal Of yor from Mrs. Geoffrey and-I
am very happy to mest you, Mr.. Dare" "
A pretty girl, but did not fall in love
with her; after that first moment OF
amsz.ment che was as other girls 10 me
Worse, scarce heard what she said
barely looked at her; as quickly as de-
cency would permit ! went away. had
hut one set of sensations as walked
back to the train; odd things-growing
grief, bitterness for the loss of Mabel
Grant, wild longings for the saucer eyes,
the 6axy frizz'y locks. the sum total OF
that unpleasing picture at which-fate
and had laughed 1t grew fascination
for the first, myth as it we're, it moved q
passion in my soul which made me mad
for It. 'a ,
"A thought quickly iolned thereto--the
thought OF Dick Penraven. 1t was his
Joke; to this state be had brought me in
some way must be revenged on him.
| How3
| It was little sail to 1slet, but every
moment l sat and pondered the momen.
tons question and for all my abstraction,
casting frequent glances at the fair girl
sitting near me, seemingly like me, lost
in dreams She interested me despite it ;
she grew TO me, oddly-the more each
moment-a beautiful Mabel Grant, if
such thing might be.
! "She-"
There hsd come no pain to me, no
light till, With the sharp grating OF the
boat in the dock at Islet,two words fash
ed to tell me all, to give me all the mad.
dest mau could ask to thwart a foe. II
was so plain laughed gleefully as
followed my beautiful Mabel Grant up
the quay. Pen was in love with the
pretty girl; through fear, through jesl-
ousy, TO dissuade me from seeking her
hand he had invented his little tale. 1t
ives no wonder, in my mood, laughed
under the sudden delightful fancy that l
could make the pretty girl in love with
me. ! could do 1t. / would 60 back
and spare no time, no pains, till l had
revenged myself on Dick Penraven and
made Mabel Grant my vile.
II was little matter TO he fool upon
hut I was until now an unstirred SOUL
The bells of Islet were striking 10 ss in.
voluntarily / turned upon the wharf I
would 60 Immediately back to town, 20
Hale, the first thing on the morrow, but
unfortunately the route from Islet left me
out in its provisions-there was no boat
till morning; there was naught but to
walk to the little inn en- the Greet above.
Light brought no calther mood. Early
l was astir and rushed down the cliff in
q most disordered state of toilet at the
warning whistle OF boat, which lett
even earlier than thought. But 1t chanc.
ed there was q curve, and it chanced that,
darting round it, came upon a white.
robed creature with such force as to dash
the aowers she had been plucking out of
her hands. knew her at a glance; it
was-my beautiful Mabel Grant. But
that fantasy bad qnitef forgotten even
for courtesy ] did not care. was ma.
king mad plunge past her when the
| sudden view OF the steamer gliding se.
renely out Of the dock brought me to
frowning standstill.
She raised her soft pretty eyes to mine.
al am so sorry: you have lost your
boat"
The voice was like them; it shamed
me down at once.
20, not at all not at all-isn't of the
slightest consequence" / etammered,
starting eagerly tor the scattered flowers
You live about Islet. Miss"
1t was unintenticnally impudent; It
was absurd; butthe white-robed creature
only smiled.
1--WE took cottage here only yester-
day. Lam out early, perhaps, you think
hut / am on my way to meet cousin
Nell, who comes down by the first boat
this morning."
"Oh!I" l scarcely know what
answered there was strange feeling
coming over me as placed the last
flower in her pretty hand, and unthink-
iDgly walked along beside her.
"Bungling saucers,> faxy-'rizzly---"
There was laugh in my heart at the
unpleasing picture suddenly floating back
to me-s laugh which the fair, sweet
face beside me kept back from my lips.
And then-I do not know how it was
1t was all MYSTERY, wonder, as We
walked along, breaking by degrees from
the beaten path as this or that bright
flower won her, while / looked into her
eyes and thought only how beautiful
they we're; to laugh again inwardly at
the bungling saucer Of my cherished
myth-all, only, until suddenly we
emerged again to see The boat at the
dock, apd-a tall boyish figure hurfying
up the path to US
"Dick I"
1t was a gasp more than word; she
turned not tn him, but me, With guilty,
frightened air.
81 did not think" she went on, family.
IL never think. Aud am afraid it may
be all very dreadful, for Dick is go
So"
| t. ma. a uonant of ooo1omonA of