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

Charles Hamilton stood IDLY enjoying
it as we'll as frst-class Havana, from
the verands of the little hotel where he
had taken UP his abode for the time
being.
He was very handsome man, this
Charles Hamilton-tall. and finely
built, with q fair face, laughing blue
eyes, and a tawny silken moustache
shading his handsome mouth, with
wavy hair, of the same leonine shade,
tossed carelessly back from n broad
white brow q dangerously handsome
man, with that easy nonchalant air that
is generally more powerful in helping
to win woman's heart than any other
gift man can possess.
He was down here in Mexico, partly
on business and partly on pleasure, and
his stop promised to be quite long, as
things looked then.
Out on the night air music was float
ing towards him-not very high class
of music, but still inspiriting or
dreamy, as it was time about, it was
far from unpleasant
II don't see," he said. taking the ci-
gar from between his lips, show on
earth the Mexicans can stand their
weekly fandango, and above all, in
such weather as this. BY George! it
would be worth while to 90 over to
have laugh, if nothing else. If there
was one pretty woman there, l might
pass an hour or two, for it is confound-
edly slow here.
.'In novels l have read of the beauty
of the 'dark-eyed daughters of the
sunny south, and pictured houris with
my boyish brains; but alas! for dreams
even a good-looking one have failed
to see. Dark-eyed daughters the
poetry is very good, and their eyes are
dark, no doubt, but then the rest of
them is so very much the same way,
one gets mixed; but" flinging the ci-
gar away, Il will pay them visit. but
I will not stay twenty minutes, except
meet pretty Mexican maiden"
A few minutes later he was in the
hall where the fandango was in full
bloom, and then-then he did see
pretty Mexican maiden.
Yet pretty was hardly the word to
apply to the little dark-eyed beauty his
eyes fell upon.
She was small and daintily formed,
and her face was pic;urc in its color.
ing, form and expression.
She was very dark-purely olive, but
crimson flush glowed warmly on her
cheeks, and warmer still in her curving
lips; her eyes were wells of dreamy
light, and shaded by silken lashes, and
a cloud of ebon hair, bound back by q
glittering band, fell in waves below her
waist.
So Charles Hamilton stayed, and lit
tie dreamed that the time would come
when, in bitter anguish. he would curse
the day he mel Francoise, the beauty
If the bali.
But he met her and managed TO make
her acquaintance, and danced with her
more ,na'l once, despite the heat of the
night; looked into her deep eyes, ad-
mired her hair; then went back to the
hotel and laughed at the whole affair.
After that, however. he managed to
meet her again. and the again became
many times, till at length, her beauty
telling upon him, he yielded himself up
to the enjoyment of it.
Not that for moment he loved, or
even believed he loved, the little Mex
ican; but her homage pleased him and
her beauty charmed him.
Perhaps Charles Hamilton never
really gave one serious thought to what
he was doing, winning passionate
young heart to madness of love, then
smiling at how plainly she showed it.
Yet this man was capable of love-
love deep and strong, and love al
ready given.
Sometimes there rose before him the
naughty young face of the girl he
loved, with its great brown eyes and
satin smooth skin, and crown of way
ing chestnut hair, its perfect features
and curying mouth; and then-well,
then for while he repented his love-
making to FRANCHISE, not from any
thought of her, however, nor pity for
the passionate young heart he had
won, but simply because it came to him
how Viviane Wentworth's beautiful
lips would curve with disdain if she
knew of it-how her eyes would darken
with scorn, not of Francoise and her
untutored heart, but disdain of him,
her lover, whom she had trusted so en-
tirely.
Then in the midst of all, q letter
came, and one that for the moment
took his breath away, for it was from
Viviane's uncle.
He was coming down himself to see
about something he felt he could best
superintend in person, and he was
bringing Viviane with him.
Charles was with Francoise when
the letter was given to him, and he
opened and read it.
"Viviane coming here!'' he said aloud
in his surprise, forgetting for the mo-
ment that FRANCHISE was beside him.
Whatever the Mexican girl read in
his face, her own suddenly blanched,
and passionate light shot into her
dreamy eyes, completely changing
them for the moment.
She caught his arm with both her
slender brown hands, and looked up
into his face.
"Who is Vivianep' she said.
A flush rose to his face.
IA friend of nine" he answered
slowly.
IA friendP" she repeated; 'thon tell
me-swear to me, that she is no more" I"
His face darkened, and he pushed
her hands from his arm.
''Swearp" he said; ''that is rather too
much to ask, Franchise
''But you love me-you have told me
80. You have sworn to that many
times" she said.