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


ALA Siums, I loUe you-love
you as ] never loved a woman before !!
Mark. now that 1 know such love is
,opeless, that l may never hop for yotr
regard. l still solemnly assert, I love
,oui Believe me false, believe me a.
ibettine, but believe me sincere in the
chat you are the only woman
have ever loved. In losing you lose
alI-God help me !-all-all-all!"
Aud, thro wing his hand to his head,
be pltinged with unsteady steps from the
room. lesting ALA white and pitiful.
Through the halls 10 the dressing-room,
obliyious OF sundry wayfarers-out into
the streets and the chill morning air,
reeling like one intoxicated. o., on,
down the still lone street, block after
block, his hat now in his hand and the
damp air hiiings bis bair--uow " on. his
head, as some policeman or other lone
pedestrian approached.
At last, just past a lamp-which flick
cred sicklily-he quickly took some.
thing from his pocket, and glanced fur.
lively around. A few steps further and
his hat was again in his hand; his righ
raised this something to his temples.
A shot sharply penetrated the dsrf
atmosphere. but it went not into tht
brain of Eustace Houtean
The numbering hand was thrust firmly
aside, and the pistol fred itself into tn,
air. He turned fercely.
"Oalone!"
The power IN the hand that had seize(
his arm could not have belonged to th,
frail Oalone!
"Come-come down this street. Tn,
policeman J" she grasped.
The agony in the face Of him SD,
loved had been too much for the ten de
heart of Oslone Retichko.
As be sped from the house, she quick
ly followed. The front door had scarcel,
closed on bin ere.she made her exit un
observed through the basement. Oh
through the heavy shadows OF the stree
she folloW we'd this man she so loved
whom she had just heard avew his Low,
for another. "Where would he 90
What would be dos' She was hauntet
by desperate presentment that he woult
commit suicide.
why do you meet me herep Let m,
go!" be said, roughly. But she pulled
him down the dark side street, saying
"Save yourself; the policeman will asl
you questionable heard very muct
noise"
"Whv did you stop me-you of al
others"
sAh, you love not Oalone, she very
well knows; but Oslone loves you-st
well, she would not see you die"
"You love me! Why do you low
me ?"
Sab, true, true, Theodore!" How
sweetly she spoke the word the lin
gering vowel and thrilled "r-r" making
softest music. "True, why does Oalon,
love you when she believes we'll, so we'll
you love Mees Simms 7"
"What do you meanf Curse 1t all,
what do Let me 60, l tell you!
But Oalone held him, and for all his
rough language be could not shake hel
off.
"Llsten. You make me one promise
You have been very much false TO me-
but / forgive you if you make me one
promise. Promise you will not kill
yourself. You kill yourself, and you
will be more wicked-you will be COW.
ard-God will not forgive your sin.
But you live and be good man; show
Mees Simms you can be good man
that she can no more say she have not
much good regard for you. She will
regard you much she maybe love you
some tiane."
The cold little hands held his arms
like a wise. The cream-tinted face, with
Its starry eyes, eagerly apturned to his
He gss'd at her for a moment in
amsdament. His distraction fed as he
took In the meaning of her sentences.
This girl, who bad told him mo.
ment befots that she loved him herself,
was pleading for him TO merit the love
Of anotherl Such a sacrifice was more
than his nature could comprehend.
In his frenzied mood he grew mis-.
trustful of the innocent Oalone, to whom
he had been attracted for that very in
nocence. "She is foreigner. They
are al0aus jealous. She Is assembling !;
it is all plot for herself"
"Leave me, you little snake"
He wrenched himself violently from
her. She staggered back. stood Ill an
instant, then fell to the ground with q
moan.
But Eustace Houtean was not utterly
devoid Of human sympathy. He had
not walked half block ere he regretted
his violence.
He remembered the tender face, and
the love and pity for him that had shone
from her eyes, aud he turned back. He
started as he saw her lying In heap on
the pavement. He raised her tenderly
"Poor Oalone! am indeed a wretch T.
She opened her eyes, and under the
impulse be bent and kissed her.
She looked at him with an unhlush.
ing, apathetc quietness, and drew softly
away from him as she stoo | up.
'Oalone, forgive me il you can. /
am not worthy of your thought. But
will. obey you, so help me God! 1
promise what yon ask Goodnight"
sc ,oa-night, Theodore"
A dusky flush settled in her cheeks, a
light in her eyes. She stood and watch
ed him down the street, then turned and
walked in the opposite direction
'November's sky is chill and drear,
Novembsr's leaf is red and scar"
As ALA Simms sits looking into the old
familiar street in New York. She is,
over the drama that the last
four or five years of her life have thrown
out to her.
Four yours! She cannot realize that
it is so long ago since Eustace Houtean
lost his once important place in this
drama.
Of the dramqt;s PERSONS there are sew.
eral other important characters; but one.
In point of pleasursble interest, seems
to take FIRST rank. In the gathering oil
the characters for the last act be stands
foremost.
Charles Burritt, long back from the
South-the ''little 10" now sturdy and