The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1884-07-17

room. only to sink down again. this
time in blessed Inconsistencies:
A pretty little cottage set in q small
garden that in summer was all bright
with flowers, but looked cold and
dreary enough now.
Inside, however, there was light and
warmth enough, and on her knees q
woman, Young and beautiful, claspino
a child of three or four years old to
her breast, and standing at the mantel-
piece, a man. the expression of whose
face at the moment was perfectly un-
readable.
1t might be love; it might be hate. or
a mixture of both, that filed his hand
some. dark, evil eyes, as they rested on
| the woman.
Suddenly he went over and put his
hand on her shoulder.
This must end, Sibyl," he said. "I
cannot trust you. feel you will play
me false in some way. There is some
thing in your manner that dom like"
The woman leaped to her feet and
faced him with passionate glowing eyes.
You cannot trust mep" she cried.
.'Would to Heaven you could not.
What | am, you have made me, and
yet loved you once"
The mans face grew dark.
''Loved me once! Then you do not
love me nowa"
mo-" she cried, "only for her sake,
whom love better than my life, am l
still your slave"
The mans clasp tightened ON her
shoulder, and he bent his head nearer
to her face.
''This is the last game you will have
to play; but if you turn traitor you will
never look ON Esta's face again, and
you know generally manage to keep
my promises. Become We're ST.
five thousand a year, and will give up
all claim to Esta, and never trouble you
or her again.
The woman kneeling there is Sibyl
Meredith, the betrothed wife of We're
st. George.
1t is bright clear day overhead.
one week later, and the ice is most
tempting to those to whom skating is
enjoyment, and the ice is bright scene
4! of fair faces and brilliant costumes.
One of the skaters on the ice is Sibyl
Meredith. looking singularly beautiful
in skating-dress of navy-blue velvet,
her jetty curls falling loosely down her
back, from under the little velvet cap.
made to match the dress, both being
trimmed with silver fox.
At little distance from the pond
another girl is standing, gazing idly ut
the gay throng, her eyes, however, full
of wistful pain.
Avis Leigh has changed greatly since
her parting with We're St. George. Hers
was not nature to love lightly, and
her heart could never love again.
The dream had been perilously sweet,
but the awakening was terribly cruel.
The lovely face is very pale now. the
sweet lips, half dropping, seeming to
know no longer how to smile, and the
roundness has left her cheeks.
She looks fragile enough for breath
| to blow her away.
Her eyes turn now to little dark
eyed girl who is venturesome enough
| to walk quite distance on the ice, then
run back again, seeming to enjoy it
with child's merriment.
Suddenly cry leaves Avis lips, q
cry of warning to the fearless child.
who has dashed out ON q thin shell of
ice marked dangerous.
No wonder, then, second cry leaves
Avis lips. and one fraught with more
terror. for she hears crushing crack
ling sound, and the child, seeming to
realize her danger, turns to run back;
but all too late, for with the same slow
crushing sound, followed by crash,
the ice parts, and the little one disap-
pears in the water.
More than one rush to q certain dis
tance; none venture farther, and at the
upper end, where the better skaters
are assembled, and among them Sibyl
Meredith, the accident has not yet been
noticed.
For moment none ventures nearer
than safety. Then slim girlish form,
who was not among the skaters, dashcs
past them, andbefore breath could be
drawn, is down in the very spot where
the little one sank.
A moment-a minute of suspense,
during which pale faces grew still
paler, and during which the people
could hear their own heart-beats. and
then Avis had come up, the little one
! clasped in her arms.
From every heart there rose q cry of
could not help appreciating the bravery
of the girl-a cry of thankfulness
echoed again, when the little one and
her preserver were in safety, and then
then the lady in the blue velvet and
fox-fur came down from the upper lake.
Her eyes fell first on Avis, whose eyes
had closed in unconscious, and then on
the little girl.
With wild cry she caught the little
one in her arms.
my darling! my darling!" she cried:
kissing her passionately. ''HoW did
you come herep"
They bore Avis to the nearest cot
tage, and when she woke to conscious
ness, a beautiful dark face was bend
ing over her, and the locket she always
wore round her neck, with We're ST.
Georges face within it, lay open in the
strangers hand.
A flush dyed Avis face.
Pardon me-" Sibyl Meredith said;
s'it lay open and-and-" Then af-
ter n pause: You are Avis Leigh.
whom We're St. George loves. Girl,
you saved woman's soul as well as q
child's life to-day, for the little one was
. mine-mine; and If / am lost to all
other feeling, love her better than my
life'
II would not tell you, only that if it
brings me death, am going to atone
for my past by my confession. but be-
fore | 90, answer me once simple ques'
ton: DO you love We're St. George? v
Impelled by something in the dark
eyes fixed upon her face. faint '.yes
fell from Avis lips, and before she
could frame another word, the stranger
had left the room. Next day We're st.
George was standing in the garden.
when suddenly Sibyl stood before him,
and something in her face for the NOM
ent made his heart stand still.
"Sibyl," he cried, "what is ite"
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