The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1884-11-11
"When man resorts TO such means

sWhen a man resorts to such means
-"
"But tell you l do not care. love
him, and I shall marry him all the same
| sat below the clif at 1slet hearing
the talk OF two above. Two weeks had
passed. but had not gone away;I had
staid, employing every possible moment
for the winning Of the love of a girl. /
loved so madly could see no bar be
tween. For the time had come; that
moment of the morning it had
flashed on me, to grow ere the sunset a
living thing. Of madness from which ]
could not be moved.
1t was sweet, simple fact; was in
love at last With Mabel Grant. /, 1t mat
tered not that l saw that very moment
where her heart was 6x d, that she vas
SO far removed from me as though she
we're dead. For there was this hard
fact to- ihwart me. That same day /
went TO Hale Penraven had chanced upon
her on the street, despite had made a
passionate proposal, and had come down
to Islet her accepted lover But 1t mat
tered not; cen the more eagerly I strove
for the love of this girl loved so madly,
could see no bar between.
/ stopped at nothing. I was mean.
l was Contemplate. now / know; but
did not know it then or / did not care
This was, at last, the little note / sent
her:
"Her eyes the palest of china blue,
bulging saucers on the grandest scale
ber hair flaxy fiizzly. almost the tint OF
her skin where the thick-sown freckles
will let it show. Add to this her nose,
midway 'twiAt point and pug; her thick
waist, her lengthy fingers, etc. Miss
Grant, this is what your fond lover said
of your" f.
II was last desperate stroke, surely
it would touch herr, no girl could s and
words like these from man. so ! exul.
ted, never more madly than that mo-
ment. The coming day 1sat beneath
the cliff, to hear the sudden burst OF
voices just above me, to hear-my just
punishment--that she had told him all ;
that she had believed his explanation,
that she vet loved Dick Penraven
81 shall marry him all the same"
1t was the end |: the voices died aud
the passing steps. The end of Mahle
Grant. What that meant for me, ]
thought, as / sat bit and shivered.- -
As rose weariIy and followed, to wan
der far and wide through the glens of
Islet. how long know not, each moment
more weariIy, more desperately, till at
last, unconsciously nearing the little inn
upon the crest. a faint voice broKe in
upon me: fsJy ir 7 "a ra
"Mr. Darel"
I'turned to see the pretty, dark.esed
girl who had so confused me the other
day.
ell am so sorry," she went on,
strangely; II tried my best, but could
not belp it. They have gone off to be
married, Mr. Dare"
"Yes2" It was the one word l could
gasp; but, despite my pain, / could but
stare at the working face.
"Yes; and tried 80 hard because !
knew you did not want it; because-I
knew you would feel so badly, though
man is fool, Mr.. Dare, when he-when
he"
look back often to wonder at that
moment 1t was certainly very strange
thing that ] did; man with an ache in
bis heart for one woman-one woman
10 the world. But here was girl up-
consciously barring her heart to me, and
it grew 30 suddenly sweet that some one
on this earth loved me-this girl at nv
side so suddenly an essential, / could
not for the life of me have staid the
words upon my lips:
"When he knows some one else loves
him sol 1t was In your soul to say ii
-you know it was, Miss Grant Would
you be willing TOTO forgive me, and
to-harry me some day2"
She stared, she struggled good bit,
could see, ere in that blessed way she
broke down and answered, softlyt
ell know l ought rot to, Mr.. Dare
l ought not, but it was all mistake,
and it was all a. mistake, and it was |
fell in love with you that day at Ham,
isb; l ought MOTTO have passed nv
self of as Mabel, that other day, but |
could not help it, and-and-"
"And ?"
1t was certainly very strange thing
that did.
h
"You are a fool. You could have
married Mabel Grant II you had chosen,
and-this is the last l shall do for you."
"Tbis was the text Of the note re-
ceived from Mrs. Godfrey the morning
after Penraven's wedding A strange
story; bat / laughed aloud as went
down to Neil in the little parlor. l was
already very happy-toolI