The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1884-01-24

orphan DEOGnerS or Sisters, ana
evidently without any large share of
this worlds goods; and she lived with
her aunt and uncle, who were childless
people, and who usually spent the sum-
mer in Switzerland, retiring to the Ri
veira every winter for the benefit of
Mr.. Shackleford's remaining lung.
Quite simple and unaffected, Ruby
seemed, though she had passed most of
her lifetime in the too knowing atmos-
phere of Continental hotels, among that
Cosmopolitan public which is so very
sharp-sighted that it fancies it can see
entirely through such arrant humbug
as honor in men and maidenly reserve
in women. Still, from that world Ruby
Estcourt had somehow managed to
keep herself quite ~urspotted; and a
simpler, prettier, more natural little
fairy you wouldn't find anywhere in the
English villages of half a dozen coun-
ties.
1t was all so fresh and delightful to
me-the palms, the Mediterranean, the
balmy evening air, the cleaning white
town, and pretty Ruby Estcourt-that
1 walked up and down the terrace as
long as they would let me; and l was
really sorry when good Mrs. Shackle-
ford at last suggested that it was sure
ly getting time for uncle's game of crib
bage. As they turned to go, Ruby said
good evening, and then, hesitating for
a moment as to my name, said quite
simply and naturally, "Why, you
haven't yet told us who you are, have
your"
1 colored a little-happily invisible
by moonlight-as / answered: "That
was an omission on my part, certainly.
When you told me you were Miss Est
| court, I ought to have mentioned in re-
turn that my own name was Akin
Payne, Theodore Aikin-Payne, if you
please: I give you a card?"
"Aching Paint Ruby said, with a
smile. "Did I hear you right? Aching
Pain, is it? o, what a very funny
namer'
1 drew myself up as stifiy as I was
able. "Not Aching Pain" l said, with
a doleful ~misgiving in my heart-it was
clear everybody would put that odd
misinterpretation upon it for the restoi
my days. 'Not Aching Pain, but.Aikin.
Payne, Miss Estcourt. Akin, Akin,
the Atkins of Staffordshire; Payne,
Payne, the Paynes of Surrey. My orig.
inal was Payne, a surname
that l venture to say I'm a little proud
of; but myuncle, Mi. Akin, from whom
1 inherit property" I thought that wa:
rather a good way of putting it,
'wished me to adopt his family name
in addition to my own-in fact, made il
a condition, sine qua non, of my receiv-
ing the property"
f.Payne-Aikin," Ruby said, turning
the names over to herself slowly. 'Ah
yes, 1 see. Excuse my misrepresentation
Mr.. Aikin-Payne. 1t was very foolish
of me; but really, you know, it doe
sound 80 very ludicrous, doesn't i
now?'' saI ftiy 81 MAJ .la4
l bit my lip and tried to smile bacl
again. Absurd that a man should b.
made miserable about such a trifle; ant
yet l will freely confess that at that mo
ment, in spite of my uncle's twelve
hundred a year, 1 felt utterly wretched
1 bowed to pretty little Ruby as well a
I was able, and took a couple NOR
turns by myself hurriedly around th'
terrace. -s.4 t4t1 Ia VS.. B..
Was it only fancy, or did 1 really de
tect, as Ruby Estcourt said the tw'
names owe to herself just now,that sh,
seemed to find the combination a ia
miliar oneP I really didn't feel sur
about it; but it certainly did sound a
If she had once known something abou
the Paynes or the Atkins. All, well
there are lots Of Paynes and Atkins il
the world, no doubt; but alas! there
only one of them doomed to 90 through
life with the absurd label OF an Akin
Payne fastened upon his unwillin:
shoulders.
III.
"Good morning, MR-Mr. Akin
Payne" said Ruby Estcourt, stumblin!
timidly yer the name, as we met in tn
sa2e-G-manger at breakfast next day
81 hope you don't feel any the wors
for the chilly air last evening"
to have some difficulty ifs re
Numbering my full name, Miss Est
court" l said, SUCCESSFULLY. "Suppos
you call me simply Mr.. Payne. Iv
been accustomed to it until quite lately
and to tell you the truth, 1 don't alto
gether relish the new addition"
81 should think not, indeed" Rub,
answered, frankly. 81 never hear,
such a ridiculous combination in all m
life before. I'm sure your uncle mus
have been a perfect old bear to impos
it upon you"
ut was certainly rather cruel @
him,"I replied, as carelessly as l could
'.or at least rather t~houghtless. Idar
say, though, the absurdity of the tw
names put together never struck him
What are you going to do with your
selves to-day, Mr.. Shacklcford? Every
body at Cannes has nothing to do bu
to amuse themselves, I suppose
Mr.. Shackleford answered that the
were going to drive over in the mornin
to Vallauris, and that if | cared to share
carriage with them, he would be happ
to let me accompany his party. Moth
ing could have suited my book better
l was alone, l wanted society an
amusement, and 1 had never seen
prettier girl than Ruby Estcourt. Her
was the very thing 1 needed, ready Gu
out to my hand by propitious fortune
Mr.. Shackelford, being a pei
son of limited income, and ba
walker, had only one desire in life
which was to get somebody else to pa
half his carriage fares for him by al
FaNp6IuenG- we WeHI 10 u gTedG Iliu
places together, and he always divide
the expenses equally between us, a
though L ought only to have paid
quarter, as his party consisted of thre
people, while 1 was one solitary bact
elor. This apparent anomaly he &C
over on the ingenious ground that ii
had taken a carriage by myself it woul
have cost me just twice as much. How
ever, as 1 was already decidedly anxior
for pretty little Ruby Estcourt's soci.
not weigh heavily upon me. Beside
a man who has just come into twelv
. hundred a year can afford to be genel
Gus in the matter of hackney carriage
!, We had a delightful drive along til
shore of that beautiful blue gulf to Va
lauris, and another delightful driv
back again over the hills to the Par;
dis. True, old Mr.. Shackleford prove