Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1884-01-17

/ ing Just n ne onght under the circum-
| stances-
At last was dsirrm' ned 10 BE- n,ean
enough 10 listen and bear il | could
what they were talking asout ~ earn
cstly In the studio.
Me, found out at once, for Jack had
just spoken my naule ~ | guiltily
put my ear to the keyhole. a dis
graceful thing 20 do. admit, but as /
mean this 10 be fiit,ful account Of
my birthday. and as really did listen
at the keyhOle, record IL.
II have made great mistake" said
Jack, signing heavily.
couldn't distinguish Mr.. Griffiths'
reply, but ], hushing uy breath, heard
Jack say again:
| 1T has always heeH my mothers
wish. did it more 10 p ease her,
suppose. She loves bird dearly, and
With dry sob fell forward on the
rug. could not have stirred then had
they opened the door anl saw me there
HE has found out his early that he
has made mistake, has he?" ] thought
bitterly when my brsin stopped whirl-
1 u ~
please his mother that he asked me to
become his wife! And to think he
should reveal his disappointment to
that herrid old Griffith first! o. it was
too humiliating."
resolved TO rclca's him at once, but
again listened, having n dim hope, /
suppose ths, perhaps my ears had de-
ceived me.
'If II suits my mother" began
Jack.
That's not the thing" interrupted
Griffith. You never would be suited.
She lacks expression aud -
"Yes, know -natur..lnnss---l know
the faults-for I'm better acquainted
with Birdie than you are, Griffith"
ITO be sure" assented Griffith.
Mouth too large; eyes very vacant, I've
noticed. advise you 10 give it up"
"Fll take your advice said Jack
emphatically. and then rushed to my
| room.
So through Griffith 5 advice" which
Jack seemed SO ready to take, my brief
little romance was to be shattered.
Well, would never stay and let HIM
see my heart break, too; for felt sure
l never could live throt.Gh this trouble.
So dear had Jack in the role of lover
become TO me in few short hours.
And so some way-now it Ill seems
like q vague dream 10 me- found
myself wandering aiin!essly down a
strange street, not knowing or caring
where my steps tended. Some work
men cbstructed the Sidewalk and was
obliged to cross the street,
| l remember Of stepping down and
advancing a few STEPS, Of hearing
hoarse shouts Of warning. feeling a
sudden shock, and then all was blank.
When | returned to CONSEQUENCES |
was in q strange room, everything was
strange 10 me.
"Where am Ip' asked. although l
could see no one. What has happen
edp"
'You are with friends said low
voice near me, and turning my eyes
they fell on swee;-taced lady not yet
old, although her hair was nearly
white, sitting near me.
.'How came here?' demanded in
a weak, startled voice.
After brief consultation with the
woman, evidently the nurse, the lady
decided to explain the situation.
..You are weak, but trust to your
good sense to remain calm while l tell
you why you arc here. About u month
ago you were crossing the street and
my husband and l accidentally ran
against and severely injurc.. you.
There was nothing about you to iden-
tify you, so we brought you home"
''And this was month ago; has
no one been here? Did you adver-
tise2"
No." replied the lady. at was re-
ported in the police news, believe, as
my husband had TO pay a large fine for
his carelessness, but never thought of
advertising for your friends. Isupposed
they would go to the station and then
be directed here, if you had any in the
CITY,"
II have none," said bitterly. Il
was only founding, living upon char
ity all my life"
was reckless did not think how
Unnecessary it was to speak of my own
history to a stranger.
A whole month had lain there and
no one had called.
And my pale, thin hands showed how
near to deaths door had been. AS I
lay looking at my wasted fingers no.
ticed my ring was gone.
Hastily / inquired where it was. My
new-found acquaintance blushed, and
then said:
"Will you allow my husband to talk
with you few moments? He has your
cameo"
In a few moments tall, handsome
gentleman accompanied her into the
room.
"Years ago." he began, alter apollo
gizing for being the cause of my i'll
ness, and congratulating me upon my
recovery, "Ihad a pair of canoes carv-
ed in this city. They were unlike any,
thing ever seen here. | had them set
in pair of earrings for my wife. One
night our house was robbed by a trust
cd servant; the canoes were taken
along with other valuables."
"Was anything else takenP" asked,
sitting upright, forgetting for a mo-
ment my weak state.
The gentleman strove to control his
emotion, but his wife was silently weep
ing near the window.
Eyes. our only child" he replied
brokenly. '.Now will you tell me
how you came by this cameo, for it is
the sameP to-day took it to she~per-
son who carved it for me SO long ago,