Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1884-04-03

shrubbary, 'good.by sweet old home;
you are ~ be nine no longer! And /
thought to have been so happy here
this summer with darling Evelyn
Hope. How little we know what lies
before us in this dreary, dreary world. "
She leaned her flushed cheek against
her slender hand and looked dreamily
out over the golden summer landscape
while the slow tears dropped one by
one upon the pale blue muslin Of her
morning dress. From this sad reverie
she was suddenly reused by the voice
of the housekeeper
miss Tina" said the old lady, hur-
rying out on the piazza, as fast as the
dignity of her go years and her stiff
black dress would allow; "you must
make haste in. Your papa and his
new bride have come"
"Papa GOMEZ Ernestine sprang up,
growing red and pale by turns, "you
must be mistaken, Mrs. Dyer. He
! telegraphed that he would not return
before tomorrow morning at the very
earliest. | shall not advance single
step to welcome one who is but an in
truder on my heart and home!"
Ernestine Ray spoke with crimsoned
cheeks and heart pulsing high with re-
bellious defiance; but at the same ms
lance Judge Ray entered the piazza
through the wide open French case.
ment that led from the drawing room
He was tall handsome man, some
seven and thirty years of age, with a
manner whose calm dignity brooked
no opposition.
"Tina; my daughter" he said, gent
ly, as he took her hand in his. 81
have returned day earlier than tel
egraphed to you in order to prevent
if possible, your mad folly in leavlug
your home for whim.
at is no whim, papa she broke
in.
81 think you will confess i: your
self, my daughter" he said smiling
} upon sober second thonghts. Come
with me now and welcome her who i!
henceforth to be the honored mistress
of Woodville, and your dearest com
panion. She is anXiounsly awaiting
you in the llbrary-come!"
Tina strove to draw away her hand
but Judge Rays grasp was to firm t.
be easily eluded, and mechanically sh
followed him into the stately apart
l menL at the end of the hall which ha'
always gone by the name of library.
A lady was standing there alone
} and in the one hurried glance whlc
} Ernestine ventured to steal from be
meath the eyelashes, she could see tina
s the newcomer was tall, young an
Y graceful, even though her back wa
turned to them as she stood gazing ou
of the bay window.
"My wife, will you bid welcome t
my child?' sasd Judge Ray, and tn
Y stranger turned at the sound of h
= voice. In an instant Ernestine wa
d clasped in her arms.
t "Tina-my own iove!'
"Oh! Evelyn, | never dreame
= that it was you'll"
# For Judge Rays new wife an
{, Ernestlne's stepmother was none 9TH
S tnan Evelyn Hope!
y "Because you tore up your father
" letter without half reading it, and fo
= babe me ever again to address you {
" the subject said the bride, as SOC
as Tina's enthusiastic kisses wou
:! allow her to speak. "But have Ike
a my word dearest l will let you liz
is with me always. And tell me, Tina
she added archly. "are you determi
ed to hate your stepmother now?'
d "Oh, papa Evelyn" falter'
n Ernestine, looking up with brigt
y flushed face. 81 am the happiest gl
a in the whole world!'
= And she really believed that S