The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1885-11-19

himself a great catch, and it never
entered his calculations TO be regarded as
an infer or by any one Yao possessed less
money than himself. He was simply and
frankly unable to estimat worth by any
other standard. Birth, education, refine
ment, he considered accidental qualities,
like the shape of ones nose: the first
always valueless, the second and third
occasionally useful as q means of support,
and not bad for women. 1t was no doubt
the peculiar delicacy of Myra's beauty and
the dainty polish of her manner that made
her so attractive to him, and perhaps it
was scarcely his fault that even on these
points he was half incapable Of appreciate
ing her. Smoketon manners were by no
means deliberately finished; were, in fact,
but roughly blocked out. So it is small
wonder that when Myra lifted her great,
pathetic eyes to his and murmured "Thank
you so much" in return for his gifts of
fruit and candy, he should fancy that her
manner meant fra, far more than the loud
voiced gratitude of the bellies of Smoketon.
On the other hand, while Myra readily
understood that Stephen admired her, it
would have been impossible for her to
realize that he looked upon her in full Sc
curity as his whenever he chose to claim
her. The gulf between them was, to her
eyes, so impassably abyssmal. 1t was true
she had never given him a grain-or at
least not more than q grain-of what her
own conscience or a man in her W circle
would have called ENCOURAGEMENT. She
had refused his invitations to drives,
theatres, etc., without hesitation or excep-
ton, but on the. plea of her deep mourning,
and with eyes of such tender sadness that
Stephen quite believed it to be only. those
COMPOUNDED fashions" that stood in the
way. And when he came to the house it
was quite impossible to refuse to see him.
He was q good-hearted, honest sort of fell
low, Myra thought, though rather monot-
onous if one had him seven times o week,
ton, and his range of thought was narrow
in the extreme. That terrible Miss Bangs,
who called one afternoon in an a~pple-green
silk and velvet which would have been hor-
rible even a she not been so conscious of
it, and who was so evidently in love with
intelligent. A very good wife for him, too,
if he would only be brought to believe it.
1t was so much better for people to marry
in their W class.
The truth was, Myra as well as Stephen,
judged her fellows by a standard Of her
truly measured things by the eternal veri-
ties was poor, homely, neglected Mod.
Consequently when Stephen, at last,
asked Myra to be his wife and was rejected
with a naughty surprise which b could
not quite conceal, it was Mod who was
understood the whole matter perfectly, for
it was, in fact, the presence of Champ
Preston in Smoketon which had hurried
him on to a declaration.
GA long, lazy, tow-headed fool,o was his
terse description of the all-conquering
Champ, whose soft voice, handsome face,
languid elegance of manner not to speak
of his attractions in the way of. stocks,
bonds and landed property, had for several
seasons made him the lion of Eastern
of Mr.. Tracy's death. Immediately upon
his return he followed Myra to Smoketon,
where, as he coolly informed her 1t was
his intention to bivouac with the aborigines
until she was ready to be married and re-
turn with him to civilization.
Myra readily allowed herself to be per-
suaded. Smoketon was more distasteful
to her than ever since Stephen had taken
his dismissal in such vehementiy bad part.
"He seemed actually to think I was in love
with him, and declined to be convinced
that srh / wa: d. n's DO, 'h my s'9 asas,n e he eha replied,
languidly. "If a fellow is decently civil
to one of tho daughters of the land she
thinks directly he. is wildly enamored of
her. Don't be afraid of this aspiring but
dingy sutton; high tragedy in owe has
gone quite out of style, a assure YOU"
IL hou ~ d Ous ouu
YOU should have heard how h went on.
It was thoroughly shocking and disgust
ing."
"Horribly bad FORM" assented Champ,
meditatively caressing his long, yellow
mustache.
Stephen fully believed himself to have
been outrageously trifed with. 81 don't
blame her." he sal to the lo~ng-suffering
Mod, "for he's got ten times the money I
have; but it s pretty rough on a fellow, all
the same, to be sacked like this; and I'll
get even with him yetw
"That's the trouble" said Mod, perfectly
unconscious that she was e~nunciating q
profound truth. "That's the trouble,
Stephen, about money. You are certain
to meet some n who is worth more than
you are. For my part l wish there was no
such thing, people care SO much about it. -
Stephen carried matters with a very
high hand. He laughed more, drank more,
and talked louder and faster than ever in
his life; but once, when he and Mod were
passed by the stylish equipage in which
Champ and Myra were driving, poorMod
felt her heart sink within her at the dark
glance which Stephen sent after the pair,
muttering under his breath: $50 it while
you're young, old fellow; but you amt
married yet"
Mod had ample opportunity to observe
him closely, for he set up q rival team to
Champs and took her out behind it every
day, usually managing to cross the track
of the other couple once at least during the
drive. He also purchased q revolver, and
practiced daily until his incredible per:
Torrance upon a silver half dime made
poor Mods blood run cold.
Ought not Champ Preston to be warned!
But how and of What? She could only
wait and watch.
The wedding day arrived-a warm Feb.
ruary Notwithstanding with rain. In
deed, it had rained fer two days over al
the surrounding country The river wal
unusually high, and the Smoketon Dali,
Trumpet had already warned its readers tx
expect a flood. But Smoketonians were
thoroughly accustomed to floods. Som,
families on the low ground near the rivel
were washed out regularly every spring
and accepted the misfortune calmly as
necessary part of the inevitable spring
cleaning, SO the warning blast was les,
effective than perhaps the foresight of tn
Trumpet deserved.
"Happy is the bride the sun shines on
quoted Stephen grimly, as he stood at hi
chamber window carefully examining hi
revolver; IAN blessed is the corpse tina
the rain falls upon" he added q momen
later.
Mods premises adjoined his, and she say
it all. The marriage ceremony was to tax
place at nine O'Clock, and the happy pal
were to go: directly to the railway station
"Will he be at the church," QUESTION:
/ u VI hCk oCi1s u GU Ii oh'
could not answer. What shall I do!" sh
cried miserably; go, my God! VIVA
shall I do?"
He was not among the spectators whor
eve the pouring rain could not keep ava,
from the church door, and, once Statistic
of this, Mod turned her steps toward tn
station. There he was, sure enough, dee
in conversation with a railway otficia
There was a strange glitter in his eyel
and his dark, handsome face was deadl
pale. From head to heel he was buttone
carefully into a shining rubber coat, an
Mod felt sure that in his bosom lay a harm
less looking little toy, as bright as a jewe
that needed to be kept dry.
Incased also in rubber, and wearing
heavy green veil, 1T was easy for the gil
to have passed him unrecognized an
establish herself in the door of the ladie
waiting room, towards which his back We
turned as he leaned a shoulder against th
wall, and whence she could nave reache
out her han and laid it On his shoulder.
"Goin' AWAY" asked the official, wit
| khof fal1s-~ snaaoAfo, ruhsnh lnnotac