Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1885-08-20

sdrnit, don't Be angry, tins quiet lovely
evening"
Istopped. The white figure drew Close to
the tan, dark figure, and, as wen as could
see, she laid her bead against his shoulder.
He pushed her OF with o savage oath, and /
saw HIM staiking back 10 the house. Do you
know, Thought Iheard a sob, which made me
feel queer; for never like to hear woman
, or a child cry; life seems too short for It.
In went the great strong form, after fol-
lowed Vanity's slow, white figure; bang
went the door, not shut by her hand, / win
be positive; and somehow through the crash
thought heard cry Of pain or fear. And
that was all / sawi
You may be sure turned this incident
over in my mind good many times; and
though made nothing out of 1t, l resolved
to tell Willie what had seen. II was clear
that at present the old father was not the
only inmate of Tumbledown Farm; for
though could not discern any feature, the
form of this stranger was that Of great.
able-bodied man. Was he a visitor onlyi
Why, then, should he charge her with being
late night after nighti And how should a
visitor speak TO her In 30 violent q mannerl
Was he a brotheri Was he a husbandl
Miss AFFORD herself could not have felt more
curious than I, as 1 pondered these questions.
One thing was clear to my mind: Willie did
not know about his sweetheart all that was
necessary to be known by q lover. l re-
solved to start him on the track Of inquiry;
and it happened, curiously enough, that
soon after he came to me to talk over his
love affairs, which had come to crisis.
In his interviews with Vanity he had now
plainly betrayed ths lover, in spite of the
shyness that always hung over him in her
presence. In retJIn she interspersed the
fippant gayety of her manner with little
snatches of seriousness, just enough to en-
courage him in thinking that her heart was
touched. Had her conduct wanted these
polite strokes, the spell by which she bound
him must surely have melted away. For as
she grew more familiar her free and easy
style of talking became more marked, and
even Willie-lover though he was-started
sometimes at her sallies. Vanity seemed
color-blind, so to speak, as to ordinary dis
tinctions between propriety and impropriety.
He tried to reassure himself hg recalling all
he had ever read or heard about prudes being
at heart less virtuous than flirts. and de-
clared to me that "The Merry Wives of
Windsor taught memorable lesson In this
Vanity's behavior remained q source of mis-
giving He was often on the point of break
ing loose; but one droop of her long-lashed
eyes, OF a softer note in her fine metallic
voice, would scatter his doubts to the winds,
and restore his wavering allegiance.
They had arranged new meeting place
little swinging gate, which you may see
even now standing at the corner of the
plantation. So far they kept up pretense
of accident in these encounters, for Willie
thought it indelicate to hint at anything like
an appointment with a woman who had not
vet accepted him as lover. Respectable
behavior was born in that dear boy! But
accidentally, on purpose, they met; and
sunset after sunset found them at this swing
ing gate, ready to stroll off different ways,
if need arose. At last, one Saturday night,
Willie resolved to speak his mind. Vanity
was leaning upon the gate, swinging herself
to and fro at times, OF fitting her white fin
ger tips into the blossoms of long stalk of
foxglove, which she had plucked as she
walked Apainter might have chosen her
as a model of temptress Well she knew
her power over the artless manly young
fellow at her side. l-r ...l. pr.
Willie was not inclined to talk; for, with a
beating heart, he was planning how to open
his declaration of love- The sunlight, as it
sunk, tipped the tree-tops with gold, and far
below a mist was stealing up the great
valley; the butterflies had vanished long
ago, and now and then beetle went by On
whirring WINGS the brooklet ran away from
beside them, and wound and babbled across
the field. Nature and Love had the scene all
to themselves.
"Vanity!" said Willie, at last. He had
always called her ''Miss Hardware" until
now, and felt that this was great stride to
make in breath So he said it again, like a
man going to burn his bridge, ''Vanityl"
Miss Vanity showed not the least surprise,
and gave no sign of pleasure or displeasure
"What is itF' she asked, studying the pink
thimble of foxglove on her forefnger with
the.most alluring carelessness. Have you
any news to tell mes' Eta.rl.. ....
''What white handn' cried Willie, feeling
more himself all of sudden. "a pretty
little white-handr' ........
Gasping for breath-so he told me himself
"There are no rings to set it off," Vanity
said, looking at her hand with pout. Then
her face rippled into smile and a laugh.
''The flowers look pretty while they last,
don't they?' She dallied with the half-dis-
nantled stem-a witch, if ever woman was
Willie, trembling all over, resolved to cross
the bridge and burn it.
"Cover your hand with diamonds, cover it
until every finger carries fortune, he cried,
'and the hand would not look SO beautiful as
now, or be so dear"
Vanity smiled, pleased with his compli-
| ment, it seemed, not the least flustered! Oh,
used to having her fingers toyed with, be
sure of that!
Willie grew bolder; he caught her hand in
| his.
vanity, dear Vanity!"
"Yes," she said. ''What have YOU got to
say to Vanity--dear Vonityw
She raised her eyes, so that the last beam
of sunlight touched them and irradiated their
dangerous brilliancy.
"May I-may ~ Willie trembled at his
own daring, yet he lifted the hand to his lips
while he thus asked leave to kiss it.
Vanity burst out laughing.
"May I-may I! Of course you may!" she
cried. ''Dear timid lad! Look here!' s
Light as q flying bird, and as graceful, she
touched his cheek with her lips, skimming
away after a pressure which would have
scarcely hurt butterfy's wing. But her
breath was on him, and her brilliant, laugh
ing eyes were sparkling close to his. Delight
delight with pain in a-shot through Will
lies heart BE had no time to search out his
own feelings, however, for an unexpected
interruption diverted his thoughts.
Can pass nou2" demanded an imperious
voice behind him, with marked emphasis.
"lf it will not be inconvenient.
| Willie looked round There stood Nancy