Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1885-12-10

n
A shrug Of the shoulders. a low bow,
and the gentleman expressed his will
ing obedience to the lady's command.
The sudden change from the ball
room TO the quiet library seemed 10
steady tho lady's nerves. She had
trembled so violently in the short walk
from one room to the other that her
escort had to give her very real sup
port aud assistance. but as she closed
the door Of the library she gathered up
new courage. and her voice, though.
low, was clear, as she said:
"Mr. Gordon. u few short weeks ago
you honorcd me by a proposal Of mar
riage. DO not think me bold or un-
maidenly TO mention this before third
person until l tell you my reason. l
refused you, and yet, in spite of my
utmost cndcavor to conceal the truth,
you knew that loved you. What ag-
oEy it cost me to send you away-to
try to tear you out Of my heart-you
can never know. loved you. but /
would not marry you because | be-
lieved, and have believed for years
eight long weary years-that l had
blood-stained hands-that | mad MUIR
dered the man know tonight still
lives" f..g' .I47r. s
"Your intention to murder me was
good" was the cold sneering answer.
"You know that to be false--as false
as all else in your cruel faithless life.
But Mr.. Gordon, will, think, believe
me-" ftDf
sin all things" was the quiet firm
assurance.
"You know little of my life," she
said, turning her pale beautiful face
towards him; "but its utter misery and
desolation no one can ever know but
myself. My aunt hated me, grudging
me my very existence; my father never
drew sober breath. At seventeen l
had never had any knowledge of home
happiness or home love. found my
only pleasure in study, and the old
minister of the village lent me books,
and helped me. Brain-hunger he sat-
isfied; heart-hunger ! bore for years.
''Into such life romance and dream
ing come with a force that happy girls
can hardly imagine, and l dreamed
impossible visions of love and lovers.
And with my empty heart, my vision
ary longings, l met Sidney CARL. He
was to me the embodiment of every
hero of whom had ever read-hand-
some, winning, gracious. Why he
made himself my apparent lover he
alone can tell; for, winning all my
girlish devotion, he gave mo only a
semblance of love in return. am
very frank, and if / pain you, forgive
me, for / must tell the whole truth
now.
II was but seventeen. but, with all
the fervor of youth, ali the tender po-
etry of imagination, invested my hero
with every virtue, and gave him a
worshipping love. And by every art
his false heart had studied, he wooed
me to love him. How could my ig-
norance meet his craftP How could
my innocence suspect his falsehoodP
All through one long summer he made
my life FOOLS paradise, and / was
blindly, utterly happy, scarcely look
ing forward day, so completely con
tent in the present. We lived near the
sea, and within easy walking distance
of our cottage there was q high rocky
cliff, overhanging deep water, many
feet below. Oftentimes I have turned
sick and dizzy looking over the rocky
ledge down to the angry waters that
dashed against it far below. But it
was favorite walk, the approach
from the village being gradual as
cent. Here l met my lover often,
walking to and fro upon the edge of
the cliff, thinking nothing of danger,
when my hero was beside me. I was a
fool, grant. but l had some excuse
for my folly, for never was great
lady more delicately, tenderly wooed
and won.
Autumn came, and in October Mr..
CARL told me he must return to the
city-to his home and business. One
more walk upon the cliff, and then he
must leave me. But even then did
not doubt his loyalty, or that he would
return to me. l met him on the cliff
walk, and then he told me cruel
truth. In words so gently spoken they
might have been caress, he told me
he was not free, but the promised hus-
band of great city belle-a woman
for whom he professed to have no love,
but who had social position, accom-
plishments, riches--all that had not.
And as l stood dazed, stunned, his
words ringing like knell in my be-
wildered brain, he came towards me
xry;tb aytopIaA oru,o u
You have never kissed me! Kiss
me now, in token of forgivness'
"All the woman in my child's heart
rose to resent the insult, and when he
was near to me | pushed him back
with all my force-pushed him, as
Heaven is my witness, only to prevent
his touching me! But / was strong
and angry, and my arms had an un-
suspected force. | pushed him over
the cliff AS he reele,l and vanished
from my sight my senses left me, and
/ fell. must have lain long uncon-
scious, for it was dark when at last
fully awoke and realized what I had
done---what was!"
She covered her face for moment,
while both mon stood silently waiting.
one in a sullen defiance, the other with
a pity too deep for commonplace
words.
"How he escaped" Hester present.
ly continued, Il cannot tell; but have
carried for eight years my heavy bur-
den of undeserved remorse. Could I
60 to a good mans home with such q
sin upon my soulp Could l be the wife
Of good man, believing myself q
murderessp"