Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1885-09-10
VANITY HARDWARE.
CHAPTER x

BY ALAN MUIR


VANITY ASKS A HARD THING.
For more than an hour they talked in
lovers fashion, for, difficulties having been
s,irmounted, Willie wished TO enjoy himself.
But amidst every tender speech Vanity be
rsyed an anxiety which she could not dis
yuise.
"will you trust mef' An when he vowed
be would, her reply came with misgiving;
"Are you sure YOU will trust meP
"As sure as that / live" he answered
again.
And her rejoinder was: sit will kill me II
you do not trust me-
What she feared was that something would
come out during the month What she hoped
was so to fascinate Will that, II anything
came out, he would credit not his eye, nor.
his ears, but her only. The woman was a
sorceressI Not only must she enslave his af-
fections; his very reason must be captivated.
She began to allegorize with the lad. Clev-
erly enough, you observe, and as follows:
.ssThere is a story In the Arabian Nights
Willie-a terrible storyl Often shuddered
as l read it. You ought to hear it now, my
boy"
''Tell 1t me, them
AZ sno UP VI iusso., s.ons 49, 49,. rs
was precious enarm. Myriaus vi men men nnu
ooaied up tne encnantea mountain, 'ry.ns -
secure the prize. But Dy encnantmeno each
had turned into black stone; and tnere
STOOD tne Iatai mountain, covered WIN pacA
stoness In which were imprisoned tne SOUS
OF those who hal failed; and the prize was
overhead, untouched by human hand. For
as each competitor struggled up the rouen
way, he heard all sorts OF voices crying at
him from behind. threatening voicesi
Tauntng voicesl Scolding voicesl Tender
yoicesl And one or other OF the voices
caused the toiler TO turn MS head, ana when
he turned his head, he fell by the waysiue,
black and senseiess stone"
What is this to mef' Willie asked.
"At last one went up the hill with brave,
firm, resolute heart. Every voice called IN
vain. The summit was near. Ihe voices
grew louder, more dreadful, and more pe-
witching, but none ayaile1. The climber
never turned back; the prize was won, ana
the enchantment broken forever.
Brave man, said Willie.
"Ah, Willie, W1lliel IL was woman wb
broke the spell; the men had not constancf.
They Thought OF themselves. Ihe voices
spoke to their inmost wish ana tnousne'
and SO they could not but hearken."
AND now did tne woman overcomef
Because she Thought Oh the man sne
ioveal
ana why couid hot cne VOICES aiiure ner'
Womens nearts are soic
!, Inc voices oniy SPOKE 70 ner' ana oi ner,
threatening her, peseecning ner: had the
enchanters known her heart-had one voice
but put ON the tones Oh the man she loved,
and called out, as II In anguish, Tome
back-come back to me." she, too, had
ialled, and turned 70 Stone.
she paused, and Then, IKE a sad refrain'
came the old words:
Irust me, Wiilie--trust me, whatever the
cruel voices sayF
Trust your exclaimed wine, almost I'M
patiently; why, 70 love Is 10 trust.
But DO you love me! Irulys am not
sure. TX you go on trusting me- you must
lace all sorts Oh dark doupts ABOUT my char-
acter. II you ny 70 me ana say, Explain
my reply VIII pe, I CANNOT explain what
then, WllieF
II will trust you."
ut must be trust that is more than trust.
In me, thus surrounded with doubts horrid
doubts-you, my poor boy, must put a faith
such as few men would put in the most tried
friend. Questions may be asked concerning
me which, were they asked concerning a
loved and loyal wife. might drive brave
husband to frenzy. What then, Willie?'
Willie's eyes wer, seS on the ground. He
hesitate1. But when be looked up into her
face he became like one in trance, and re-
piled: