The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1885-10-29
A L A OF TRUCE.
It Secures a Solid Peace and a
Lifelong Union.

l11O VI llDOOHs
It Secures a Solid Peace and a
Lifelong Union.
: Alfred, l do wish you and Laura could
be friends. You are both SO dear to me-"
Miss Scuthwell's voice was a little trem-
S.ens. a was over sixty-fve, a slim,
fragile-looking woman. Her face reminded
you of a white rose that has lost its early
freshness, but has a delicate loneliness lin
gering about it still. True, its lines indi-
Gated more sweetness than strength of
character, but the expression was SO good,
SO pure, you felt instinctively she was one
to be loved and trusted.
In the fair-complexioned, handsome face
OF the young man beside her there was not
one tell-tale line of weakness. The hazel
eyes looked down affectionately into his
aunt's, but his voice. though good-hu.
mored, kept its decided ring as he replied:
There's no getting along with Laura unless
you give Up to her in everything, and Pm
not disposed to make myself a slave to the
little lady"
81 fear we have petted and spoiled her
among US" Aunt Lefty broke off with
a sigh.
Eyes; that's just the trouble, aunty. You
are SO sweet-tempered you can't bear to
had fault with ANYBODY, and Uncle Arthur
is just like you. Between you both you've
made a perfect little despot of Laura. It's
too bad, for the girl is naturally a frank,
generous, warm hearted creature. But
come aunty, you ought to box my ears for
an impertinent young puppy, as I am. I
knov,n
Yes; but Pm afraid there's a great deal
an anxious tone. tsYou won't let the fool
ish child drive you away?"
Alfred gave a good humored laugh.
s"Adnty, do you think I take it so much to
heart as thatg No, no; Laura's little airs
ard tempers are rather amusing than
otS erwise. Only 1 hate to see her growing
up into an unamiable woman"
A sharp tap at the door interrupted him.
Without waiting for an answer, his cousin
pushed 1t open and marched in.
You could scarcely find a more beautiful
looked all the prettier for the flush of
that crimsoned it just then. She
threw up her head with the air of a spoiled
princess as she said, fixing her eyes on her
cousin.
A the door happened to be ajar, sir, I
tence. l see you've added backbiting to
y,nr other amiable qualities, but I think
you might be better employed than in try
lng to set aunty against me, for I'm the
same as an own child to her, Pm sure."
Alfred's cheeS Redeemed, but he said,
facing her with an unmoved front: "You
were perfectly welcome to heal every
word. As for your insulting remark about
me, I think you owe me an apology, though
Eve MOI the slightest expectation Of re-
ceiving one."
The young gentleman marched wrath
fnl1v ont whi1o Laura IooHod offar h;,,
with a mixture of resentment and triumph.
I've actually made his Highness angry.
Well, that's something anyway. It's so
provoking, the cool, smiling way in which
he'll sit and look at me when he's worked
me up into a perfect rage"
Laura! J" said her aunt, with unwonted
sharpness, chow can you treat your cousin
so? Pm afraid what he says is too true,
that we've spoiled you among us. And he
did Justice to your good qualities, Pm
Gus and warm-hearted.o
Something softer han anger sparkled in
Laura's saucy black eyes for a moment;
but forcing back the tell-tale drops, she
flung her arms around Miss Southwel's
neck. "You sweetest aunty, Pm so thank
fDi you and dear uncle brought me up in
stead of a tyrant like Mr.. Alfred Hitler.
Don't call him my cousin; he's three de-
grees removed, Pm sure, and ! won't own
him for a relation. But come, now, cheer
up, and get dressed as quick as you can, or
you won't be ready to receive the COM
pany."
self, little lady; it's more your company
than mine."
"Dress? Yes, Il try and look my pref
tiest," thought Laura, as she skipped
away, "and In f1irt a little with Mr..
I'l do it just to provoke him."
But in spite. OK this careless talk, the girl
could not keep her heart team warming a
little toward her cousin, as she thought of
his expressions Of praise.
,,. aSe hs1f oion frank; w y, Nh she
NJ. that Justice. But 1 don't care; I hate
h'ra. He's done nothing but contradict
aud Cross me ever since he came into this
house."
Laura's room was mkt to Alfred's, and
after her toilette was completed she could
not help putting out her head to see if she
could catch a gimps, of her enemy. Yes,
he was gazing out too, and their eyes met.
She vanished, but soon re-appeared, -four
ishing a stick IN which she had tied a
piece of black silk.
NJ Hitler" she cried out.
"Miss Laura ~ responded the Young
gentleman, with a smile of provoking
GOODNESS.
"0o you see this black fag:" waving it
proudly. This meers war to the knife
from this hour between you and me-"
"As you please" said Alfred, s~erenely,
but let us keep up at least the semblance
OF civilized warfare before others.n
Every good" said Laura, retiring with
n final wave, while Alfred laughed quietly
to himself.
You are a child, and no mistake" he
thought, contemplating his cousin patron
three years. SIT would be comical enough
if the black flag should be exchanged for 6
wc:te one before I leave, young lady,"
Early the next morning Laura stood in
the garden waiting for her aunt. The
hccse was harnessed, waiting to take b
her marketing. She had been trying fol
some weeks to indoctrinate Laura into it,
mysteries, and the young lady proved her
SELF an apt scholar.
h old-fashioned, pleasant house which
Mss Southwell and her brother had occu
pied now some thirty years stood on a hill
in the outskirts of the village. The ground'
were tastefully laid out, the mountain ali
delicious and invigoratin..
There could not be a more glorious morn
ing than this, yet the expression of trouble
On Laura's pretty face showed that hel
mood was not in harmony with the DAY.
$50 provoking," she muttered, "that
should have lost my temper that way
But it was bad enough to nave my bal
~cr:queted way to the ends of the eartl
W,1noub MS looking SO PLEASED over IL.
"Sophie Higley, too, Growing over Mr.
Paimer and me as she did,! It was rea
u~nladylike. And to think of her whisper
ing to Mary Shaw that 1 was "a it'll
singing cockatricep I can never get owe
that
"But, oh dear! l did say some DREADFUL,
spiteful things. Well, I don't care; ALFRED
and Sophie were really a~ggravating, AM
Mr.. Palmer thought so, too. How polite h,
Is. always making you feel SO pleased witt
yourself! I wish he wasn't such a fool"
At this moment Maria, one of their serv
ants, came running down the piazzi
steps. She looked so frightened tina
LaurA's heart leaped to her mouth.
"0h, Miss Laura, you auptis hurt ha
ankle bad, aad I'm 'Eaest afraid It's broke