Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1885-06-04
A BROKEN VOW.

Wn6n young SllHc CtahuOPo Oohuo o0
unexpectedly to the old farmhouse,
which had Leen his home in the years |
of childhood and youth. Cliffe was
widower now, only 25 years old, and
handsome as the hero Of a dream.
When the pretty doll. like creature
who had been for one happy year his i
wife, died, he hsa brought the tiny
child of their love home to the old
house under the hill, and Mrs. Stan
hope had another "Cliffey' to love
and care for.
Scarcely had Cliffe Stanhope greet
ed his mother, kissed his boy, and
asked after his father and old Dobbin,
when horse came dashing into the
clover decked yard, like the wind, and
stood quivering in the corner by the
porch when young Stanbope went
out.
Lying at his feet, trampled and
covered with dirt, lay mass of some
thing. 1t was almost indistingulshaole,
but the young mans quick eyes took
In a glimpse of silken rope, stained
and torn, a dainty foot, and mass OF
yellow hair tossed over white, still
face. In moment he held the limp
form in his arms, and the horse, again
excited to fury, reared and plunged
and attempted to run away with his
added burden. But quick move
ment freed the skirts of the lady from
the stirrup and away the horse dash
ed, leaving the still form to be taken
into the farm house and cared for by
its inmates, while the young wldower
went over the hills after doctor. 1t
was not SO bad as they had feared.
The young lady was the daughter of a
reputed millionaire, who boarded at a
fashionable hotel in the adjoining
town, and created quite an excitement
in the place by their fashionable, styl-
ish dress and manners. Isadora Gle
ments. was one of those exquisitely
beautiful creatures whom most people
see about once in lifetime, and every
body wonders how flesh and blood
can be so beautiful. No wonder Cliffe
Stanhope fell in love with the young
girl whose life he had saved. She
had scores of lovers already, but none
of them received her smiles except
Cliffe. And she wondered that he
did not tell her OF Ills love and ask her
to be his wife.
Cliffe's first wife had left him a
princely fortune at her death, and she
had only asked OF him a promise
never to take another wife.
II could not sleep in my grave if
another woman were to come into
your heart and home, taking my
place." she said, only few hours be-
fore she died. And Cliffe Stanhope
called God to witness that he would
never, never love another woman or
take to his heart or home another wife.
Then the child wife died peaceful, and
her memory had been in the heart of
her husband until now, this beautiful
stranger had come. But Cliffe meant
to he true to his promise, and in spite
Of the love which he could not control,
he said to himself:
II will go once more to look upon
my dear old home, and the face of my
boy, and then l will 60 away, where l
shall not meet the beautiful face
which is ever tempting me to break
my VOW to the dead And when
there was enchantment in the summer
air he went down to the farm to say
goodbye. Mrs. Stanhope was not in
the house, having gone out to visit a
sick neighbor, but from the garden,
where the roses were in bloom, came
thrilling sounds of baby glee and
girlish laughter Softly he stole
around the house to obtain a glimpse
of the child before 1t should see HIM.
He wished, also, to look upon the face
Of the girl who had awakened such a
wild. passionate love in his heart,
which was trying so hard to be faith
full to the dead.
Isadora was hiding first behind one
side of the rosebush, and then the
other, and the delighted child would
walk gleefully to the side where she
was hidden, and the moment his eyes
fell upon her he would shout with
childish glee, and rush into her arms
clinging to her neck. and covering
her lips with kisses. She in turn
would echo his laughter, and straining
him to her heart, return his kisses
Then she would release him only tc
enact the scene again.
By and by Mr. Stanhope drew
gently nearer, and heard Isadora say
as she kissed the boy:
II love you, little Cliffey Stanhope,
and | love to speak your name, be.
cause it is his name. All, little dar.
ling! you do not know that love
you SO dearly because you are his boy
l love you, Cliffey, and l love your
papa, too," and looking up she mel
the passionate eyes of Cliffe Stanhope
bent in tenderness upon her.
With shrek she would have fled
but he detained her, and almost before
he was aware of it she was held closely
to his breast and her head pillowed
there; while he was telling her how