The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1885-01-22
EARNING THE RIGHT.

EARNING THE RIGHT.
She was young and delicate, and fail
with the fairness of purity.
Mark Mannering stood by her side. {
wOrld-worn man of thirty-iive; not nee
essarily 4 man whom the world had
Taught her cruel ways, but a man who
had buffeted fortune, who had earned
his living from boyhood by close appli.
cation to work, that had left him nc
time to become pet of society.
Yet for all ''Brutus was an honor.
able man." he felt so far the inferior OF
the graceful girl beside him that he
could not summon sufficient nerve to
tell her how dear she was to him,
and how he wished to marry her and
show the world this fresh creature,
with her frank, speaking eyes, as the
bright fairy who was TO lead him up
ward and onward through all the fll-
ture.
'.Mermeler called high treble
voice, and the golden opportunity was
lost.
Mermelle entered the sitting-room
whose pleasant white-curtaincd win
dows opened upon the .honeysuckle-
had been standing. She entered to
meet Il young, attractive man advanc-
ing toward her.
''hlr. Iremnor, my dear, is not ac-
quainted with MIR. Mannering,n said
her mother softly, $50 l thought | had
better call YOU"
Mermelle turned back to the piazza
with her graceful, frank air.
MIR. Mannering, let ME introduce
you to Mr. Tremnor."
The men bowed, but Mark. Manner
ing stood for a moment, then began
making his adieu.
The young man had eyed him with a
look bordering on dislike, and was
doubtless only too well pleased when
the first caller took his departure.
Theodore Tremnor was ev.de ltly a
favorite with Mrs. Chesborough. and
of this he was doubtless aware, sinae
her marked preference for the Young
man as & visitor at her hou was open
ly admitted by tn mother.
Young Tremror knew why his at
tent ons to Mrs. Che Lorough's daugh-
ter We're encouraged.
His father had recently died, and he
was reputed to be worth property to
the amount of near y half a million.
The Chesboroughs were also wealthy
and of a good family.
Two weeks passed away, and in that
time Mark Mannering left the field
clear for his rival. Tor he abstained
from again visiting the girl he loved
because he knew so well her mother
dest ned her for wealthy marriage,
and he kn,w his chances with Mer-
nelle W. re les sened should his atten-
lions become too frequent and assidu-
Gus.
TIE gay season was at its height,
When one night party had been form
ii. comprising young Tremnor, Mrs.
ChesbOrough, and Mermelle, to attend
he opera.
Mrs. Chesborough, at the last min
lte, found herself unable to join them,
md Tremnor, promising to call and
axe an aunt of his with him in her
stead, the mother at last consented to
allow Mermelle to accompany him.
But his worthy aunt, as Tremnor
vas well aware. was large body who
lot only moved slowly, but rarely.
Her opera days were well over, and
,hough her nephew made fe mt of
lrging her chaperonage, he knew well,
before entering her abode, that nothing
would induce her to leave her warm
ireside on tn cold night
The exclusive life of the old lady
(Tremnor' only relat We in the city)
prevented her from hearing the many
-umors current about her nephew.
That he was leading the life of fash
ionable young man she was well aware;
out that rumOr accredited him with
arge wea tn she did not know.
Had any one whispered ths word
money in connection with her neph-
wv she would have looked aghast.
"Money! Doa't speak to m, of his
money! would have been her emphat-
ec reio ndcr. lie ran through the
small property his father left him
speedily enough, and now the debts
his fashion and folly have led him into
have made him disgrace to his fami-
". What his wild course will lead him
10 is only too plain. Never mention
his name again TO me- His position in
fashionable society is bought with dis
lOnor--H
But the Indignation of this frank
spoken lady did not Ia b the outside
worIt. 50 Mrs. Chesborough was not
l.nc IA believing Theodore Tremnor a
young man of fortune.
II was the fashion for the party,
when, Of course, as ON previous occas-
IONS, it had included chapcron, to re-
SOFT to u select dining-saloon for sup
per when the performance was over.
Tonight, as usual, young Tremnor
irove TO their selected resort.
At first his companion hcsitatcd, but
her escort took it so much as a matter
1f course that she found herself seated
amid the lights and company of the
iining-hall almost before she had time
to think.
As usual, wine was served, and pres
entity they were again whirling over the
stones of the city.
But an unconquerable drowSiness
had taken possession of Mermelle, and
conscious that she was yielding to q
Kind OF sleep, yet utterly unable tC
| throw it oil, she at last lay b ,ck in the
:arriage i'll a state of complete un ON.
-ciou mes
The moon flooded fields and woods
with It's ot,aline sea of ght.
In lucent spl ndor the ocean rocked
to and fro upon the beach, while it:
meanings died away in the distance,
and left silence unbroken and per
| feet.
Not far from this bleak shore, with
its tall ruined lighthouse, might have
been seen boat out upon the waters.
Slowly it neared a point of land
about which some fiShermen's huts
were gathered, and where few sail
boats lay rocking upon the waters.
To reach this point, however, the
boatman must pass the promontory
where stood the old tower like strnc
ture We have described.
As he drew near something like ,