The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1886-09-02
A WOMAN'S HUNGER
She Wanted Confidence as Well as
Tender Care.

Tender Care.
ssWhat am / to do with her, Arnold?
The child will be a woman soon; what
am / to do with herP"
A shade of perplexity was in the
speakers tone, and his gaze rested not
on the man beside him-a man his
junior by too short a cycle of time for
the difference to have left its outward
,mpress-but the room, and out through
she open window on the lawn, where
stood a girl ~caressing a superb stag
hound. Unconsciously she made a pic
ture lovely enough to arrest any gaze;
but the perplexity on Frederick Fa-
bans handsome face vanished in
amaze, as his companion gave short,
quick answer to his half-invoIuntary
question, in these words:
.'Ciive her to me-"
For a moment establishment rendered
him dumb.
Give her to vou?" he gasped, at
last. '.Why. Dick, old fellow, what would
an old bachelor like you do with a girl
like thatp If you'd really like to adopt
one of the children, | M ght turn me of
the boys over toecyou; but, somehow l
don't quite think l could spare Mary.
And I'm not sure she'd accept another
father, Notwithstanding the manifold
advantages which might occur to her.
Fortunes lily divided in this world, is it
not? Here you are, a bachelor, with a
clear income of thirty thousand per an
mum; and here am /, the father of an
interesting family of six, and your IN
come, divided by just about that num-
ber- No wonder l never can make
both ends meet"
Il don't think you quite understood
my proposition, Fred" responded the
other, though a flush had risen to his
usually pale face, and q scarcely per-
ceptible tremor of excitement vas in
his voice. sit is natural, perhaps, that
you should accept my meaning from a
paternal standpoint; and 1 am well
aware-believe me-of the slight differ
ence in our respective ages. But 1
didn't wish to adopt Mary as my
daughter. 1 love her, and would win
her for my wife,"
s.Your wife, man, calculated Fabian,
starting back in amaze. ..Why, the
child is scarcely out of the nursery, and
you-you-why, we were college boys
together. Arnold!'
81 told you a moment since / was not
forgetful of my age,.but remember you
married, Fred, when you were twenty.
May is eighteen. and | am ~thirty-six-
just double her age, but not too old to
love her with a fervor a younger man
might envy me. Fred, if gain her
consent, 1 may have yours!"
Mr.. Fabian outstretched his hand, and
grasped that of his friend.
Il can't realize it all in a minute, my
dear boy, but l know nc man to whom
1 would as soon intrust my darling.
But can it be that she loves you, and
] have been so blind as never to sus-
pect?"
Il dare not believe she loves me, but
/ hope to win her Iove," answered Mr..
Arnold, quietly. and then stepped out
through the window on the lawn.
A vivid blush overspread the girls
face as he approached.
..Down, Carlo-down!" she com
manded the dog, and advanced to meet
him on the green, velvety sward. Was
she unprepared for the earnest words
which told her of his hope, and how the
verdict rested with her? If so, she
evinced no surprise, save the color
deepened in her cheek, and the low
'.Yes!" which fell like a whisper from
heaven on his ear, trembled in its utter.
anc
Dick Arnold had won her promise tt
become his wife! Yet it seemed bur
Yesterday that he had held her on hi.
knee a little, prattling child, whose
fingers penetrated into hidden pocket.
for hidden sweets, even as she had pen.
ttrated into the innermost recess o
his heart. She was a child to him still
He would keep her a child always, 1t
said to himself. Her path should be
bed of roses, and not a single thor
should pierce her little feet.
1t was a singular engagement. TIL
lovers were rarely alone, and Mr.. Ar
nold's footing had always been so clos
and intimate-as one of the household
that there was little change. True, h,
never came now without some rare an,
beautiful gift for May. but laiterly she re
ceivcd these with a sort of petulance
and tossed them, the next moment
carelessly aside. Once, just before he
wedding day, she burst into a passion
of tears; but she would give him no ex
PLANTATION of their cause. He remem
bered them, later, in onnec on wit
the arrival, that same afternoon, of
Young soldier-cousin, who had bee
hidden to the wedding, and had OF
tanned special leave to be present.
After dinner. May and this cousin
tail. splendid looking young fellow
stro.led together out upon the lawn
As once before, Arnold and her fathe
stood watching her..
They look well together, do the
not? said the latter. Il used to fame
VIII had a preference for May, but
don't think my acumen in such matter
has proved itself very acute"
And with a light laugh, he turne
away. But Arnold stood motionles.
his eyes fixed on the two figures on tn
lawn. Standing, there, he felt an oil
man. In that moment, Mays accep
ancs to his appeared a sacrifice, but t
give her up now He could not eve
carry out the thought. Pshaw! VIII
brightness could this penniless subalter
throw into her life? And her fathe
had fancied only his preference for he
not hers for him.
lie made a gesture as if throwing o
a burden, and walked out toward then
AS he approached, the young Lieuter
ant was speaking.
1T is driving me to desperation
May were the words borne to his ca
And as May turned to greet hin
/. gl'stcning tears were i'll the azure eye
Three days after she became his VIII
and when the solemn vows were spoke
her vo ce was clearer, more dist.nc
tuan Las.
Lieutenant crosby bore his share