Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1886-11-25
ODILLA.

Odilla Watson sat in the garden o1
the late Jonathan Watson's luxurious
home, on one of the hill-tops which
overlook the bottoms in which the city
of Cincinnati smokes and sputters and
groans like heated caldron. She sal
on a pretty rustic bench, screened on
all sides by shrubbery and shaded with
the thick foliage OF wide-spreading
elm. Her pretty eyes were swollen and
red. The roses that late had bloomed
in her checks were faded and gone. "
The tempting lips were set with the I'M
speakable melancholy of the first griev-
GUS sorrow that had darkened the bright
life of the young and wealthy beauty.
She was but l8years of age. The bright
expectancy of fife had just burst upon
her like the life-laden sunshine of early
spring when death had suddenly stalk
ed into her presence and taken from
her side the generous being who for
years had filled in her heart the place
of father, mother, sister. brother, and
all, for he was all she had. She had
kissed him after dinner, and he had
gone cheerfully to his study, there with
in an hour, to meet his end, unexpected
ly, unshrived of his sins. and intestate.
The blow had fallen upon Odilla with
such violent suddenness that it was long
ere she could conceive it in all its hor-
ror. But when she saw the rich coffin
which contained her all disappear in the
vault and the door close upon it she fell
in swoon, and for many days her life
was endangered. But youth triumph
ed over sorrow. She recovered, and the
tears which she shed unburdened her
heart. She was well enough to leave
her room within week, but this day
upon which she left the house and
walked into the shrubbery was the first
upon which her thoughts had wandered
for moment from the dead.
As she sat upon the familiar bench
her meditations all ended in the query:
''Why does he not Gomez" Love had
already made its appearance in her
young life. In truth, wherever there is
youth there is love also. Often he comes
as the painted butterfly, sometimes as
the sentimentally tunetul nightingale,
and again it is said he appears in the
shape of the never-dying sphinx. But
however that may be he always comes
in the Springtimc of life. So she sat
wondering why he did not come. when
a familiar foolstrp was heard. She did
not turn her head. but her heart accel-
Grated its motion, she made room on
the narrow bench for another. and lift
ed her hand in silent greeting. In an
instant Il young man had that delicate
white hand i'll his; he pressed it to his
lips. 'My poor little Odiila," he said:
''they would not have let me see you
even to-day if | had not guessed that
you would be here and come without
asking. Won't you look at me darlingp"
rs he sat by her side
She turned her fair head, rich with
bushes of gratified vanity, incased in
soft waves of ebony hair, her smooth
brow shaded with mischicvous ringlets
strayed from the fold. A bright smile
dwelt only moment in her eyes, and
faded, blending into sad looks, and
quickly giving place to quivering lips,
and melancholy drops weighing down
her richly-fringed eyelds Then the
bosom hcaved with convulsive sob
and her head lay on the young mans
shoulder, while his arm stole around
her waist and he strOked the fair head
OF his love. Suddenly both weeping
maiden and consoling lover were startl-
cd with the consciousness of Il strange
presence. When they looked up Il man
was standing by. The youthful lover
was evidently disconcerted, but not so
his fair sweetheart She Indignantly
arose, and, with the proudest look sur
veyed the intruder. He was an ill-look-
ing man. Dark and stoutly built,
dressed with neat simplicity, his square
chin covered with black beard, closely
cropped. and his lips, firmly set, gave
him an appearance of strength and reso-
luton which men of more hercuean
mold could not have borne. He stood
looking at the pair with contracted
brow and dangerous gleam in his
eyes; but when Odilla rose he doffed
his hat and politely bowling: "Miss Odil-
Ia, am sorry indeed to have intruded
upon SO interesting scene"
81 had hoped that our last interview
would end our acquaintance" she
said.
NO" he answered cOolly; ..it did
indeed dispose of me as suitor for
your hand, but it did not altogether an
initiate me, rs you see. | am still q man
capable OF love or hate, and q lawyer
with business to transact; and rs law
yer happen to know you much better
han You imagine"
The young woman had retained her
iefiant attitude, and her lips curled
with something akin to contempt as she
'etorted: II have nothing to do with
egal matters. My father never intrust-
I'd me with anything, and any claim
you may haye resurrected must be SUBJ
nitted to the regularly appointed per-
Jons."
.Perhaps if you were sure who your
ather was" the lawyer COM J