Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1886-05-20

be chose 10 give q musical Rehearsal.
He was o gentleman by birth aud
education, fitted to take his position
anywhere and grace Il we'll; and yet
there were people In the Dunleaths' set
of society who, even while they recog-
nized his admissible qualities, thought
II rather presumptuous Ia him to be on
such apparently friendly terms with
the greatest family among them-the'
Dunleaths.
Only Isabel, knowing his friendly In
tercourse with her and her mother was
simply friendless and nothing else, was
piqued both at what people said and
what Mr.. Cllff6rd did; for, in her very
heart Of hearts, she had come TO care
more for him than she would have
dared tell.
Not that she would have let anyone,
least Of all him, suspect 1t, OF all the
world; and yet, woman-like made up
her mind TO give him every chance to
win the affections he could SO easily
have had for the asking.
And when Isabel made up her mind
to accomplish an object she usually sue
ceeded.
And in this instance she discovered
how exceedingly rusty she was becom-
ing In her music, and how exceedingly
natural that she should have Mr.. CLYDE
Clifford give her a friendly yet profess
ional course of instruction.
1t threw them very much to-
gether, and the two or three times o
week that the two spent their lesson
hour together come to be very pleasant
to both Of them-came to be little bits
of Paradise dropped down to the girl
who, while she worshiped him, gave
not the slightest sign, for she was proud
and reticent on such a subject, as true
girls are.
And Mr.. Clifford? Well, It was GER
tainly pleasant to see Isabel's lovely,
radiant face, and look In her bright
blue eyes, and watch her dainty flash
over the pearl keys of the Broadwood
grand. He liked to see the exquisite
suppleness and grace of her form, the
royal poise of her golden-hair head, the
fieeting bushes on her cheeks; and
when, almost every day, she gave him
some tiny spray of fiower-usually a
delicate pink azalea, because 1t was her
favorite flower-he would take 1t and
thank her, and look at her moment
with his handsome, expressive eyes, and
tenderly, as If he loved the flower for
the giver's sake, fasten 1t in his coat,
and then say s'good morning." and go
away, leaving Isabie in that delightful
ly ecstatic state of half positive assur-
ance, half doubtful uncertainty, that
never come 90 fully as at such times.
Only--there are over such bitter drops
in the sweetest cups only the days and
weeks passed, and Mr.. Clifford said
nothing more than all the world might
have heard.
Yet he wore Isabel's flowers, and con-
tinued her lessons, and the girl dreamed
alternate dreams of sweet hope and
trembling doubt, until one day, when
she drove in her elegant little phaetan
down to her dressmaker's.
And then came astonishment, and
anger, and jealous pain, and perfect
,desolation; for were fastened at the
snowy lisse ruffie at Bessie Harman's
throat, nestled among the jetty, glossy
braids of her hair, were azalea flowers
and not only azalea flowers, but the
very ones Isabel had cut with her own
hand and given to the man she loved SO
much.
And Bessie Harman was poor, and a
dressmaker, and not even pretty, with
pale Thoughtful face, and large light
eyes, and slim, angular figure.
Poor, and dressmaker, and homeiy,
and yet for her, Clyde Clifford has been
indifferent to all the attractions Isabel
had been offering him.
He loved Bessie Harman then. And
she, besutiful. rich, desirable, was moth
ing in his estimation!
Then she remembered how he had
looked at her, time and again, and she
grew fearfully angry.
She recalled how those looks had
thrilled her very soul, and she became
heartsick with jealous pain, until she
so hated the quiet, pallid little woman
who was fitting her dress, that the
temptation was almost unendurable to
strike her down.
Instead she began to probe her own
wound.
"What pretty flowers you are wear
ing" she said, sweetly. HAzaleas, are
they not?n
Eyes, azaleas. Aren't they lovely?
have them very often, and / think
love them better than any ofthe flowers
that grows
Isabel almost clenched her fists in
Miss Harman's face.
Perhaps you value them according
to the law of association? Possibly fol
the giyer's sake you love them?n
Just faint crimson crept to Miss
Harman's cheeks.
"Well- yes perhaps. They certainly
never would find their way to me unless
as gift, for I could not afford to buy
them. AS dear gifts from dearel
| friend / certainly appreciate them.u
Isabel was settling her hat before The
long glass and she saw the paleness on
her face.
II was Just trying to recall where
had seen such pink azaleas. am al
most sure saw someone Mr.. Reming.
ton, Doctor Holland, Mr.. Clifford d-somt
gentleman, with them in his button
hole.u q, s
Miss Harman flushed again at men
tion Of the last name; but she answered
very quietly
aMr. Clifford brought them to me
| he Is very kind.
1t went like a dart through Isabel's
heart. s, II
He had given her Gift to another wo
mamie, the man she had 50 tried, il
her sweet. gracious, womanly way, *
win. ss.
1t touched her with agony that shs
could hardly restrain; but, somehow
| she managed to retire quietly. s
But yet, could she justly censure him
True, he had taken her flowers; bu'
could he have refused? \