The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1886-09-09
O. EATON OHIO, THURsDkI. SEPTEMBER 9,

50 much eagerness and wistful ,c; that :
stirred her heart.
She was almost surprised at herself
for the alacrity with which she said:
Certainly, Aunty. Let us try"
"The drawing-room door is of course
wider than this" said Aunt Dorothy,
$50 we need take no measurements. Go,
my dear, and clear away the mats in
the way, and see that there is room
made in the best window for seeing from,
and close the folding doors. Be quick,
or somebody will come"
Even in old age, Aunt Dorothy's clear
brain could foresee difficulties and pro-
vide against them, so that her niece had
nothing to do but obey her orders. There
is certain pleasure in following distinct
directions, even if given in rather a
way-as these were. Aunt
Dorothy did not shilly-shally" to the
end she was no Gimp" person, even
yet, when any thing was to be done,
and these are always the best captains
in war or out of it.
With look of strange excitement on
her face, she waited Laura's return.
Almost in dream she heard her niece's
voice saying: '.Now, the coast is clear"
and answered she was ready. with a
singular feeling of talking in her sleep.
Carefully through the first door, care
fully through the second, with little
difficulty about the turn, was the chair
propelled. Easily then, along the
smooth carpet to the window, under
meath which the carriage, of necessity,
must pass.
"Thank you. dear child. He was a
very dear friend in times gone by. Now
leave me-" said Aunt Dorothy. elf
any one comes they must be shown to
the inner room. wish to be alone"
And Laura went away with a suspi-
cion of the truth that made her smile a
little half-sadly, then sigh, and signing,
think: "We shall all be old some day"
Meanwhile Aunt Dorothy looked out
of her window, which faced one of the
principal hotels and commanded long
stretch of street, winding up towards
Friar's hill. No carriage was in sight.
1t was the other window of the room
that had the sea-view, but to the right
of the houses pretty piece of country
was seen, where "heaths, starred with
broom mingled their gold with the
sunset rays that poured on them from
the opposite horizon towards which the
sun was declining.
Aunt Dorothy did not see it just then.
She leaned back in her wheel-chair, and
covered her eyes with her hands. A
half-smile-but it was a very sad one;
much sadder than any tears could have
been-was on her lips, and she said in
an undertone:
81 am again for Cydnus, to meet
Mark Antonyr"
Then came silence.-She was not
an old woman any longer. Oh
no! 1t was all mistake that she was
crippled and helpless, that life and its
abundant opportunities had drifted into
the past, and she was only great-aunt
without any nearer ties to bind her.
Young, strong and straight-alas what
words are those to whom the realities
are gone by for ever!-but straight, and
strong and young she stood. once more,
in fancy. Was she twenty-three, OF
twenty-four, or twenty-fve?- matter
now one, and now the other. She was
Dorothy Fielding, with life stretching
out before her, fair, as if glistening witt
the sheen of early morning, and breath
ing promises to her that surely nothing
could belle. Within her stirred
Impatient wishes that besieged the sky
Nor disbelief of any miracle, save that life
longings and its hopes could die."
She was Dorethy Fielding, full of love
hope, and thousand fultilments that
half unrecognized, came lavishing thei
Joy about her path. The turf sprans
under her tread, but her feet sprans
quicker. The very best of life, the yer!
fairest of its hours were hers. And wht
was that beside her, whose look thrilled
hers with that first. desperately-sweet
ver-to-be-forgotten shock of love-
desire ? Who was it fingered with he
on matchless ewes of June, when rose
bloomed around, surely sending SOM
intoxication into the air ? Who was
tested those immortal jests, o
holding joy one moment a
arms length with the very caprice O
happiness, followed after it the keene
when the graver time was spent?
Ernest Picardy. always - Ernes
Picardy. There had been others, man
others, who had loved her smiles
What mattered any one of them
There can be but one Jove on a,
Olympus, and that one was Ernes
Picardy. Since time began, all love
making and all lovers had lacked some
what until now. And oh, never agai
to the voice of love let any heart thro
so wildly, so joyously, so regardless {
imagined doom! Until now, nobod
had guaged it all quite thoroughly
The delightful peril of risking life
happiness against half an hour S caprice
was surely until now an untried adver
ture. And the morning and the ever
ing, the sunshine, and the rain, the yer
birds and breezes moved to one refrain
'There's nothing half so sweet in life,
As Loves young dream"
J And years went on, until the bon
grew firmer, and Ernest Picardy, hant
J some, oh, so handsome, young and ga
liant, ruled over loves kingdom, an
should rule forever and forever. Sto
there. Even in memory-even now
: she shrinks from the pain of living owe
f what came after. The foolish prid
the mistimed offense, the misadventul
and misery of it all, when she called G
r heaven to help her; when 81
clung desperately to the hope th'
, blessed chance or strange adventul
). might come in friendly aid; when tt
, fond belief still fingered that some kir
f heart, ere hers was broken quite, wou
= take home her sorrows and come to h
f rescue. That, and that, and thGt-su(
, little things-might have been done al
: all saved; and no one did them, and tt
t critical time went by, and the wor
e went clrciing on. and mad cries of r
a sistance and despair went up to heave
e and still there was no answer.
n Let it all be forgotten now. A lor
d lifetime lay between that time and thi
: If the edge of the weapon still be kee
let it lie in the sheath. 1t is in tt
o happy time, the magical time she liv
n now, while she waits to look upon Il
n lover from whom she parted half ce
tury ago. She saw the carriage comil
y from afar. Two men were in it, one
middle age, with but slightly-grizzl
! %lo 9TH oil If