The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1886-04-22


tho reach Of hostile criticism, Her beauty was viewed
a. 4 downright 0ffensel her refined and modest man
neTa were aGt down ~ perfect aGtng-"Neally ais
gushing my dear, In ~ young girl" Gen, Drum,
blAde-a large and m0ldy veteran, In a state OF
chronic asOniahment lafter his own matrimonial en-
leriencel at Hardyman'a folly In marrying At all
diffused wide circle Of gloom wherever no went
and whatever he did, His accomplished wife, forcing
her hgh splrlts on eyerybodya attention with sort
OF kittenlsh payfulnea, intensified the depressing
eject OF tho general dulnehs by all the force of the
strongeat contrast After waiting half an hour FOR
his mother and waiting In vain, hardyman led tho
way 10 the tent ln despair "The sooner NJ their
stomachs and got rid Of then" no thought Aahgely
"the better shall be pleased
/ The luncheon was attacked by the company with
certain silent ferOcty, which the waters noticed as
remarkable, even In their large experience, The
mon drank deeply, hut with wonderfully little eifect
IN Raising their splrtsl the women with the eNoep
t0n Of amiabe Mira Drumblade, kept Isabel dellber
Ately out OF the conversation that went on among
them Gen, Drmblado sitting next 10 her In one OF
the places OF honor dlRoOuraed 10 Isabel privately on
"my brothernlaw iiardynan'a Internal temper"
A young marquis on her other hde-a mere lad,
chosen 10 make tho necessary speech In acknowledge
ment Of hls superior rank-roso IN state Of nervous
tropidaon, 20 propose Isabella health aa the chosen
bride Of their host Pale and trembling conscious of
having forgotten the words which he had learned be-
forehand, this unhappy young noblemen 6egani
ladies aud gentlemen, ! haven't an idea" lio
stopped put his hand 10 his head stared wildly and
sat down agnn, having o0ntriyed % state his own
case with mastery hreylty aud perfect truth In
speech NJ seven words
mont In Others was still At itA height lladyman'n
valet made his appearance ana approaching his mas
ter said In whispers "Could speak 70 you, hlr for
moment outsider
irrltaby, us that letter In your handi Give II
10 me-"
Tho valet was a Frenchman. In other words no
had sense 0f what was due % himself His master
t.sN tNnu NIa uuNa hp Null "a
certain dignity Of manner, and left the tent Hardy
man opened tho letter lie turned pale NJ he read H.
Grumped u In his hand, nnd threw II down ON the
table my I'D, ~ a lle" he exclaimed iuHuuAly'
The guests rose In confusion Mn, prumblade,
nndlng the letter within her reach, coOly possessed
herself 0f II, recognized her mothers handwriting,
and read these lines
n have only now succeeded in pcruadlng your
father 10 lot me write 10 YOU For Gods sake break
on your marriage at any sacrifice Your father has
heard on unanEweublo authority, that Mla Isabel
Miller lett her situation In Lady ydlardh house on
I suspicion 0f theft"
b While his sister was reading this letter. IIarlyman
had made his way 70 lsabela chair Unjust speak 20
you directly he whispered, "Como away with mo-"
lie turned "a he took her arm, ana looked AZ tho
table 'Whero IN my lotterf' ho asked, MIRA Drum
blade handed u TO him deNtrouAly ornmpled up
again a. she had found H.
= iNo bad news dear Alfred hOpe" she aAld, In
d her most aiteoilonato manner, ilardyman snatchod
the lottor frum her without answering, and led
.
"Ilead that" ho said when they were alonel
: "and toll mo At once whether its true or false"
4 Isabel read the letter For moment the shock OF
4 the discovery held her fpoochleaA She recovered
herself aud returned the letter
/ NJ IA true" she answered,
HArdyman staggered back M II sho had Ahot him
I "True that you dire gulltyf' be asked
MOI am innocent Everybody who knows mo bo
lleyea In my innocence II N true that the appear
| Ancea were against me They are against me atl'
Having said this, Hhe waited, quietly and firmly, iof
his next words
lie passed hs hand over his forehead with a alah OF
4 rohuL lth bau enough ~ tla, 40 aAd, speaking
quietly on hls side, "llut the romedy Tor II ID plain
enough, Come back 20 the tent"
> hho never moved, 'Whyf she asked
I "D0 You suppose don't believe In your Innocence
= toOW he answered "lhc one way W setting you
right now l. Tor mo 10 make you my wifo, In spite OF
The appenral no that point 20 you, I'm TOO roma OF
' you, Isabel 10 give y0nup, Come back with me, ANA
I lwill announce our marriage % my frcndA'
hho took hla hand aud kissed H. "lt Ia generous
and good of YOU" she said "but II must not be-"
Het0ok stepnoarcr tohcr "What do you mean"
! be asked,
~ was against my will" abe pursued "that my
aunt concealed the truth from you, dld wrong TO
consent 10 M | VIII do wrong no more, Your molhct
"a right Alfred, After what has happened | am not
NJ 10 be your wife until my Innocence 10 proved II
4 II not proved yet"
The angry color began to rise in his face once moro
Take care" he said ~ am not In ahumor TO DO
' ulnod wlth'
! 'Iam not trlnIng with YOU" aho answered. In low,
| sad tonea
you really mean what you Ayr'
~ mean H."
'bont be obstinate, Isabel. Take time to coI'
! slider"
"You are very kind, Alfred. My duty ID plain 10
me, ] VIII marry yOn-if you Htlll wish lt-When my
good name ~ restored 10 mo-not before"
iio laid one hand on her arm ANA pointed with the
other 10 the guests In the distance, all leaving tho
tent on their way 10 tholr carriages
"iouf good uAmo VIII DO restored "a YOU, he hhd,
: "on the day when mako You my wife Tho worst
| enemy you have cAnnot associate my namo with
, q suspicion of theft Remember that aud think
little befuv you decide You 500 h0so people thoref
lfy0u don't change your mind by the time thcN nave
I Hot t0 The cottage, NJ fondhy between w. hnu
aood hy FOREVER refuse To wait Tor y0u refuse TO
accept conditional engagement Wait nnd lhlnE
They're walking slowly you have got some minutes
mofr'
lio ann held her arm, watching tho guest ~ they
gradually rrrrdud from vuw " was not until lhct
had nl collected In group outside the cottage door
that ho spoke himself OF that hc permitted Isabel To
speak again
"Now." hr said "you have had your time to set
cool WIN you take my arm aud join thoao people
with me- uf viii you tAy gupdhy iprUVCfW
1 'Foniyo me, Alfred shc began gcutly, 81 cannot
consent Ia Justice 10 you, to shelter myself behind
your name Il IL the name of your family, nnd lhcy
have rlht to pxurot that you viii not degrade ~
~ want plain answer" ho lhtrfpo'od alerhly'
. (which iHitf iua srn1r
Rhe Looked M him with sad compassionate eyes
Her voice was nrm na bhC answered him Ia the one
word that ht drsrd. The word waH-"No"
without speaking 10 her, without oven looking NJ
her, he turned aud walked back 10 the cottage,
Making his way silently through the group OF vla
ltUraaevpiy one NJ whom had been Informed ~
what had happened by his aiHlcr=wllh Ills head down
ANA hls lips fpA closed, hc entered the pnrlor and
rang the bell which communicated With Ills furrmhhh
rooms NJ the atablca
oYou know that am going abroad ON bualncgr' hc