The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1886-09-23

; marVelOusly low and sweet, lingering
pleasantly in his ears.
Leslie did not dream what lovely
picture she had made that morning il
the eyes of the young millionaire
standing there in the tender hight tha
was still half shadow under the leaf,
boughs, her soft, white gown prettily
defining little and graceful form. thu
bare head covered with rich coils o
tawny hair that waved in silky ring,
over "A broad, white forehead, and the
white straw hat with its f1uttering pint
ribbons, filled to the very brim witt
blushing, dewwet roses.
Later, only few days ago. had comt
formal introduction, given by Mrs.
Harding, and most Reluctantly as Les
lie clearly OWNED by the cold, hard
glitter in the widows black eyes, and
the slight but scornful emphasis with
which she uttered the explanatory words
my companion" carefully added after
Lesiie's name.
After that in a proud, graceful little
way all her own she quietly avoided
him. With all her dreams-and Leslie
was something of dreamer-she was
not romantic or simple-minded enough
to fancy that he, the liOnized millionaire,
would think seriously of a girl in her
position. and she was far too pure and
proud to permit any attention from
such as he that might be lightly mis-
construed.
And now, pacing the shingly beach.
she knew, at last, that another feeling
stronger and deeper than pride alone
urged her to fly from his presence.
''If could only leave here" she was
saying to herself, with a kind of pas
sionate rebellion against her fate, "if /
could only be free from the pain of see
ing him, and-and knowing that he be-
longs to different world from mine!
II need never again bear that woman's s
petty stings and slurs. But therer'
checking her wild. feverish longing
with grim little smile of recollection,
''what am sayingp must earn my
daily bread, and Lou Harding, with all
her mean little tyrannies, gives me the
chance to do that No, no; must stay
on and continue to bear it. Where else
could | go? What could do?"
what a pleasure to see you at last,
Miss Weirr' broke in a CHEEKY, mascu-
line voice upon her excited reverie. And
turning, she was face to face with Hugh
Mansfield, who exten ded his hand with
frank, glad smile that lit up his dark
face most winningly. "What must one
do" he went on, in tone half jesting.
half serious, "to obtain an occasional
audience with your majesty? You have
not allowed me the chance to speak one
word with you in three whole days"
Indeed! How you must have suffer
edr she retorted lightly, her careless
tones just tinged with irony; and she
hastily withdrew the hand which she
had permitted to merely touch his for
an Instant. "But am not in society
now." she added. fearful that he might
guess the real truth, land have duties
which keep me quite busily occupied.
Even now" she added, glancing ner-
vously toward the widows cottage, Il
must be going"
'Jovei how she does manage to cut
me short whenever I try to talk with
her." muttered the young millionaire,
gazing after the light, vanishing form
with puzzled frown on his handsome
face. why does she do it, I'd like to
know? Is it pride, or-whatP No other
woman ever tried, or cared to keep me
at such an icy distance, I'm sure. But
she is SO different from all the others in
every way! just Il glance from those
deep, cool gray eyes, and then she is
gone! All! my fair. proud Leslier'
Mrs. Lou Harding had chanced to
witness that brief interview on the
beach. and a startled, uneasy look flash
ed into her glittering black eyes.
I'll have to get rid of that girl, | see
that" she muttered vindictively, draw.
ing her breath hard as she watched
them from the window. She is love-
ly, in her odd style-dangerously so;
and it'll be impossible to keep her in the
background any longer, now that he's
insisted upon having an introduction to
.her. won't mention this affair, OF
course, but I'll find some good excuse
for discharging her before two days
have passed. 1 would die before would
admit that looked upon her as a
rival"
Mrs. Harding kept her word. And
when, after several days had passed
without a glimpse of Miss Weir, Mr..
Mansfield made some inquiries concern.
ing her, the young widow put on pret
ty air of injured innocence.
''She left me very unexpectedly, and
/ must own that l felt rather hurt ovel
it. since L had kept her so long in my
employ and done so much for her," she
said, with a charming little pout '.But
she said she expected soon to be mar
ried, and limited at some old romance
which had just ended all right as an ex
cuse for leaving me SO suddenly. So
suppose that l really ought not to
blame her, after all"
The look that swept over Hugh's
dark. handsome face, and settled gloom
lily in the depths of his beautiful dark
eyes, as he heard the startling news,
convinced the pretty schemer that she
had not sent Leslie away one moment
too soon.
But the watering place suddenly lost
all attractions for the young miliiona naire
He left at once, not caring particularly
where he went; and, by some strange
fate, found himself. at the end Of the
first day, in the very same hotel al
which Leslie Weir was stopping on hel
way to take a new situation.
In the shock of the sudden meeting
Hugh blundered forth the story of hi
honest love, and Leslie, having heart
| it, threw aside her coldness and reserve
and then the whole truth came out.
''Since you have no relatives or friend
to consult. my darling" pleaded tn
impassioned lover, "let us be marrie'
here at once, and we will return to tn
fashionable watering-place we have jus
left to spend our honeymoon"
And Leslie allowed the happy fellow
to plan the whole affair just to suit him
sell.
When Fanny Remington received he
wedding-card she smiled and nodde'
her sincere approval. When Mrs. Lo
Harding received hers, which chances
to be at the breakfast table. in presenc
of dozen other guests, she tainted dea'
| away.
Within a week the beautiful Mrs
Mansfield was the reigning belle an
fashion, while Mrs. Harding, who ha
lost not a moment in packing up he
bewildering wardrobe and fleeing t
new fields Of glory, listened in bite
silence to the hated echoes Of her rival
fame.
She Wrote the Book.
Mrs. Harry Beckett, who has bee
doing quite an amount of literary wor
since she became Il widow, has Just ha