The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1886-01-26

"She amt Mrs. Curtis. That's ny
mo- hers name" replied the boy.
And laly who had been standing un.
seen amid the shrubbery came has lily
forward.
She wss tall and dark-eyed and cothe
ly and she looked keenlv at the sttaDger
as be stood in the twilight.
aMiss Alice Graves was never mar
ried,' she said. 81 suppose you must
somehow have heard the old story which
got about OF her running away with Mr..
Chrtis on the evening she was to have
married another. 1t was all mistake
false report. She merely rode short
distance with him in bis gig to take leave
Of an old lady of whom she was fond
But the horse was young and skittish,
and taking fright at something ran away
lthrosing them both out. People believed
Fft TO be an elopement until when. some
hours after, they we're found on the old
mill road. Alice badly bruised and Joe
with his leg broken. The map she was
to have married believed 1t and left her
without void. Joe Curtis is my hus-
band now" she added with q smile, and
Alice Graves, though she has not lacked
offers, has never married. She could not
easilv get over disappointment like
that"
"But why was not he-was not Mr.,
Warner informed ?" inquired the strnn
ger in voice of such oppressed vehe.
mence that the boy turned and looked a,
him wonderiDgly.
"Alce would not allow it. She was
as proud as be, ami when she heard that
he was gone she said:
"'ff lie could believe such thing oil
me it is as well that we should part Lei
him go!'
"But it went to her heart and, for my
part. | think she has never forgotten
him +"
The stranger made no reply, only
pulled his felt hat over bis brow, and
Mrs. Curtis added:
"If you would like to irqrire about
the place you will find Miss Graves al
home. ! saw her on the porch few
|
minues ago."
She watched him as he went slowly
down the street.
"He thinks that I did not recognize
him. AS il | would have said what die
about Alice to any one tut Gilbert War
nerl And / can see that be has not for
gotten her either Ah, l hope it may al
come right now"
When Gilbert Warner knocked a: tht
door of the old Graves house it was
opened by fair, graceful, sweet-lookins
woman, in whom he had no difficulty il
recognizing his old love, Alice. But i
was not until he stood in the full light o
the parlor lamp that che knew him; ant
then she involuntarily drew back steE
lor Two and looked ct him with a white
face, as though she had seen a ghost.
"Alice-don't you know me? 2" he said
holding out his handy
II know you; but why do you com,
here n-she answered. ss tuougt strivrn!
to be cold and proud while her voice fal
tered and her eyes filled with tears.
81 came to ask forgiveness. he re-
piled. Until to day l thought that yor
had wronged me-snd you did Alice il
not letting me know nf nv wretchet
mistake. 50 many years Of happiness
lost to US both! o., Alice, is il to-
late2 May we not yet he as happy a.
we once expected to bel'
1t took some .ime, some pleading SOM
humiliation, on his own part, for high
minded Alice bad been deeply wounded
by his too ready bell in her desertiol
OF him But still her heart had neve
really swerved from its 6rst real love M
mere than had his own; and when Gil
bert Warner left the little town, it was 81
be had hoped to do fifteen years previ
ous-wirh Alice Graves as his bride.