The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1886-11-18

uuildH HtdTt cOulu Dear no longer.
chord was strained to its highest
If another wind of adversely
should sweep vel them with chilling
blast they would never more vibrate to
tone of love or kiss of affection. The
heart, that harp of countless strings,
would be broken and voiceless. As the
woman sat there, a very picture of de-
spair, a rider passed by. The splendid
horse upon which this young man, per-
haps twenty years of age, was riding,
had been curbed to suit his masters
pleasure. He was dreaming sweet
dreams of Lizzie Miller. the fairest
daughter of old farmer Miller, of Darby.
As he rode slowly along, the face at
the window awakened him from his
reverie. .What can be the matter with
Widow st. ClairP" he exclaimed aloud
after he had passed the cottage. 81
wonder if anybody ever looks after that
poor, forlorn creaturep 1t is a shame
in Roland to allow her to wear
her heart out in waiting, if he is
alive. He is probably dead, though.
years ago. 1t is quite evident that
something must be DONE"
The rider passed on, but all day long
that white face at the window haunted
him. He thought: '.It's a burning
shame-a woman alone all these years.
It's partly her own choosing, of course,
but why don't somebody look her up for
sweet charity's sakep"
Then after a thoughtful silence he
tossed back his head, brought his gloved
hand down upon the pommel with a
vigorous blow and exclaimed: '.By the
great horn spoon, I'll do it,"
As the evening approached a cool
breeze sprung up, and the air began to
bear indications Of snow. The comfort
able, happy homes were all ablaze with
light. Joe Bruff's restaurant and bill
lard parlors, just round the cornerfrom
the American House, had never looked
more inviting than tonight. Several
young men were already standing about
in groups talking. and some were ap-
parently waiting for others. The
Thanksgiving bali tomorrow night was
the subject of conversation amongst
them. This was to be a marked event,
and every n was going.
The door opened again and Will
Kirkland, the young man who had rid
den down the Darby road in the morn
ing, stepped in. The boys all greeted
him with a hand shake or q "Hello,
Billy!. am glad you've come" He was
evidently a favorite and a leader
amongst these boys, or rather young
men. The former knots of two and
three were broken up and they all gath
cred in the group about the last conner.
"What's up now, Billy P" said one
s'Did you get the mitten this morning
Had some fellow got ahead of We, or was
the old man at homer" The boys al
laughed and Billy blushed to the root:
of his hair. for it was generally under
stood that the young mans wooing o
Farmer Miller's daughter proceeded
under difficulties.
Billy had q heart as big as an OK, bu
he had neither money nor expectation
of any sort and Farmer Miller's hear
opened only to golden keys. When th,
laugh was over, the young man replied
nodding his head to the young fellow
who had chaffed him: "It's all right OF
Darby, George. Every thing for tn,
ball tomorrow night is arranged. Wei
let that rest"
.'Now, boys" he added, addressing
the whole group, I've got a project oil
hand, and shall need the assistance O
every n of you to help me carry i
out"
"All right" chimed George Crutz
SIN with you in any sort of a goot
time. you know"
s.And I, and l." went the rounds.
"What is it, WHIP" queried tall Char
lie Deland.
Now, boys" said Will. Unjust con
fess that this matter is a little out of tn,
usual sort for us, but when you under
stand it, I'm sure of every one of YOU
''Spit it out, Billy; the crowd is o /
every time," said a young giant VIII
lowered nearly a foot above the rest.
The speaker continued: 'You see
boys, when / rode up toward Darby thi
morning, as / passed the Widow st
Glars shebang-that isn't quite tn
name for it, you know, but it did lool
mighty poor this morning, l tell you
and her wretched face at that little win
dow has haunted me ever since-friends
l tell you that woman-who has BEEF
such a martyr to mans inhumanity-
has felt the pangs of both cold and hun
ger, and she needs help from somebod
soon, that's certain"
'tDo you think she's starving, Will
How did you find it all out?" said Fran
| Thompson, whose pocketbooA was al
ready in his hand. '.She is a woman
too. and of the pluck that 1 have Away
admired. Why, boys, I heard some 9
the old folks, Squire Gregg, Mr.. Clark
and some of the others up at the ban.
| the other night, saying that thirty year
ago she was an awful pretty girl, a,
orphan. and owned the finest house i
town, four hundred acres on the Picks
way plains, and no end of other prop
erty besides. That dandy, st. Clail
came into these parts. He claimed t
be a relative of old Governor st. ClSil
had just returned from Europe, and wa
all the go amongst the girls. Befor
anybody had time to think about it, tn
beautiful Miss Nelson was Mrs. st. Clail
and in ten years this profligate gambler
as he turned out to be. had squandere
her property, gone TO the dogs an
died"
.Yes," added George Crutz, s.rv
heard mother say she had her five-yeaI
old boy, her diamonds and the Iittl
house and patch of land about it,
biOhOh hCditS duu tudG was dl. Oh
moved into the house and educate
Roland herself until he was ready fl
college and then sent him to William
After he was through there he can
back and soon disappeared probably
chip off from the old block"
"Some men are too mean for an,
thing, but it doesn't seem as thong
Roland would desert his mother lii
this" said a young man some years tt
senior of the rest of tho crowd.
know him and he was a nice fello,
He must be dead-went to sea,
think"
"Well, boys" said the first speake
"L'ttle Billy" as he was called, 'tl
question is what shall we do for Il
widow st. Cla'r? Invent to see bla'
Nan just before 1 came here and s.
says the poor woman is really destitut
though she never complains. She
good grit, Won see, and what we do W