Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1886-05-27
ALOvE STORY.

alighted-among them striking look
ing man in handsome coat, that, with
its fur cuffs and fur collar, gave him
something of Russian aspect He
was handsome, elegant and about
thirty years Of age.
Dinner was ready. At theShead Of
the table sat the Landlord, who presid-
ed with great affability. He spoke To
one.
There were permanent as well as
transient guests in the house. One
lady dressed in light silk, with an
elabrate eoiffure, had sort Of gala air
about her.
"Been to the wedding, Mrs. Crosby?"
he said. "And did it go off well? And
was the bride as pretty and the BRIDE
groom as unimpcrtant as usual? A
man is never SO entirely overlooked as
at his own wedding, unless, indeed his
mother is there to wonder why 50 fine u
fellow chose such girl.
"He, he!" laughed Mrs. Crosby.
"What man you are for jokes Mr..
FELTON,! Well, his mother wasn't there,
I assure you; for she must be too old to
get about, If she's living. He's eighty,
Pm told. To think of a woman of
twenty five accepting such an old crea-
turep'
"But he's rich,' said boniface. "She'll
be rich widow in year or SO. One
ofo bellies, sir" he said addressing
the stranger of whom we have spoken.
Miss Beulah Blair. DIR. Blair's only
daughter, as pretty as the sun shines
on.n
Everyone at the table noticed the
strangers face as this communication
fell on his ear. His ruddy color faded,
his eyes dilated; he sat there with face
as though smitten with death; for a
moment he did not speak.
Then the blood rushed back to his
face. He lifted the glass at his plate in
the air. IA health to the BRIDE" he
cried, land long life to the bridegroom"
They drank the toast, one or two of
them forming the opinion that this fur
coated stranger was some great tragedi-
an, who had resolved to astonish them.
They dispersed away to their own
duties or pleasures when the meal was
over. He ascended to the room to
which his luggage had been carried.
His sudden pallor had been no actor's
trick. The blood had forsaken his face
at the bidding ofa terrible emotion
From distant lands, where he had toll.
ed for nine long years to win fame and
fortune, hehad returned, crowned with
success, to marry precisely this Beulal
Blair-this bride of the old man Of
eighty. She had vowed herself to him
worn his ring. written him the tenderes
of love letters, and Tilted him at last
that is, if those people spoke the truth
He was not one to go away withou
making sure there was no mistake
about that. Wrapping himself in hi
fur coat, he stalked out of the house in
to the long village street and took hi
way toward the well known spot-th'
garden gate-from which, years before
DR.. Blair had hidden him depart, re
preaching him with his audacity il
counting his only daughter-he, poo
and young, and without prospects. Blu
she had met him in the woodland the,
knew SO well, and vowed fidelity. Wa
this the end of it all?
So it seemed. The house was al
ablaze with light, and approaching tn
long windows opening on the garden h
saw her-Beulah! his Beulah, he had s
n often called her.
. She stood there in her bridal dres.
!. her rich veil falling to her feet, shadin
but not concealing, her lovely face an
hair, and the exquisite outliness of he
figure.
:, Returning to the hotel, he wrote
long bitter letter, full of reproaches an
sarcasm, posted it and paid his bill
Before daylight the handsome strange
s had left the town behind him. H
sought in travel the peace which n
y man ever yet found save in his ow
va heart.
- He remained away five years.
the end Of that time he returned. E
!. had left his home-the home to whic
he had hoped to return with his brio
i. just as it had been arranged, mere
Id Id locking and barring windows and door
es as There was a letter box at the entran,
:, and into this number of letters ar
papers had been thrust from withou
= for he had left no address behind hir
!. Turning these over with carele
he hand he came to one addressed
ia Beulah's writing. How we'll he kne
a. it! She had, then, replied to his lette
I. With trembling hand he tore it OPP
and read the words:-
"Dear Archibald-yes, always dear
.k me-hadI deserved your reproaches
us should not write these words. TIL
sss told me you were married toa wom'
Ss q. of fortune and title-a German counte
believed them. married whom th
l y ~ 4 r n. Il