The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1886-07-08

was filled with a heavy sort of pride al
his new importance, but it seemed to
weigh upon him and take from him
what little lightness of heart he ever had.
David Scott plainly saw, however un
conscious it may have been, that it wal
the fascinating hope uf seeing Margaret,
though he received no welcome from
her, that had taken him so frequently to
the house in the intervals of his busy
hours. But he would allow himself NO
tender day-dreams. cam 1 a nan to
waste the best in me on a woman who
can not love me?" he protested with
himself. II am no barbarian that ]
should pursue a woman with attentions
that she resents." But the longing fol
her grew almost insupportable. He
could not rid himself of a haunting,
ghostlike Margaret that seemed to dog
his steps and to vanish whenever he
turned his eyes upon her. Her strong,
active frame, her clear eyes,, her taunt-
ing mouth, her m1sical voice, seemed
to pervade his atmosphere, and he felt
them about him increasingly.
sit is simply because I'm a human
being" he told himself cynically. my
time has come for mating. My scorn-
full cousin Margaret CHANGED to be in
range of my vision-and thereby hangs
this tale" After all of this comforting
philosophy it was somewhat humiliat-
ing when, a week later, he passed the
farmhouse on his way to the works
and saw her at the real window, to
have every drop of blood in his body sud-
denly stop and then race madly through
his veins like the surging waters Of a
| spring-time flood.
You are back agsinp" he said, stu
pidly.
''Yes," she answered. 81 hope you
are well, sir" Then, without waiting
for a reply, she hurried away. After
this David never ventured beyond the
threshold of the house when necessity
took him thither.
"Come in," Seth would say to him.
"Ye wouldn't know tn house. Mar
garet brought a hull car load of truck
home with her, besides two fellers to do
tn fxin' fur her. Tn very walls is
like picturs, an as fur tn cheers, I
swan they'd make a loafer of a man in
no time. An carpets, man, an rugs,
an curtains. Well, 1 be busted if she
amt the greatest on curtains I ever
see. Blow me, man, eff they amt up
at tn doors as well rs the windows.
Then tn books. That's what you'd
like, now. Why, the room the girls
KEEP for kumpany bedroom is jist pa
pered with 'um. We set there mostly
now, an mighty pleasant it u.s." But
these chronicles had only the effect of
keeping David at his naughty distance.
''She makes sunshine for all but me-"
he complained bitterly to himself. He
saw Nora and Hattie in unaccustomed
splendor, and noticed that their place in
he kitchen had been taken by a buxom
German girl. 'tT1l stay here till I've
made money enough to invest in some
thing that will give me a comfortable
living, and then get as far away from
here as possible" he vowed. That
night, as he was about to hurry home
in the early dreary dusk, Seth met him
with a very anxious face.
Margaret is down with a fever" he
announced. 'I'm. goin' fur the doc
tor"
.Let me co." cried David. .sYou 90
and stay with the girls" In two hours
the doctor was in Margaret's room.
David paced the parlor below, waiting
for his verdict.
"She's bound to have a run of ty-
phoid," said the doctor. ''But she's
got a good constitution, and I trust
she'll pull through" Then came days
of suspense which made him ashamed
that he had called the sentimental
moodiness of the last few weeks misery.
At length one day Nora rushed across
the cold fields, hatless, and begged him
to come to Margaret.
"She's been calm for you, Dave, for
the last two days, but Hattie and me
thought she would be best pleased when
she got well if we didn't call you. But
1 can't stand it; really 1 can't. Come
reached the room. CHASTITY as the moon
when it breaks through storm-clouds,
the girl lay tossing in the shadowy
gloom. What did he hear?
david! David! Dear love! You are
tired. Rest, dear one. Do they think
you never tirep You are growing pale.
I am watching you, dear one, though
you do not guess it. All, you must
carry me by storm. my knight. 1 will
not coax your favor. A stanch heart or
none will 1 have. Yet do not look so
grieved, love. O, Nora, what a fool 1
am! I've lOSG my common sense. See
if yon a fine it for me-" Suddenly
she became wild and raised herself in
the bed, tossing her arms about and
screaming for David.
"You will die, David, and never
know l loved you. Come David, Da-
vid!' He could restrain himself no
longer, but folded her in his arms, and
with every soothing device love could
c~onjure laid her back upon the pillow
and lulled her into a peaceful sleep.
"God bless you, David" said Hattie,
with tears in her eyes. 81 believe you
have saved her."
The days that followed were filed
with all blessedness for Margaret. She
delighted in her weakness since it
brought such loving solicitude, such
watchfulness. And when the deepen
ing blue of the sky that told the time
had come for the trailing arbutus to
crown the dropping head of winter,
Margaret made the home of David
Scott all that he had imagined she
would.-EI'a W. Peattie, in N. Y. Mail
and Express.