Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1886-08-05

was boinelninB On ucl hAinHs o.-o "heA wv
70 say good night she said hurriedly, wait
one moment, please" III
saw that she was troubled and could hard
ly speak.
"what is it dearf'' said, "surely you can
tell me anything. n" -----
at is only" she said, and tried to laugh,
but it was such faint, joyless shadow of her
/ old mirthfulness that it made my heart ache.
'It is only that 1 would like to 60 away
some where for awhile. Do not think it
strange" she pleaded, "it is not that am
not happy with you and dear aunt Jane, but l
must go away. must; must" Her voice
rose TO almost scream then sank away, and
her whole form seemed to falter and droop.
Ihelped her to her bed as though she had
been child. "You shall do just as you wish.
OF course you may go away. Change of air
may do you good, and we have an old aunt up
il the country who will be glad to have you.
But now lie still and sleep and do not worry"
She drew my face down to hers and kissed
me tenderly. "You are too good to me-" she
said brokenly.
| NOg rd1u OiOCIAuAASS AOl = co" chC hiuob
not be excited any more than, "just good
enough, dear child" Then kissed her and
went away and straight down stairs where
knew should find Jack.
"Maggie wants to go away for little"
said, trying to speak easily; "she is going to
aunt Susan's, 1 think maybe the change will
do her good"
Jack listened to me in silence but l saw his
face change and grow white.
"She wants to get away from me-" he said
quietly. "She sees that love her and it trou-
bles her. 1t is that should go away, and
will"
"Oh Jack!" I said, sit cannot be that"
still remembered how strangely Maggie had
acted towards him of late, and could not
feel sure.
The next evening Jack said to me, "aunt
Sell, / want, if possible, to have little talk
with Maggie tonight. must go down town
few minutes first, but will not be gone
long"
After he had gone went to Maggies room
and persuaded her to come out into the par
lor. Ihad given her my room since she had
grown so weak that it was hard for her to
climb the stairs.
| "Come out on the sofa,' urged, "Jane has
gone to bed with headach, and am all alone
for Jack has gone down town." So I got her
arranged on the sofa and very pretty and
sweet she looked in her soft dress of delicate
blue, when heard Jacks quick, fine tread on
the walk. Maggie heard it too and the blood
mounted swiftly to her pale face.
| murmured some excuse about getting
drink and left the room. I went out into the
dining room and walked up and down the
room, trying to keep calm but failing utterly.
At last I stole softly into the hall thinking
! at least to hear their voices and know that all
was we'll.
The parlor door was part way open and
heard Jacks voice tender and low-"if you
are going away because I love you Maggie,
you need not go, for will go myself, but if
you could have loved me, darling, we might
be 40 happy"
Iknew ought not to stand there listening
but Maggie had risen to her feet, and now
tottered as though she would have fallen. In
voluntarily started forward, but before
reached the door saw Jack catch her in his
arms; heard him say rapturously, "then you
do love me after all!'
| Then crept back into the dining room
ashamed of myself for my caves dropping,
but filled with joy that all was right at last.
| An hour later Jack came in search of me
and took me in where Maggie lay on the sofa
little pale, and suspicion of tears in the
dark eyes but looking happy as queen.
Tits all right, aunt Sell," said Jack, "Mag-
gle is not going away but is going to stay at
home and marry me-"
"Then why did she try to run away?"
asked, trying to look stern.
"Oh, aunt SELL" cried the girl, II did not
know that he -" "loved you," put in Jack
as she hesitated. "And so" went on Maggie
blushing rosily, II wanted to go away be-
cause /" again she paused and Jack
went at once and took her two hands in his,
''because you loved him." he said, tenderly.
| Prof HorsfOrdtS Rakinp Powder