Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1886-09-09
"Only A Filtration"
BY R. N. c.

He was one of those men who COM
msnded your admiration, your respect,
your liking, and the first time Ethel
Darlington met him she only did
what everyone did-what more than
half the girls did who we're introduced
to DR.. Walton.
The doctor was undeniably hand
some, withs beauty that, while wo-
men adored it, men were bound as
we'll to admire. He was manly and
chivalrous as prince. He was gentle
and caressing in his manner and tone
to women, and yet no one had ever
dreamed of calling him impressionable
or susceptible.
He was frank, fearless, and decided
in his way with men, and still he never
had been called self-important or con-
ceited, or in any way offensive.
lie was generally conceded to be a
gentleman of unusual skill and far
sightedness in his profession.
He was positively known to enjoy a
widespread reputation, and large,
successful practice.
He was the centre and soul of the
social circles in which he moved when
his business admitted of such relaxa-
tion, which was not nearly as often as
people wished.
He was unmarried, well-to-do, kept
up charmingly hospitable establish
ment over which his sister presided,
and was about thirty eight years old.
Do you wonder, then, that Ethel
Dorrington fell in love with him al
most as soon as she met him?
I have said that DR.. Walton was
neither impresslonable nor susceptible,
and by that l mean--not that he did
not ardently admire women--pretty,
agreeable, fascinating women-but
that he was hardly the one to be fall
ing in love with every pretty, agree
able, fascinating woman he saw
Once or twice in his life he had
imagined himself in love, and once
had been on the very verge of an en-
gagement, but something had happen
ed that made him take more time for
consideration, and the result was when
he met Ethel Dorrington he was heart
whole and fancy free.
She was bewitching, winsome girl,
not famous for her beauty, but yet
better looking than the majority of
girls.
She dressed we'll and suitably to the
occasion always.
She was fair acquisition to the
society in which she took her place as
guest and dearest friend of the Mer-
ridens; she played we'll and sung we'll,
and dancsd exquisitely.
She was intelligent and educated,
vivacious, without being vulgarly de-
monstrative; she knew how to make
her lady friends like her and the gen.
tlemen admire her.
And she was betrothed, and had
been for year, to Ernest Halford, q
young lawyer in her native city.
And she had looked on DR.. Walton
with her beautiful dark eyes, and, be-
fore she had been acquainted with him
week, was as much in love with him
as though there existed no gentleman
named Ernest Halford, whose ring she
wore.
She had no idea of being false to
Ernest Halford-paradoxical and in
credible as the idea seems--even when
she deliberately removes her engage
ment ring from her fore-inger, and
arranged her plan of action towards
DR.. Walton, determining in her mind
that since every other girl petted and
courted him In vain, she would adopt
IN opposite treatment--.not in vain.
She did not have the remotest in
tention of throwing Ernest Halford
over, for all she knew she was in love
with DR.. Walton, for all she had re-
moved the tell.tale token of possession
ship.
She knew in her heart that she was
a born firt, if dirts are born ready
made, that her passion for this god
like man, with the face and form of an
Apollo, would, in all probability, be
transient, and that she would eventu-
ally settle down to the sober, sensible
life Of content and happiness with dear
old Eraest.
What harm would there be if she
enjoyed Irritation with DR. Walton,
this splendid man of whom her cous-
ing, Eettie and Oracle Merriden, had
written until she felt she almost knew
him7
Nettie and Oracle had declared that
he was a predestinated bachelor, con-
seeuently she could do bim no harm.
She knew she would eventually
gAarry Ernest, and be o model, demure
wife; SO, obviously. DR.. Walton would
do her no harm.
Then why, in the name of all the
Guplds, might not her three months