Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1886-11-04

56So6u.
Old Mr.. Cresslngton was in. the
richest humor as he led forward two
young girls. !
Come, don't be shy, now. Walter,
this is your cousin Mabel Cressington,
and this is her good friend and insep-
arabic Irene Vance, come down to
help entertain you. My nephew, Mr..
Walter Austin, girls. And this is
aunt Cornelia, you remember her we'll
eno1gh, hey?'
And so the presentation was merrl'
ly got over, and Walter found himself
at home in the most pleasant family |
he ever had known.
They we're remarkably pretty girls,
with blue eyes, although Miss Vance's |
were decidedly the deeper blue and
more bewitching, and lovely yellow
gold hair, although Walter found
himself admiring the style of Miss
Vance's coiffure before he had known
her an hour, and when he went up to
his room that night he felt as if, be-
tween the two, roguish Mabel and
sweet little Irene, he never would
come out heartwhole.
'For Mabel is a good little darling,
and l will take old great-uncle Abiahs
advice and fall in love with her, and
thereby secure generous share of the
Cressington estates.
And the handsome young gentle
man went to sleep and dreamed, in
stead of Mabel's laughing eyes, of
Irene's gentle. tender ones, and awoke
somewhere IN the middle of the night,
unable to get to sleep again for think
ing of her. %.
And the after days were not much
better. Despite the golden value of
Mabel there was something about
Irene Vance that made this headstrong
fellow very foolishly indifferent to the
advice be had sworn to follow.
because, by Jove! fellow would
have to be made. out of granite to re-
sist the sweet,shy ways of such little
darling as Irene! And I'll marry her.
if she'll have me, and the money and
property may go to the--dogs! I've
head and pair of hands, and little
blue-eyed Irene shall not suffer!'
1t was not an hour later that he met
her in the hall, carrying great boughs
of holly, to festoon down the sombre
walnut staircase. -.s
Give me your burden, Irene. Why
didn't you tell me you were going to
gather it, anG let me 60 with your
He managed to get the lovely
sprays from her arms, but it required
an immense amount of tardy effort
on his part, and shy, sweet blushlng on
hers.
"Answer me, Irene. Why didn't
you let me 60 with you? Would t
you have liked it?'
He demanded her answer in his
most captivating, lordly way, she
dropped her eyes confusedly.
Yes .....
Then why were you SO cruel to
me? Say, Irene?
Il am not cruel to anybody. Indeed,
I must go.''
Walter planted himself squarely in
the way, and was looking down at her
rose tinted face.
"No, you can't go yet. Irene, you
are cruel, or you would never deprive
me of one opportunity to enjoy the
blessedness of your society,
His voice lowered tenderly, and he
dropped his head nearer her golden
curls.
You know I think it is cruel in yor
to be so distant, and shy, and reserved
with me. don't you, IreneT
She shrank away her lovely form
dropping like lily of the valley, hel
cheeks hanging out their signals o
distress and confusion.
oh, please don't talk so to me-
Indeed I must go, Mabel Is waitin,
for the holly, and she, they won't lik
| it if
But Irene was prisoner in his tigh
clasp.
If what? Ii they find you and nj
talking so confdentially together
NO! I mean if I don't take tn
holly at once. -
Walter put his arm around he
waist before she hardly knew what hi
was doing
) Irene, look up! You shall not G
unml you let me see in your eyes l
vpu love me as well as | love you
Irene, my dear little girl, l do low
; you dearly!
!, She was silent one second, and b
saw the quiver that trembled on he
lips. Then she raised her golden hea
slowly, shyly.
you love me? Oh, Walter, wha
I, will they all say2 Don't you knov
you ought to talk this way to Mabe
instead of me? am nobody, Waite
1 and Mabel is a great heiress.
Walter had both arms around ht
) by this time, and was looking ardent
ly in her loving face.
i; Il know Mabel ls an heiress, and
! nice girl; and also know you are
:, darling-my darling, and the only gir
! I ever asked to be my wife, or eve