Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1886-09-09


and frightened by genuine Irritation
with him?
Whether her conscience chided her
in vain or not at all, as Ethel argued
with herself and her reason;ngs, lean
not say.
But l do know that at a social
gathering held at DR.. and Miss Wal
tons elegant home night or so late-
she was at her very best, and when
the house was quiet and empty of
guests again DIR. Walton caught him
self thinking, with unusual interest, Of
the tall, gracefully slender girl in
trailing black silk who wore cream
and cardinal flowers In her dark hair,
and at her round white throat, and
who had been so charmingly entertain
ing, and withal, just enough reserved
to show she was above the weakness
towards him of her companions in
general. ,
And DIR. Walton made up his mind
he would cultivate Miss Dorrington's
acquaintance further.
Two months of the three that we're
to constitute Ethel's visit to the Mer-
ridens had passed, and Ethel had come
to be such intimate friends that peo-
ple nodded and smiled knowingly
when their names we're spoken, and
hints of jealousy and envy began to
be darkly spread whenever Miss Dorr-
ington was seen in Mr.. Walton's hand.
some little carriage; and DR.. Walton
himself was hourly coming to the con-
clusion that of all women he had ever
seen or known, this one, with her
dark, bright eyes, the charmingly
witching ways that had so slowly de-
veloped from pleasant Indifference to
positive yet ladylike interest, was the
fairest, sweetest, best; and whom,
heaven helping, he would win and
wear SO proudly.
And Ethel'
This same sunshiny day, when DR..
Walton was driving his round, dis
pensing words and deeds of cheer, and
comfort, and hope, and encourage
ment, she was sitting in her room,
reading a letter the post had just
brought her from Ernest, and feeling
as she read it, how soon her delightful
triumph here must be ended--feeling,
with a strange thrill at her heart, that
l-perhaps-perhaps she had not done
wisely; perhaps we'll, she hoped such a
glorious fellow as DR.. Walton would
not care when she went away for good.
Would not care! All, if she had
known how his very soul was stirred
at thought of her
She read Ernest's letter slowly, lit
tie bushes surging to her face at in
tervals.
"If you only knew how have
counted the hours you have been
away, my darling, my little love, and
how l am counting the minutes until
you return. You never shall 60 away
again, Ethel, without me, do you know
that? When / think how near our
marriage is, only few weeks from
your return, and that you will never
60 from me again, oh Ethel, darling,
l am tempted to throw down my pen,
and rush off to you, and take you in
my arms and kiss you over and over,
in my great happiness.
They write your family, your faith
er says, that you are having splendid
time, and are the relgning favourite
on all sides.
Il want you to have good time,
dear, and let every one know that a
precious treasure l possess.
Only, darling, don't flirt with any
one enough to hurt them, for know
you are as true as steel, loyal and true
as you know am.
1T Is just possible that I may come
to escort you home, Ethel.
If the courts are not in session |
will. ...
Think of it.
Such lazy, delicious ride all by
ourselves!
4 will be so good and kind to you,
darling, that the three hundred miles
shall not be tedlousl
4 X q
1t would have been impossible for
any woman to read Ernest's letter and
not realize, beyond the shadow of a
doubt, that he loved Ethel Dorrington
with all tenderness of a grand, noble
nature, and that, true and good him
self, he pinned his faith implicitly up
on her.
And Ethel realized 1t with a sensa-
ton she could not describe, tina. was
not proud delight that it was so, nor
yet sorrow that she had been playing
false.
He is a dear, good boy, and 1 sup
pose, Of course, I love him. But
But as she looked up through the
window, and caught glance from DR..
Walton's eyes as he leaned forward
and bowed in passing in his carriage,
she wondered again if she had not
been unwise--ay, worse than unwise
cruel IN that she had now two such
man tn love her.