The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1886-04-15
SLLNGS AND ARROWS
By, HUGH CONWAY.
Author of SCALED Back" "Dars Days"
"a Family Affair."" Etc.
CHAPTER Ill
FIRST LOVE.

fruit, Whom first stepped into the world
the novelty and freshness Of all saw had
kept the evil which I had imbibed In the
background But now that was a man,
now that the glamour with which boy
surrounds everything had faded away,
much of Mr. Loraine's teachings, many Of
bis cynical axioms, came back, perhaps un.
awares. TO me. The certainty which he had
always felt as to some selfish motive being
the hidden handspring in every action Of
man or woman, with me became at Least
suspicion. I had already met with folse
friends, who had, under the guise OF friend
shin. robbed me not only Of money, but OF
what valued more-trust in my fellows.
After awhile began to persuade myself
that such popularity as enjoyed was not
due to nv own merits, but to my worldly
possessions; that Twas by no means fine
fellow-merely young man of large prop
erty.
This feeling is danger which contln'
ually besets Q rich and sensitive man, es-
pecially If bis companions are poorer than
himself, and his OWL nature is not such as
can. accept fattery as his due Under such
circumstances it is easy to develop much OF
the cynicism Of Julian Lorraine.
Women had as yet done nothing to lower
my self-esteem. Until now, l had not
found ths woman could love. One reason
for this was, that wa; still OF romantic
nature, and was resolved that whomsoever
Iasked to be my wife should love me FOR
myself-not for my money.
wish, so far as possible, to keep this tale
free from any sarcastic remarks of my own,
but at that time I often wondered II the
mothers Of fair young daughters would
have found me such charming fellow had
not Julian Lorraine made that brief will.
But at last was in love-hopelessly, un-
reserveily in love- My nature is, believe,
a passionate one, and now that it had found
It's aim, gave it full AMI free scope. 1
loved madly, blindly, and, alas! jealousy.
had set my heart upon no daughter
Of wealthy or we'll born family. The
girl loved was not one whom l met in
society; yet proudly thought of the day
when every eye would turn and be dazzled
by her beauty-when people who appralS ed
the charms Of fair women would rank those
Of my wife above all.
OF course was parial-all lovers are
but now, as glance from my paper to the
portrait which hangs on the well facing me,
tell myself that my love did not lead me
far astray.
The soft, thick fair hair growing low
down on the forehead, and. swept back over
the ear TO join the knotted, silky mass at
the back Of the head The head itself,
small, well-shaped, and, above all, well
poised. The large, soft, dark blue eyes.
p The fringe Of long, straight lashes-yeS,
straight, not curved-falling, when the
eyes are closed, literally on the cheek. The
girIish, yet perfect figure. All! need not
look at the portrait to recall and describe
my Lowell
For the rest, her name was Viola Keith.
She was an orphan, and all but alone.
How met her. where met her, matters
litgs. Nearly all drst meetings take place
under prosaic circumstances. Anyway, as
nv ewes met hers, told myself that
looked at the one woman whom it was pos
sible for me to love with an eternal love.
knew nothing of her family or her sur
roundings. cared to know nothing. One
question only asked myself: Can win
her, and win her for my own sakea Here,
even here, in the first flush Of my new love,
suspicion OF motive must be guarded
against.
So when, at last, I was able to tell her
what name bore, I changed it, and called
myself MIR. Julian Vane. She should, il
she loved me, marry me, thinking she was
marrying one in her own station Of life.
Not that her station was anything to be
ashamed of. So far as I could gather, she
was one of the many whose parents leave
their children slender provision, yet large
enough to live upon in reSpectability and
comfort. Viola, found, lived in small
house, with prim old dame, the pink OF
dignity and propriety, and who had for
merly been the girls schoolmistress; soil
tary, lonely life it must have been for the
girl
laughed as thought how, if she loved
me, would draw her from her dull home
and show her the great world and the glo
ries thereof
How was I to WOO her! We were not
likely to meet ut any mutual friends house.
had no sister, cousin or any one who couio
do me q friendly turn in the matter. YET
every moment of suspense would be an age
to me- Imust do something.
So one day I waited until l saw Viole
leave tho house. I watched her tall, grace
full form pass out of sight, and by great
effort repressed my desire to follow her
JThen I walked to her house and requested
to see Miss Rossiter, the prim old maider
Lady aforesaid.
told her in plain words the object Of my
calling. Ispoke frankly Of my great love
for her companion, and begged that my
ahearer would aid me to remove obstacle;
(which stood in the way of closer inter
course. No doubt, with lovers cunning
Imade myself most agreeable to the ancien
rentlewoman. Permission was graciously
accorded me to visit at the house-as
friend.
I wanted no more I rose to take my
leave, longing for tomorrow to come, as
did not like to venture two visits on th
first day. Just then the door opened anG
Viola appeared
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