Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1888-03-15
HUMBLED TO THE DUST.

and EVELYN Ashburton's was of the
royal kind, as she stood that evening
in her fathers superbly-appointed
drawing-room, the shaded globes of
the chandelier casting moon-iike
radiance around her, and the odor of
hot-house flowers filling the air with
sweetness.
She was tall and cxquisitely nodded,
with hands and arms like q Greek
statue, lovely turquose-blue eyes, and
her hair full of orange-brown lights,
while her rich red lips were curved
like Dianas, and painted in the in
tensest of scarlet. There was an arch
in her dark-brown eyebrows, a curve
to the corners of her mouth, that be-
tokened pride; but pride seemed only
q fitting attitude to Miss Ashburton rs
she stood there, her dress of amethyst
colored satin sweeping the carpet with
its lustrous brcadths, and pearls Shin
ing in her hair and on her breast.
Little Alice Morton opened wide her
eyes as she glanced in.
''Alone, Evelyn Why, | thought
Mr.. st. Markham was here! she ex-
claimed, tripping in like bright lit
tie attendant sprite to Evelyn, the
queen.
$50 nc was, just now"
'And has gone alreadyP"
Eyes"
Alice looked intently up into her
friends face.
"What does it all mean, Evelyn?
"Only that / have refused him"
"Evelynw exclaimed. Alice, involun-
tarily clasping her hands together.
"You have really and truly refused
Mr.. st. Markham?'
''Of course | have!' Miss Ashburton
answered, somewhat impatiently.
what is there so very strange about
thatp"
"Why, everything! He is so hand
some, so good, so gentlemanly."
81 am quite willing to grant you all
that, Alice, laughed Miss Ashburton
as she advanced slowly to the full
length mirror between the windows,
to adjust tea-rosebud in her shining
brown braids.
"Thcn why in the name of Cupid
and all his angels did you refuse himp'
"Simply because am Ralph Ash
burton's daughter, and he is the son Of
q mechanic"
''But he is rich"
'tYes; butt am of too aristocratic
a nature to believe in sclf-made men,
Evelyn Ashburton scorns to place hel
hand in that of one once hardened by
menial labor"
''Did you dare to tell him this"
Evelyn arched her naughty eyes.
''Of course did The mans temer
ity in proposing to me is too much-it
needed check"
evelyn cried Alice; II believe
you are half mad with aristocratit
pride! Do you expect to wed prince
of the blood?
''No; but l intend to ally myself will
one who is worthy of the old name o
Ashburton. like Mr.. st. MARKHAM
well enough-nay, might even learr
to love him were he mated in station
descent, and blood; but as it is / cal
only wonder at his temerity in aspir
ing to one so far removed from him!'
s'Ah," said Alice, nodding her hea'
demurely; Il see how it is. You meal
to marry Paul Cheswick, whose cousil
is an earl. But, beware; Paul will
never make half so good husband a
St. Markham.
81 must be the Judge of that myself,
Miss Ashburton answered haughtily
"Has not the carriage come yet? Sure
ly mamma is late with her dressing thi
evening""
swell, Evelyn, of course you at
the best judge" said Alice, shaking
her sunny little head; "but we ar
hardly right to attach such unneces
sary Importance to birth. There, yo
needn't shrug your shoulders; shal
say nothing more about it, one way o
the other"
Evelyn Ashburton shone that even
ing at the ball, star of the first mag
nitude. Mr.. Cheswick was devoted t
her, and she enjoyed the social pr
eminence, as girl Of her mental ca
ibre would be most apt to do. "
Evelyn had true womans heart, an
ever and anon pang crept throug
it as she noticed that Mr.. St. MARKHAM
was not one of the festive throng.
She had told Alice Morton that sh
might have loved Mr.. ST. MARKHAM
had circumstances been differen
Was she quite sure in her own min
that she did not love him even as
was?
Mr. and Mrs. Ashburton left til