Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1888-02-23
CONTINUED
CHAPTER TX.
~nAU NFANT

WEAK MAN.
II was at dusk few days after Jane Graves
had come to the Ellingsworths that she stood
at the dining room window.
It was almost in sight of her old dreary
home, and yet another world; how strange
that the two should be so near and not change
or shadow each other. But Jane Graves was
not the girl to trouble herself over hard ques-
tions She breathed her new atmosphere in
unmixed delight, while latent senses awoke
each day only to be gratified.
At this moment she stood in a very charm
ing attitude leaning lightly against the
window casing, her prettily rounded arm
raised to play with the curtain tasseL Her
master rather liked to linger in the dining
room Nnd read his evening paper. Occasion
ally he would glance at the girl who had
such pretty poses; he had quite a taste for
pictures, and then she afforded him an excuse
for not little cynical philosophy. Mr..
Ellingsworth had one popularity that would
certainly seem very commendable. He never
spoke rudely to any one; it would have been
impossible for his finely grained nature. She
thought him polite and kind, and in her in
nocence imagined his was the usual manner
of the well bred with their hirelings. The
other servants knew that humiliation was n
part Of their required weeks work, which
their wages were considered to pay for; and
expected to see the thunderbolt fail on this
foolish girl who did not know how precious
was the purchased privilege of being cringed
to. But strange enough the thunderbolt did
not hasten.
Suddenly the girl started and deep flush
lit up her dark face Up the walk, to the
front doorway, came the man of whom she
thought, with his own lordly stride as if he
were prince, indeed, as he deserved to be.
Her heart was in a sweet glow; he had found
her out, and had come for her. She would
leave all these beautiful things with rapture
for him.
Mr.. Ellingsworth saw the mans figure at
the front gate, and the girls start, and
smiled rather disagreeably: He had won.
dered before why her lover didn't come, and
here he was at the front door, no doubt ex.
pecting to be entertained in the parlor.
Jane Graves glics1 into the hall. Suddenly
grown shy at the maiden passion of her own
heart, she slowly opened the front door
What would he say first? Would he take
her hand which had grown so white and soft
lately? Would be ask to kiss her, and with
beating heart shS stood in the open door
way.
1t had now grown almost dark, perhaps he
did not see her plainly.
"Did you ring!" she asked foolishly, while
her heart sank down, down, would it never
stop9
is your mistress in?'
What was this-some strange mistake
Could he not see who it was held the door
open for hims
"My mistress, Miss Ellingsworth? why yes
she is in the parlor." 1t must be joke, but
now he had frightened her enough, and how
they would laugh together over it. She was
attempting to smile, when she heard the par
lor door open behind her.
"Yes, l am here" 1t was Bertha Filings
worth's voice. The visitor passed in, and
Jane Graves shut the outer door heavily and
sank upon the floor, pressing with both her
hands against her bursting heart. Then sho
leaped upon her feet in sudden madness anc
hurried along the hall to the parlor door
What right had this rich woman to ste,
away her lover9 She would care only 10
amuse herself with him for few DAYS nd
then her servants would be told to shut lhe
door in his face. Such cold creatures an she
hofel ioft' piSSlou tucJ KNOW mourning OF,
only the passion to break honest mems hearts.
Why not warn hiin' Oh but what was Jane
Graves to him3 he might remind her how he
had spurned her from him, once.
Jane Graves went back into the dining
room, now grown dark, and threw herself
into chair The poor cannot fight against
the rich. All! but she could hate her mis-.
tress' white face. She could curse her in her
thoughts with all the evils in the universe.
The girl burst into q passion of tears.
''What is the trouble, little girlr 1t was
her masters voice, She had forgotten him.
The girl heard him draw a chair near hers
but she did not uncover her face
"Was your beau unkind to you! Well,
don't have anything more TO say to him,
then, Jennie"
Why! the elegant Mr.. Ellingsworth was
actually kissing his maid! What difference
did it make? the one she loved had thrown
her away, and trampled her devotion under
his feet. She even let him draw her shapelv
little head to his aho,.' '.r, and take her hands
away from Elf f;,ao. .ncy hid her lips, he
said. Then the door bell rang.