Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1888-03-08
ksl|h''ls :
..s.sgINNT
Bi&foDMlls
BY CHARLES ]. BELLAMY.
CopyriRhted by the Author, and published
by arrangement with him
BY CHARLES ]. BELLAMY.
CHAPTER XIII.
CLASS PREJUDICE.

CLASS PREJUDICE.
But tbc house looked 50 sedate and alto
getber respectable that X seemed impossible
but that everything was as uspnl inside. The
door stood invitingly open, asst should on such
q balmy summer evening, the light streaming
bountifully out on the walk A catastrophe
surely would have left some sign, some
fatal mark somewhere to curdle ones blood
from afar How foolish of this black eyed
maiden and him to rush at the top Of their
speed in an agony Of suspense only to find
Bertha sitting at the parlor table mild eyed
and serene as be had used to know her! She
had only stepped across the street perhaps.
How she would wonder to see him hurry
ing In his unreasonable fear into her pres
encel But he would pour into her ears such
n torrent Of words of love that she would
bless him thousand times that he had come
back, and their happiness would date from
tonight. Perhaps she had tender conf
dences for him, too, of how wonderfully she
had grown into the love he had longed for,
and she would whisper to him that the few
weeks of estrangement had been blessing Of
God for her, and he need never again COM
plain of the GOODNESS of her love. Life is not
so serious and tragical an affair as one some
times thinks; things don't always plunge
into the ruin they are pointed toward.
BY the time Philip stepped into the door,
he had fully discounted his expected relief;
indeed, had almost persuaded himself that ho
had had no misgivings, there seemed so little
sense in misgivings
But he did not find the blue eyed woman he
loved at her parlor table He looked for a
crochet needle or square Of canvas, which
might show the marks of recent work; but
the round table was in perfect order. Tho
little book shaped card basket stood near the
bronze base of the drop lamp. A large red
morocco bound volume, called "The Dresden
Gallery" was tilted up little by a blue and
gold book of Swinhurnes poems, on which it
had been laid. The gracefully carved book
rack was full, all but one space the volume Of
poems might have fitted into
"Just as arranged it after tea said Jane
Graves, moving uneasily about.
"For heavens sake be still," he exclaimed.
He stepped out into the hall.
"Why, here is her shawl" he said, with a
iightened heart.
"It is her heavy shawl that is gone;" the
girl looked peculiarly at him when she added
almost under her breath, 'the one she takes
on evening drives.'
Philip shot n glance Of sudden intelli-
gence at her, and terrible suggestions and
recollections came crowding their hateful
meanings upon him. The mad blood seemed
congesting about bis heart, and yet his face
blazed like fire. "GOod Godn he shouted
hoarsely, "if you dare to breathe it will
choke the envious life out of you" Then he
caught the bell knob at the door and rang it
flercely, and then again, before its echoes had
ceased, and again and again.
Sand is there another fire, your honorsn
The broad faced chambermaid had come
up from the kitchen and stood with arms
akimbo, trying to make her rich Irish voice
heard above the sounding gong.
''Do you know where your mistress is!"
"No-a; if she be not inside, indade"
Didn't she go over to Il neighbours some
where's" questioned Philip eagerly.
"Not that knows on, sir"
'Has anybody been here? Didn't you tent
door, you ninny!"
1.-THE bell didn't ring till now, sir; but Law
me think bit" and the woman rubbed he
head meditatively.
"Quick," cried Philip, between hope ant
fear.
"Don't scare nc, sir, or can't do nothink.
He moved his feet restlessly on tbs inlai
hall floor, and he had bowed his head as
studying tho artists design; but it was TO
fear he should catch some terrible signif
cameo in Jane Graves black eyes. He coul
hear her dress rustic; he knew she was look
ing at him. waiting for him to lift his face
I 4 H., L.,
moment for all the world.
"Yis, there was O rumblin' team come W
and thought hearn a man come to th
dure and thin go hack; hut the bell didn
ring, sir, and didn't make no count on il
No, sir, hewitt hearn miss,,s movin' rour
sense, and knows she he ill over the hous
before
The creatures tongue was unloosed an
she kept on talking, but Philip had bounde
u, the broad stairs and thrown open the doc
a the room he thought was Bertha's.
In another moment the gas blazed up I
!he ceiling and he stood, wild eyed, lookin
from side to sido MS if he thought to find
heart hrcakins story written all over til
gold lalNrll wa..,,j then his eyes bccam
fixed on tho black walnut bureau with i
long mirror coming down through the Gel
ter. On the marble slab at the foot of Il
mirror he saw satin covered handkcrchi
case, and pinned upon it piece of paper.
In three steps he had clutched little pc
fumed note, with ribbon fastened on it as
for signal, delicate bow Of white rbbo
Mr. Ellingsworth's namo was written on
1t was all here, and yet Philip hesitated
moment as man would hesitate to cut off
manned and poisoned limb. And it was Q
most unconsciously at last that his nervo
fingers tore the note open and let the bit
white ribbon fiutter to the floor. He seemt
to read very slowly and the flush faded fro
his face and left it very calm. There cou
DO nothing very thrilling writtenthere surel
But every line and curve was branded fo
ever on his heart.
II llavc gone with Culran l knew cou
not stand your reproaches, but can only
happy with the man love. Society will d
own Inc. He Is more to me than all
BERTHA
lIc crushed the bit of paper in his han
and looked up to see Jane Graves standing
the doorway, pale as death. Beside her sto
the red checked chambermaid, speechl'
again, this time with astonishlnent to see
young man make SO free in her mistre
chamber.
'sGone with Curran; oh yes, II is all WI
ten out. Well, that is a joke; man W
don't wear cuffs and Bertha loves hi
Why, never could dress to suit her." A
he threw himself into a chair and burst il
convulsions of laughter till the tears came
''Well, there may be something else," a
he stepped jauntily upto hehureau again
Certainly, jewel box with my name
~ ,,t.t o.. ~, c,,,so ,,,,. az, ya ran ont RING