Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1889-08-15

~-6 VIC AHNABOAosiuSf NuOiCcOhO
thought outfowing from the stage.
Talk of church goingl Why, the in
huence was worth that Of q score of
cut and dried sermons, with all the
warm, human sympathy squeezed out
OF them. To Mercy, in her present
unhealthy state of feeling, the moral
stamina and sterling uprightness of
Josh Whitcomb we're like q tonic.
There was the contagion of goodness
in the atmosphere. Such production,
sweeping its pure, invigorating cur
rents nightly through the selfishness
and impurity in the life of the city,
like breezes from a snowy mountain
upon fever-tainted valley at its feet,
is veritable means of grace to the
thousands and thousands and ten
times thousands of weary souls and
overwrought brains that come under
its influence.
When the curtain rose upon Grace
Church, grand and stately N the sub
dued evening light, Mercy gave low
gasp of pain. She recalled herself,
crouching at nightfall, half famished,
in the shadow of that lighted church
not many months ago, while the self
same Joyous bridal chorus, now
sounding behind those richly stained
windows, throbbed upon the open air.
The bridal party had walked out-the
bride beautiful, loving and beloved,
while she was frlendless. All. but
now she also was beloved by lover
strong and handsome as that bride
groom-but there was no marriage
service on the program. and there
seemed grasp of cold fingers about
her heart at that thought
When the curtain fell upon the rus
tic dance in the old homestead kitchen
upon the return of the prodigal, Mer.
cy rose from her seat and moved out
with the rest, feeling that she was not
the Mercy of three hours ago. The
old strong willfulness of her child
hood when she was simply well.fed
healthy young animal, returned to a
new form. Her morbid self.pity was
scattered. Her pride was in arms.
She seemed to feel her fathers clear,
stern eyes upon her. Why should
Squire Rideaway's daughter allow her
self to be degraded by pity? Why
should she, with the endurance of the
Granite State in her blood, and this Is
awakening womanly self-respect leav-
ening her whole nature-why should
she accept such love as Clement Rhodes
had offered her? She rose superior to
the weak craving for affection. Love
that does not offer honorable terms is
worthless, she thought. She regained
the brave fearlessness in which she
had first come to the city of battle for
her bread. She seemed to put her
past lll-luck behind and trample upon
it. There is something better ahead
for you,' a voice within or without
seemed to whisper.
Courage! Courage! Be strong!'
The words sounded in her ears as she
walked along the street IN the early
gaslight. BE strong! Be strong!
seemed the echo and re-echo above the
city sounds and the cry of the news
boys.
She stopped suddenly before her
own reflection in a mirror in the light.
ed window of millinery store. She
was almost startled at the change in
her face and bearing since she had
met her reflection there a few hours
earlier. She was no dropping violet
now, but erect and tall, with a vivid
color in her cheeks and a bright light
in her eyes, instead of the langulshing,
pathetic expression. The sight set a
seal upon her new recognition of her
own worth. -
A dark face with pair of honest
eyes was reflected over her shoulder
In the mirror, but she did not heed
She walked on with quick elastic step
and turned into shabby street, the
strong, broad-shouldered figure fol-
lowed her at some distance.
She closed the door of her lodging
house after her and went up to her
room. The man halted q moment, and
walked past slowly, as if in some un-
certainty.
Mercy lighted lamp and removed
her hat and cloak. She looked around
upon her room, with its frayed carpet
and scanty furniture, with new re-
gari Here she stood mistress of her
self once more. The weak, wilted wo-
man, ready to bestow herself upon a
lover for the asking; had disappeared.
The play had been an elixir of life to
her.
Clement Rhodes was coming that
evening. All, there was his step low
upon the stairsl There was shade
of easy assurance in his lightstap, she
fancied, as she opened the door wide
for hlnn to enter. He stood facing her,
hat in hand, well-made well.dressed
man, with somethingin his face which
denoted character above the male
average, in spite of the contradiction
of his act. an
Mercy There was a new impres.
sion of rnsnact in his .tona tLJou