Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1889-01-31

so lover-like a gift on another Than
herself filled her hesrC with passion
ate anger against them both.
He had no right TO give her such a
present! She had no right to accept,
she said, pacing her room that night
with restless steps. Some pretty
trifle she might have taken as from a
cousin; but so valuable and peculiar a
gift should only be accepted by a wo-
man from tie man she is going to
marry. Naturally, l thought
A crimson glow of modification
and wounded pride spread over her
face, and turning quickly to her writ
ing desk she siezed a sheet of paper
and penned the impulsive words that
bore such amazement and grief to
Alan the next day:
Il wish to be released from the en-
gagement existing between u.s. she
wrote. Il find l cannot marry you
and deeply regret that the mistake
of thinking it possible should ever
have been made
She signed it with her full name.
and when Alan, bewildered and
thunderstruck from so unexpected a
blow, wrote at vnce entreating and
demanding an explanation, his letter
was returned unopened.
Norma Griffith flew to her friend,
hoping to clear away the misunder'
standing which she was sure must
have taken place between the
lovers, but Stella only looked at the
little pin which the girl always wore
now, and misconstrued her lnterfer-
ence. She answered coldly that her
decision was final and refused to dis
cuss the matter further.
So Norma, baffled, hurt and offended
left her with feelings of angry resent.
ment and the friendship between
them almost came to an end.
A few months afterward there was
a skating party on Silver Lake an6
the two girls attended it. Norma had
been skating with her companion in
the most spirited manner, and pres
emily they halted near Stella to rest.
All at once the girl gave sharp
cry and put her hand to the fur collar
at her neck.
'Oh, l have lost my diamond pin!'
she said in horror.
when do you remember having it
Miss Griffith asked Felix Ashton,
preparing TO retrace his steps.
i had it not more than quarter OF
an hour ago, I'm sure. Oh, please try
to find it for me, Mr.. Ashton.
The young man darted away, hard
ly needing those beseechtul accents to
spur him on any behest of hers.
In few moments he returned.
1T was not far away, he said. 1T
must have fallen but a few minutes
ago, for it still lay unnoticed on the
ice
oh, thanksl' Norma cried, delight
edly. i would not have lost it for
the world, for you know it was q
keepsake from mamma and papa be-
fore they left me for the first time in
my life. Stella, am l not fortunate?
And she turned impulsively to the
friend who used to share and sympa-
thize with all her joys and secrets.
Stella stood looking at her with d.
lated eyes and parted lips, the color
rapidly coming and going in her fair
face.
You say your mother gave you the
pin?' she questioned in low tones.
Yes; and papa! Why, didn't you
know? Oh. Mr.. Ashton! how can
thank you for finding it?'
Felix Ashton looked at her as if he
could tell her how, if he dared, and
she looked at him as they skatel to-
gether as if she might give him the
opportunity.
Stella skated slowly on by herself
choosing that part of the lake least
frequented by the lovers of the excit-
ing exercise. She wished to be alone
to thread through the labyrinth of
thought that now distressed and con-
fused her.
The young girl was SO deeply ab-
sorbed that she had not seen Alan ST.
Austin as he walked quickly along the
margin toward her, neither had she
heard the ominous cracking of the ice
under her feet
Before he could call out word of
warning she had broken through. and
was at once in the ICY water below.
She went under 50 near the shore
that her rescue by her watchful lover
did not take long, nor was it fraught
with danger for one of strong active
physique; but she was powerless and
almost unconscious when he stood up
on solid ground once more, and he'd
her in his arms
She opened her eyes once to meet
his anxious ones.
r. 'Alan-forgive mel she murmured,
then swooned quite away.
In q few days after the accident
Stella had quite recovered from the
shock Of her cold bath, and when
Alan, on the strength of the half.
rnurnurod words which he had caupht