The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1890-05-21


strained with the intensity of his feel
lngs. 81 am stranger to you. and
poor man-as far below you in social
Station as
That is nothing" interrupted the
young heiress, lifting her head, with
an eager flash in her dark eyes. Il
know of you, John Cristowell; [ know
that you are honest, brave-a man to
be trusted. And all l ask is legal
barrier between me and marriage to
which death itself were thousand
times preferable. Beyond that 1 have
never looked-never cared"
The intense light which had sud
denly flashed across the young mans
face, rendered it positively handsome
as he listened to the girls first words,
died out and left it pale and emotion
less ere the last sentence fell from her
lips.
1T shall be as you wish it." he in
terrupted quietly, though something
like thrill of pain sounded in his
husky tones. fortunately it is in
my power to serve you, and that is all
the happiness l ask. If you have fully
resolved upon such step, II am
ready at any moment. The parsonage
is not far off. Shall we go now. Miss
Livingstone"
With swift, sweet look of gratitude
which thrilled him to the very core of
his heart, Verna Livingston turned and
laid her small white hand upon his
arm.
Yes, now," she whispered hurried
ly. 'Until know that 1 am placed
safely beyond their power 1 cannot
breathe freely. But wait" she added,
stopping abruptly in their walk, as if a
sudden thought had flashed upon her
mind. There's one thing you ought
to know. This step may cost me my
fortune; they have threatened to de-
prive me of every dollar of it unless l
yield to their will. So it may prove to
be penniless girl instead of an heir
ess whom you are-befriending, Mr..
Cristowell.''
A swift, proud gesture, full of scorn-
full Indifference, and quite character
istic of the man, was John CristowelFs
only answer. as he drew the little,
jeweled hand protectingly within his
arm and fastened on toward the light
which. just beginning to glow redly
through the scented dusk, showed
them where the little parsonage stood.
A half-hour later they came forth
from the CHEEKY parlor where that
bright light shone, and, clasped tight
ly in one fair hand, Verna Cristowen
held her marriage certificate = that
precious talisman which was hence
forth to be her weapon of defense
against her prosecutors.
At the spot where she had waited for
him earlier in the evening John Cristo-
well parted from his bride.
''You are safe now, whatever comes"
he said, taking the little hand which
she shyly offered, and holding it tight
ly, yet tenderly in his own. They
can't force you into that hated union
now, and as for Newell" with a
slight, queer little smile trembling
about the corners of his handsome
mouth, II am going away again for
long stay-you know my business
often calls me to distant places-and
I shall never trouble you in any way,
never seek to claim yon as my wife un-
less it shall be your own free will and
wish. And | cannot hope for that"
he added, with an unconscious sigh.
But if you should ever need me you
have only to send me one word and I
Will Ieafo ofol CHlHS W CoLIO StHu PlO-
tect you. And now-Verna-my wife
-good-byr'
He bent and touched his lips rever-
emily to the white hand that still rested
in his clasp, then wheeled about and
disappeared in the darkness before she
could reply to him, even had she
wished.
Months passed ere John Cristowell
again turned his face homeward.
His strange marriage was still Sc
cret, locked sacredly in his inmost
heart.
How constantly he had thought of
his fair yonng bride, and how pas
sionately he had grown to love her, he
did not himself realize until he turned
into the old, familiar road which led
past her stately home to his far more
humble one.
''She is mine, and yet how distant,
how inaccessibler he muttered, as his
eyes fingered wistfully on the gray
stone towers he was passing. ''She
will never love me; to her | am moth
ing save the useful barrier that stands
between herself and danger. Ah,
my love is great enough to- Hello!
what's the meaning of that, l Won
der?"
For a bright light in his own little
cottage, farther down the road, at that
instant caught his eye.
His sister never occupied it except
during his visits there, or when ex-
pecting him, and this time he had
given her no intimation of his COM
ing.
Yet there was the little home more
brilliantly lighted up than ever he had
seen it before.
Had anything happened?
John Cristowell quickened his steps
and knocked at the door with an anx-
iously beating heart.
1t opened, and there, in the soft
warm glow of the shaded lamp, she
stood before him, lovely, smiling, be-
wildering, in the sweet light that IT.
radiated her pretty face.
"Johnr' she exclaimed, giving him
her hand. with the loveliest blush in
the world. ''Weleome homer
"Verna-my wife, my darling-what
does this mean?" he questioned huski-
ly, as he stepped inside the charming
little parlor.
1T means that the danger is past,
John! that am of age now, and mis-
tress of my own actions. And that
my fortune, which proved to be in my
own right, is still mine-and yours,
too, now my sband"-leaning her
graceful form lightly against his arm
with a shy, sweet, intoxicating glance
into his kindling eyes. ''And then
then l came here and took my rightful
place in my husbands home, to wait,
| as patiently as could. for his return,
because IL"
.'You learned to love me, Verna, u
he broke in passionately, as he caught
her in his arms-"to love me, as have
loved you, darling, from the moment
my eyes first rested on your facet"
"Yes-but my love dates from the
hour of that strange marriage, John
when first understood the nobleness
and generosity of the man who wa!
willing to sacrifice his life's happiness
to mine. ."-FanaiLy Story Paper.
Give Children Plenty of Water.
For the reasons given, l advocate
under all conditions a plentiful add
T.