The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1890-11-19
REJECTED WITH SCORN.

"Shut IMP"
eff we can only make the workmen
hear before they get away"
''DO YOU mean that if we do not we
shall be imprisoned here indefinitely?
The sudden storm ragged about the
high tower room in which Conrad
Hammond, bachelor and clubman, and
Virginia Redwood. prospective MD.
and missionary to native Hindu women,
found themselves by the crashing to of
ponderous door, unexpectedly in
carcerated.
The tower belonged to an unfinished
country residence. and that country re-
sidence-the ubiquitous reporter had
already informed the country press
that 1t was to be one of the finest in the
country-was the property of Conrad
Hammond himself.
An hour before the slanting sun that
had been shining out of an unclouded
August sky had become abruptly OBJ
Scured, and the young man, meeting
Miss Redwood in one of the long walks
she was wont to take for miles outside
the sleepy old historic village with her
huge blooded mastiff, had offered her
the shelter of his tower during the i'm
pending storm. Great drops were al
ready descending with an ominous ac-
compartment of thunder, and Virginia,
after brief hesitancv, had accepted
the proffered hospitality, while Ham
mond, who had been riding. tied his
horse to tree. And this was the re-
suit!
The tower stood on the farther side
nf 10 4 i -
the house, in which the sound Of the
workmen's hammers and saws had lust
ceased, and to make ones self heard
from its windows in the tumult of the
elements had become an impossibility
The wind which, suddenly pouring
down the winding staircase that led to
the tower-room, had violently flung
the door, above its last step, in the
lock, carried away Hammond's reiter-
ated calls in Intellectual whispers. The
lock was provisional and on the side of
the stairs only. And when the entire
situation dawned on the girls bewilder-
ment, she put this last question TO her
companion with face that had grown
a trifle white and rigid.
THE workmen win be back early in
the morning of course, " replied the lat
ter, endeavoring to speak lightly but
pulling nervously at his moustacRe the
while, 'and we can't starve in the in
terim. Still"
':Are you certain that the door can
not be broken open?" Virginia in
quired, controlling herself forcibly.
Unfortunately L fear it cannot"
He was man of muscular build. He
threw himself against the heavy plank,
pushing against it with his shoulders
until the veins showed on his forehead.
A faint creaking of the wood was the
only reward of his efforts.
Then we must wave our handker-
chiefs-make some signT' said the girl.
quickly. ''Surely some one must see
u.s.
But even as she spoke she knew that
any such attempt would be futile. The
house and tower were isolated in the
midst of large grounds.
Evening was coming on apace and
they were three miles from the village.
The thought of the anxiety that would
be felt about her in her home added a
fresh pang to her alarm. She was
Young woman who was exceedingly
proud of her self control, of her
equanimity in all eventualities of life.
But she was conscious now of a distinct
sense of painful discomfort. And of
all men, to be placed in such an en-
barrassing position with this man.
With this Conrad Hammond for whom
she had so very small measure of
consideration or respect, and so large
a measure of contemptuous dislike!
With this idle man of the world, sup
posed to be so irresistible to women.
Without knowing it-and, indeed,
how could a young woman devoted to
such lofty aims in life linger upon
thoughts of her personal qualifications?
Miss Redwood had q face most eX-
pressive of her inner soul, an eye beam
most eloquent of her condition of feel
ing and mind. Looking at her now
her companion in imprisonment said:
81 think l need not tell you how
deeply I regret that my carelessness in
leaving that door unpropped in this ter
rifle wind should have led You into so
unpleasant a situation, Miss Redwood.
Especially as l cannot but feel you
could scarce have met with such mis-
fortune in the society of anyone who
would be more distasteful to you"
The rain had abated and the wind
was sinking, but the clouds hung
threateningly low, and in these already
shortening August days Il glimmerlpg
greyness was beginning to invade the
tower-room. A rough wooden bench
used at some time by the workmen and
half covered with shavings, occupied
one side of the circular room, and on IT
Virginia had seated herself, her fingers
interlocked, her handsome young eyes
turned sternly away.
Although this Conrad Hammond,
whose charms and good looks (and
riches) women so literally eXtOlled, and
for whom she personally had always
felt such an unaccountabie aversion,
had had the good taste to take up his
stand at the further end of the small
room, she was uncomfortably aware
that his glance questioned her with
strange insistence through the dark.
Wrapped up in her desire for a useful
and worthy career, she had always
shown herself supremely indifferent
both to her own severe, Diana-llke
Young beauty and to any emotion 1t
miuht arouse in the men with whom she
came in contact. For this man he1
usual Indifference had become accen-
tuated into latent and irritating sense
of antagonism. All the summer, though
he had never shown any pursuit OF her
that could be construed into deliberate
courtship, she had been conscious of
silent attention on his part, alway:
centered on herself. She had resented
it tacitIy, at times with an undetlnet
nervousness which filled her with angel
against herself. She was fired with ;
constant wish to tell him how very
poor was the opinion she had OF HIM
Now, as he stood regarding her VIII
| folded arms, these indefinite teellnS
rolled up within her with complel
i s,a,t IN . 4