Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1890-01-09

10 think, her soul TO feel and sutter.
1t would be q little better when the
desecratlon was settled-when this
letter, freighted with promise beyond
recall, should have winged its way to
one who awaited it!
She took it from the little berlb.
boned, rainbow-beaded, silver-meunt-
ed bag at her belt and gazed at it
with dumb, tear-dimmed, azuli-blue
eyes.
In that letter she was sending forth
her promise to give her young life in
to the keeping Of one who had loved
her always, faithfully. patiently, ten
derly-so he orofessedl
He knew her heart was dead, bur-
led in Launcelot Morry's far-off grave.
He knew she would wed him only be-
cause his wealth would lift her invalid
mother from deprivation to comfort.
He knew that his money was buying
but the beautiful empty shell, that the
lovely. sweet soul of her money could
never buy.
And yet Proctor Rich loved her in
such overmastering and hungering
love that he would make her his bride
despite all.
And what did it matter-this desc.
Grafton of marriage-what did it mat
ter now when her beloved was dead.
She was only selling her young life
that her poor mother might have a
home!
II Launcelot was still living it would
be different!
AS it was, there were none but her
to suffer, none but her to bear the
weight of woe And her dear, help
less mother would be happy and at
rest, after long years of narrowing
want and care.
So much good would result from
this worldly and unhallowed farce of
marriagei in oestowing her small, fair,
lady-hand upon Proctor Rich she
would give him happiness also
But it was with an uncomfortable
rush of bitterness that she thought Of
Proctor Rich, little, old wizened
man, cold and hard as q neither mill
stone, who had bought her as an orna-
ment for his palatial home, just as he
might buy bit of rare and exquisite
statuary, or world-famed racer, or
some precious painting; just as he
might buy any priceless and beautiful
thing for the possession of which the
world would envy him.
She stopped among the ordorous
dewy shadows of the thick, low trees
fringing the pretty lake, her slim
hands clutching at the letter as if she
would tear it asunder and scatter its
fragments to the four winds of heav-
] en-.
5 oh, hate him, l abhor him.
: wish had been stricken lifeless be-
. foro he ever offered his gold to temp
a me from my allegiance to my beloved!
. she walled.
Q Still with the letter which bore hel
betrothal promise to the man she
5 hated--still with the letter clutched
: as if to rend it into fragments, she
again moved pace nearer the little
Q boat landing.
. Her dainty boat, in which she anc
Launcelot had so often drifted to
, gether in shadow and sun, in moon
b shine and shade, was to convey hel
4 across the pretty lake that she nigh
d the sooner mail that fatal epistle to
please he. mother and seal her owl
+ life's anguish.
y How can sacrifice the only small
e joy, the only one sole solace of my
}, llfe--the privilege of mourning TO
my dead darling?--how can l rot
l. myself of that little CLEAN of happi
ness? Oh, why is the monster al
2 lowed to live who is willing to &C
IS cept such sacrifice? Oh, wish he
}. would die! Oh, l wish that he, too
b as we'll as my beloved, were lying il
his gravel! she murmured.
!, Just then she caught the glimpse O
o a boat drifting into sight, its oar
Q gone, It's rudder unsteered, its one oc
!. cupant ly ing prostrate among the silk
|, en- cushions.
She lard faint moan; she saw the
= boat was her own, and she under
J stood instantly that there had been
!, casualty of some kind.
| At the moment boy came dash
: ing along the path, breathless will
9 excitement.
At sight of Laura he stopped.
a Somebody slrnck him. he painted
t with gesture toward the boat. II,
t dropped his oars when he fell over in
! his seat. He will harm himself if he
n isn't helpedr
e Even as the boy spoke the boat
occupant was seen to attempt uplifting
himself, to struggle with violanc'
;. which threatened to capsize the dainty
/ little boat.
b Even if he can swim he will b,
1 drowned, doing like that. He'll over
IS turn the boat, and will be drowned
like the man who struck him., the boy
o gasped in fear.
' What other? Who is 1t? Wha
s has happened2 said Lorrie.