The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1890-01-22
THROUGH A KEYHOLE.

1HhUUOH "A AL / HOLE.
When the evening boat, quite crowd
ed with passengers, swept gracefully
up to the pier at Highbeach, one of
the first to cross the gangway was
Mr.. Willis Tracey, youngest partner of
the well-known banking firm of Tracey,
Stokes & Tracey.
He was substantial-looking man of
s5, with fresh, healthy complexion,
clear, blue-gray eyes, and light auburn
mustache. His whole appearance was
suggestive of good nature, prosperity,
and content; but at the present mo-
ment he betrayed little nervousness,
as his eyes ran rapidly along the long
piazzas of the hotel, where peoptewere
promenading and enjoying the sea-
breeze and the sight of the bathers on
the beach.
Evidently his search was unsuccessful
until his attention was attracted by a
voice, which called out in shrill and
Juvenile tones:
'-Lor', ma, if there amt old Tracey!
What's he doin' here, l wonder?n
Looking up, the gentleman thus
prominently presented to public notice
lifted his hat to two ladies, who were
smiling down upon him from the piaz-
"a, while a small boy, in q Lord Faunt-
leroy cap and jacket, grinned patron
izing recognition.
As he passed on, a faint and con-
scious blush suffused his face. That
lovely creature with the golden locks
and rose-and-lily complexion, who had
SO radiantly greeted him, was Miss
Juliette Bessa1ny, to whom he disigned
that very evening to offer his hand and
heart.
The blush had not quite faded from
Mr.. Tracey's face, when he found him
self accosted by two ladies, who were
just descending the hotel steps to the
beach. He stopped and shook hands
with them in cordial, unembarrassed
manner,
In fact, the elder of the ladies was
the widow of his deceased uncle, and
had, since his mothers death, been .liv-
ing with him and taking care of his
house.
He had sent her to Highbeach about
week previous, partly to meet Alice,
her daughter by a first marriage, who
was there as companion to an invalid
lady; for Mrs. Tracey's husband had
died insolvent and left her poor.
1t was Alice who now stood by her
mothers side, quiet and smiling, as she
gave him her hand;
"Why, Willis, this is a surpriseE'
Mrs. Tracey said. Il received your
note to-day. and did not expect you
until Tomorrow"
sYes, I know that I said something
about being detained by business, but
I managed to get through in time for
the evening boat. l am glad to see
you looking so well. How are you
enioving yourselves hereP" he inquired,
as he held hand of each.
s'It is delightful, now that mamma
has come" Alice answered. ''And it
was so good of you to send her-in-
deed, the very kindest thing you could
have done for either of us.
Though she spoke smilingly, her soft,
| dark eyes were suffused with tears,
| and Mr.. Tracey's heart was touched.
He felt that he had not done hall
enough to deserve this grateful feel
| ing.
He looked into the moistened eyes,
and wondered why they seemed to sink
before him, and why she drew away
her hand so shyly.
Even when he had passed on, prom
ising to join them presently on the
beach, he found himself specializing OF
this new expression on Alice's face.
1t was a sweet, fair face, which he
had liked and admired ever since ht
had first known her as little school
girl.
He had been accustomed to trea
her almost as cousin, lavishing upol
her books and flowers and birthda,
and Christmas presents; but to-day
after long absence, he had discovered
something new and strange about her
and now it dawned upon him that sh'
was no longer a mere schoolgirl, bu
woman grown almost 20 years o
age, in fact. 1t was something of ;
surprise to Mr.. Tracey.
ssShe is not looking well, he thought
mot as bright and rosy as she used t!
be. / fear she is too much overtasked
wish could persuade her to max
her home with her mother in m,
house, but she prefers to be independ
ent, as she calls it. [ suppose she vii
marry soon. If 1 had ever thought O
her as a woman and had not met Ju
liette-"
And his thoughts went back to hi
golden-haired love.
He was the last of the newly arrive
to enter the clerks office, and here wa
met with the information that ther
was not a vacant room to be lsad in tn
hotel, or indeed in the whole place.
It was an unpleasant situation, an
at first seemed hopeless, but at lengt
one of the female employees came t
the rescue.
In the east wing, which was e1
clusively devoted to the accommods
ton of s.ladies unaccompanied by ger
tleman," was short passage-wa
opening upon a rear piazza. This pa:
sage, being of little use, had been shr
in bv door and converted into a line
closet.
If the gentleman would be satisfie
for one night with a cot in this limite
: apartment he should be properly a
tended to on the morrow, when SON
of the guests would be leaving.
Mr.. Tracey was only too glad to s.
cure sleeping-place of any kind,
the arrangement was made, and with
mind relieved, he repaired to the beae
and the society of the ladies.
That was a blissful evening to M
Willis Tracey. When he had pa
some proper attention to Mrs. Trace
and her daughter, and attended the
to the supper table, he was at Eoerl
to seek the society of his charmer, tt
I faiT I11inttn