Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1891-05-27
HIS GUARDIAN ANGEL.
A NOBLE GIRL SAVED A MAN,
THOUGH HE LOVED ANOTHER.
A Pretty Story of q Kind that Has Keen
Paralleled in Real Life with an
Unexpected Ending.
LILLIAN M. Leslie in the Boston Globe.I

sob, Mel, don't do it again-don't ~
Melvin Stewart looked down into the lit
tie pleader's face, with half bitter, hal
amused smile lowering about his mouth.
"Don't do what, Dulce?"
ssYou know what 1 mean, Mel. DOM
come home again as you did last night
Give up-drinking That's what mean.' p
His cool indifference and the good-hu
m mored smile stung her to the quick.
A remarkable change crept over her darl
southern face. Proudly defiant one mo
ment, now all passion and warmth. Tht
rosy lips were tremulous and the eyes up
lifted to his were deeply thrilling in theil
strange, wistful earnestness. Hers was 8
nature that could expand only under
smiles and loving caresses.
The girls eyes we're dewy with tears,
and her earnest, pitifui appeal seemed to
awake an answering chord, for his face
gradually sottened, and it lost the amused,
careless smiles
"Why so earnest Dulce? Would you
care if l was swept on the downward
path?"
:.Care-eare, Mell' With swift, i'm
pulsive movement, both round arms were
outheld to him; then, as quickly, they
dropped to her side. "Would / care?
Don't ask me. Care! Melvin Stewart, il
you were TO lie at my feet this moment, a
hopeless wreck of what you are to-day, l
would shed the bitterest tears of my life.-
But, evsn ther, would not despair, for |
would stand by you TO the eud."
l believe you, Dulne."
His answer was quiet and simple, but he
was evidently touched by the girls pas.
sionate, intensely earnest avOwal.
Nd will isn thQt will
strive to give it up?" she asked, with quiv-
ering lips. "You will not repeat-you will
not come home again-that wayT' She
spoke brokenly but eagerly.
81 will promise, Dulce, if it pleases
you."
'sBut, Mel, would it please Hazel Shell
don if she saw you in the condition that l
did last night? Would she love you just
the same-just as much?'
A deep flush mantled his clear brow, and
a panied, troubled expression crept into his
eyes.
"What brute 1 ami What have I been
thinking of? Dulce, little sister, thank
you for warning me in time" he exclaimed
hoarsely, and pressing his lips to her clasped
hands he left her.
With pititul, longing cry, Dulce Lock
hart pressed her warm lips to the spot that
his had touched. The red rose nesting at
her bosom rose and fell under the tumult Of
emotions that convulsed her form.
"Heaven help me TO do right!' she mur-
INJURED. "Oh! why was it my miserable
fate to give him lifelong love unsought-
unsought! Why did he give to golden
haired Hazel Sheldon what would give
my life to possess? Oh! am nothing but
a child to him. But, child Or woman,
will save him and for her. He loves her.
Oh! God, help me to do it. Oh! Mel
Melr' And, bowling her dusky head, the
wildly unhappy girl wept as she never wept
before.
Melvin Stewart, the son of a wealthy
banker, was cashier iE his fathers bank.
He was tall and well proportioned, with
proud, aristocratic face. The features
were firm and well cut, the eyes, darl
hazel, looked at you frankly and boldly
and the fair, cutting moustacoe covered s
mouth usually curved in mooking scorn
fulness, that was peculiarly beoomiDg tt
his blonde style of beauty.
In character be was nobly upright ant
honest, bat his was q nature yielding aDt
strongly susceptible to surroundings.
1t was as Dulce said, he had Tough
brayely, but had been conquered, and bl
the enemy drink.
| 1t was the night before tha opening o
this story that he entered his home intoxi
Gated for the first time in his life.
All had retired, excepting Dulce, ant
with her beautiful, starry eyes darkenet
with anxiety and pain, she awaited hi
coming.
It was past midnight when she heard tn
slow dragging footsteps; then the uncer
tain fumbliDg at the door knob.
She sprung up, flinging the hall doc
vide open, and the dimming light of tn
silver moon threw its soft radiance over th
startled face of Melvin Stewart.
"Come, Mel" she said, in voice tina
was strangely tender, yet 30 commanding
that involuntarily he was compelled to obe
her. ssYour father and mother are asleep
SO please step lightly. There-that'
good"
1t was strange scene; the drunken ma
leaning heaving against the young girl
while she strove to lead him to his room.
Not until she closed the door on him di'
she dare to breathe freely once more; the
a low moan of anguish escaped her.
Beautiful, helpless Dulce, born in tn
sunny South, was the daughter Of Mrs
| Stewards g dearest friends. Left an orphan
but independently rich at the age of fifteen
Mrs Stewart opened her warm, compas
sionate heart and sent for the motherles
girl to come North. Dulce did SO, and tn
lovely southern face, the soft clinging way
had appealed to their hearts, and ttey couli
not part with her. So for Fl ge years Dulc
had known no other home.
To fair haired Mel she had given the on
great love of her life. But no one sus
pected it. Mel playfllly called her 'littl
sister," and little dreamed of the terrible
consuming pain that had phot through be
heart or understood why her sunny fac
was 30 suddenly bsreft of all its soft
blooming color one day when Mrs. Stewar
had spoken of the lnvelness of the golden
haired girl who was betrothed to Melvi
Stewart. Dulce had turned to Mel, and b
wondered vaguely at the pale face and th
widely-dilated eyes, SO full of longin
pathos.
''And do you admire golden hair, Mel9
she asked, with brave effort to steady he
voice.
| "Yes, Dnlce. and admire raven tresse
Il ~snkn