Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1891-02-26

are looking so well! BY tiis ~. sdr.
Folsom paid you compliment"
A slight flush tinges Eloise Bristow's
cheek.
Really What was it,"
''He said you were pretty"
"He is very kind" Eloise answers, .
little dissppointedly.
She is pretty, and knows it very wen,
having been told so oagain and again.
Mrs Radcliffe taps her reprovingly
with a costly ivory fan.
my dear girl, you should not under
value such q compliment from million
aire like Mr.. Folsom"
Eloise's glossy dark eyebrows sudden
ly lift themselves.
"a millionaire, Mrs. Radcliffey'
Eyes. Oh, his wealth is immensel l
thought you knew it."
mo, have not heard"
"Well, that is not strange, when one
remembers that you could not have
known anything about him."
Five days pass. During this time
John Folsom and Eloise Bristow are
much together. Each soon discovers in
the other a charm which lies wholly
apart from that which first brought
them together in such close mutual at
traction; but it is doubtful whether, ex-
cept for certain spurious intelligence
impaired by Mr.. Radcliffe, either of
these two young persons would have
had sufficient interest In the others ac-
quaintance to have made the delightful
discovery which has now resulted for
both.
Yes, Eloise Bristow and Mr.. Folsom
are thoroughly in love with each other
at the end of weeks time. More than
once, while thinking of how superbly her
revengeful scheme had succeeded, Mrs.
Radcliffe's eyes fash with malicious tri-
umph.
At last John Folsom tells himself that
he is foolish not to avow his love, since
Eloise has given more than a single
marked sign by which, if he cannot
read the exact truth, he has at least had
reason to guess 1t.
One day while passing the library door
he catches the gleam of pink muslin
morning dress.
"It is she," he mentally murmnrs,
"and provided she is alone, ] shall not
leave her until / have declared the truth"
Eloise proves to be alone. Mr.. Folsom
seats himself at her side, and In few
moments has spoken words that bring
the rich color glowingly to the girls
cheeks and make her eyes sparkle with
brilliant fire. He finished with these
humble words:
II have no right to address you as
am doing; for oh, Eloise! even should
you consent tqASbecome my wife the
world would call me little else than
scheming fortune hunter"
A moment after the last words are ut
tered Eloise Bristow leaps to her feet.
IA fortune hunter!'' she bursts forth
Indignantly. 'I-I do not understand
you, Mr.. Folsom, unless you mean what
you say for cruel satirer"
He rises now.
''Satire? Why, of course I do not.
The facts are plain enough. My fort
une is now a mere wreck of what it once
was, and you are immensely wealthy"
A bitter, bleak sort of laugh leaves
Eloise Bristow's lips.
"Did Mrs. Radcliffe tell you that
that was immensely wealthy" she asks
excitedly.
"Yes."
Eloise sinks back into her seat. Fix
ing her eyes on John Folsom's face,
which has become very pale, like her
own, she now continues, "And Mrs.
Radcliffe told me the same thing regard
ing your A slight pause. Suddenly
she asks, "Have you ever thought, in
past times, that Mrs. Radcliffe had any
dislike toward your"
John Folsom's answer then comes
promptly enough, "Yes, I used to believe
she hated me-"
Eloise laughs again, though less bit
terly than before.
"And feel that she hated me all
along, now. This is her revenge"
Those four words exercise strange
effect upon the man who hears them.
He seats himself at her side. He fixes
upon her face a pair of eyes that glow
strangely.
"Eloise Bristow," he begins, with SOL
emn, determined voice, ''the story of my
wealth is what first attracted you to-
ward me; hut now that you know me, is
there not any feeling in your heart who'll
ly apart from all this?"
Eloise makes no answer. She lowers
her eyes and begins to tremble. The
man at her side draws nearer.
"Eloise, / love you well enough to die
for you-yes, even in these queer, prosaic
times of ours. And if this be the case,
surely love you well enough to work
for you! What is your answer, darling?
Lift up your head and speak it out
bravely. When Mrs. Radcliffe next
meets us shall she laugh to herself in
magnificent delight and silently murmur,
MY revenge is accomplished? or shall
she grind her handsome white teeth in
secret rage while looking on our happi-
ness, and be forced to confess that we
have conquered her with the very weap-
ons she sought to use against us, turn
ing her revenge into that which may be
our lifelong future joy-and such joy,
Eloise, as no man can purchaser"
There is momentary silence, while
Eloise sits motionless, with eyes still
lowered; and then an instant later she
has flung herself upon his breast and
hidden her passionately fearful face
against his shoulder. He needed no other