The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1891-06-03
MISS CHICK.

MlCO OHlCA.
Natalie Wilford was going home.
Commencement day was over. and it
had brought her goodly share of
triumph. Her teachers had hidden
her loving farewell and her school
mates were almost heartbroken at the
thought of parting with her. She had
left home the aflianced bride of Paul
Albert. He was as handsome as a
hero in a novel, and the incarnation,
in Natalie's eyes, of human perfection.
He was the son of her aunt, who was
also her foster-mother, her own moth
er having died in Natalie's infancy.
A years separation was the only OBJ
stacle placed in the way of the young
peoples happiness. Natalie went away
to a conservatory of music, and if in
the year of their separation no change
took place in the love of either for the
other they should be married with the
consent and approval of those most
near to them.
So Natalie went, and letters often
passed between them. Her wretched-
ness began when a neighbor who was
passing through the city called upon
her. After detailing all the gossip and
personal news in the vicinity of Nata-
lies old home, she said:
And now, l know you are just dy-
ing to hear about Paul. Well, Miss
Chick, distant relative of your aunt's
husband, came there a week or so be-
fore l left, and she has taken the
whole place by storm. Paul. who had
looked quite forsaken since you left,
has frightened up wonderfully. Imet
him driving with Miss Chick the other
night, and they were laughing and
chattering like two children"
Natalie gave no sign; and, indeed,
would not own to herself that she felt
a shade of jealousy; but, when Paurs
letters grew shorter and shorter. al
belt, they contained hardly a mention
of Miss Chick after his first rather en-
thusiastic description of her. she grew
miserable. His last letter had closed
in this way:
"It seems hardly worth while writing. you
are coming so soon. How long and inpatient
ly have looked forward to the day; and this
is my last letter to you. / have had great
deal of writing to do tonight, and it has been
so dark ] can hardly see the words as 1 write
them. 1 will stop, and after this-Oh, joyful
thought!-I shall be able to say to you what
have been so long compelled to write. Sc
for the last time will say gOod-by. Your
PAUL.
That was very we'll in itself. but
folded about this letter was a half-sheet
of paper, which it was easy enough to
understand that Paul had, in the gath
ering darkness of which he wrote, sup
posed to be blank. 1t was written
dimly in pencil upon one side. in a
hand peculiarly and unmistakably
Paul's own. 1t contained these words:
Dearest: The hour is coming that must
rob me of you unless you consent to flight.
Shall we doom such love as ours to living
that my brain is giving way. If you refuse
my prayer I cannot answer for the cOnSe-
quences. Be mine! be mfne!
This Natalie read over again and
again, incredulous of her sense of sight.
He had evidently scribbled it with the
intention of slipping it into Miss Chick S
hand unnoticed.
She resolved that if she saw Paul on
her return she would hand the scrib-
bled page to him and assure him that
he had suffered quite unnecessarily;
that she had concluded that they were
quite unsuited to each other, and that
she hoped they would be happy. Her
pride would bear her up bravely
through this, and then-for herself, she
thought of the nunnery; she would
settle that afterward. For the present
she must appear as natural as posi-
BILE, and not indicate her real feeling
by an assumption of too much dignity.
Paul would be at the station to meet
her if he had not fled with the object
of his love. No; her aunt met and
| L cH IoeonnIad from thl
train, and said:
II came to meet you, dear, because
Paul though awfully sorry, had to helE
Miss Chick about something. Some
of your friends are coming in tonight.
1t seemed to me you'd be too tired tt
see company. But Miss Chick ha:
taken everything into her own hands
and must admit that her rule has
become very tiresome. for she has
kept the house upside down ever since
her advent"
And so her aunt talked on, full o
| Joy at Natalie's return, and full o
neighborhood news, as unconscious O
Natalie's misery as of PauPs falthless
ness.
Ushering Natalie into the drawing
room, and promising to send her GU
of tea, Mrs. Albert left her.
The door was no sooner closed thai
Natalie heard from the next roor
these words in Paurs voice:
dearest, the hour is coming tina
mus8 rob me of you unless you consen
to flight. Shall we doom such love a
ours to living death for the sake c
conventionality? If you refuse m
prayer cannot answer for the conse
quences. Be mine! be miner
And a voice replied: II scorn tn
love you offer me!'
This speech was interrupted by
Mortified exclamation in Mrs. Albert
voice: "She is in there!" Then lii
tie shrek, and Natalie arose to go an
confront the traitors. but was intel
rupted by her aunt's entrance.
II thought l heard Paurs voice,
Natalie said. Il am going in to Sc
him."
"Oh, my DEAR" her aunt answered
you mustn't go in there. Paul wi
come to you as soon as you will ST
him-but 1 thought you'd rather DIRE
tirst-though he's awfully impatient
Yes" said Natalie, Il believe
will dress first; and before dressing
> will lie down and rest. In fact,
would rather not see him until NOR
ing, if he would excuse me-"
''Impossible!' her aunt exclaime
Though 1 said all along that it was
mistake-but your friends are invite
and, though 1 see it is absolutely crue