Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1891-04-09

knew what was the matter with him
But, somehow, the friendly clasp o
Alice Payson's light hand and the gaz
Of her sweet eyes affected him a. nj
hand or eyes had ever affected him be
fore.
The ice once broken, bovy Of gentle
men strove for the attention Of the cous
ins. Paul Hanover was foremost.
He was very handsome, fair, brilliant
graceful. He was not poor either. Fam
remembered that bitterly as he saw hin
strolling with Alice on the beach or driv
ing for her the little pony carriage. Hi
own peace and comfort seemed suddenly
gone. Miss Payson's gentle friendlinea
only made him worse.
He was startled one day as if shot BY
Hanover remarking:
eff you're not altogether gone with ths
blues, Fame, I'd like you to congratulate,
fellow"
"Have you won your bet on the trot
ting match?"
"Pshawl hang trotting matchesl Don't
be stupid, Fame. Haven't been riding
with Miss Payson?"
s'Well?"
"Well it is" pirouetting around the
room and swapping his fingers like cas-
tanets. "Fm the fond betrothed of 9
lovely girl, after the latest novel. Now
what have you to say, my respectable
moping friend?'
Fame tried hard to command himself
and not betray his secret.
"Alice Payson is too good for you
Paul" he answered, with an attempt al
being sage and composed, in which he
succeeded but tolerably.
II dare say, but it isn't her, Fame"
"'Taint herY-looking electrified.
Certainly not. The moneys very
well, but that defect of hers--it's deli.
cate subject, but really couldn't marry
a girl with Disagreement like that"
''You mean that you are engaged to
Maud?" asked Fame, hardly believing his
ears.
Exactly"
"Why, I congratulate you, with all
my hearth jumping up excited1y.
"They are going away tomorrow.
Don't you want to see them again?"
Fame went down upon the piazza
where the ladies sat, unreasonably
happy.
The ladies were standing upon the
piazza, in the early sunlight, when he
approached Alice Payson to say good-by.
Paul was talking to Maud, saucy and
beautiful in her jockey hat as Fame
found his way to Akce's side.
"Good-by, Mr.. King. You will come
and see us, with your friend?" she said.
There was no one very near. He an
swered:
"No; I love you, and so I must say
good-by forever, Alice"
He saw the delicate features pale. At
that instant old Mr.. Payson came hurry
ing out, followed by aporter with large
valise in each hand.
"Ready, girls?" he called. Come,
hurry, or we'll miss the train"
Alice, with downcast face, gathered
up her gray trailing skirt. He thought
she was going without word, but sud-
denly she looked up into his eyes.
"No. Come" she said. And then in
a moment she was gone, the dainty car
riage glittering down the beach.
A'week later he waited for her in the
costly splendor of her drawing room.
She came down, giving him her soft
hands, nor resisting his embrace.
81 love you sou he murmured.
"Do you, reaIly-with this disfgured
faceT
Il never think of it, Alice"
She laughed then and slipped off the
black ribbon, and there was one smooth
cheek as fair and perfect as the other.
II had blistered my face for the tooth
ache. It was nothing lasting, you see. !"
When Fame told Hanover his happi-
ness, or as much of it as can be expressed
in words, he looked as if there was some
thing unsaid upon his mind, but when
he beheld Alice under her bridal veil he
seemed suddenly enlightened.
eff I hadn't been afraid of black rib
bon" he murmured, 81 might have been
fifty thousand dollars richer"
Perhaps.-E. E. in New York News.