Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1892-03-17


spite her efforts to feel and look like
much abused young woman.
at is too bad for you to come out in
such a Storm" remarked her compan-
ion presently as he leaned forward to
more securely fasten the rubber cur
tain, "what n pity Miss Grayhorn
should have chosen such an unpleas-
ant evening for her wedding"
al like unpleasant weather." said
Miss Dene, composedly.
"But not unpleasant people,"
81 did not say So"
mo, but II goes without saying, and
1 know that you regard me as one OF
that Objectionable CLASP
No reply from Elinore-an evidence
Ofgreat determination on her part for
she dearly loved to talk.
They drove on in silence through
conutry roads where the mud splashed
beneath the horses' feet, and one OF
two great drops reached Elinore's
cheeks, making her look like an old
time beauty decorated with patches" I"
Hugh Arlington tried various topics
In the vain effort to draw his compan-
ion out, and at last reached out his
hand and rested it lightly on the lit
tie gloved hands folded demurely in
Elinore's lap.
"Why can not we be friends ?" he
asked, and the brown eyes looked in
to the blue ones with world of
pleading in their depths.
"You know why" came In very de-
cided tones from the little figure be-
side him.
mo, l do not know why. An un-
just will with which we had nothing
to do should not come between US.
and you know how willingly 1 would
resign all claims and leave you in pos
session tomorrow ifI could"
The color came and went uneasily in
Elinore's cheeks, and the folded
hands clasped each other nervously.
81 would not take it if you could"
she said at last, "only--
"Only," he said, sit is abominably
hard to turn delecate girl out to make
way for great fellow like me who
doesn't need it. 1 don't wonder it
makes you miserable"
"It isn't that, but" she began i'm
petuously, then stopped suddenly
while great wave of crimson, that
even the dusk could not hide, swept
from chin to brow.
"But what?
He held both her hands now in his
strong one, and benta face full Of ca
ger questioning towards her.
"You could not understand !"-
and freeing her hands, suddenly drew
back in her corner of the carriage.
II think / might If you would tell
me-"
mo-" came very decidedly from the
dusky corner where Miss Dene sat bit
ing her lips hard to keep back the
tears.
"Tell me Very likely she would
tell him that the worst of her misery
came from the fact, though she would
not admit it even to herself except
when it got the better hand as it had
now, that she loved this same "usurp-
er" more than houses, lands, or any
thing earthly.
But Gilmore possessed two attributes
that often stand a woman in good
stead of higher qualities, and they
were, pride and obstinacy. So she
shut her teeth hard and vowed that
he should never know that she even
liked him, as long as the world stood.
When the year was over, she would
go out in the world and make q place
for herself as other women had done,
and live her lonely, forlorn life as best
she might.
And then the tears overfowed this
foolish little woman's eyes and ran
down her cheeks until the mud was
quite washed from her cheeks when
they reached their destination.
And 1t was sorry little object, in
deed, that Hugh lifted SO carefully
down and deposited on the piazza
steps. 1t was quite dark now and no
one saw the arm that fingered around
the little figure and no one heard the
whisper that thrilled her, "Think it
over Gilmore, and see if we can not be
friends,-my darling !"
The last two words were uttered very
low but she heard them, and shrank
away and up the steps into the house.
"How dare he !" she cried, as she
stood by the mirror in the dressing
room, brushing the golden waves of
hair, show dare he ~ and then the
brush fell from her hand. the soft light
leaped into her eyes, and her heart
beat fast as she felt again the strong
arm around her, heard again that
low, impassioned, "My darling"
Then, suddenly, the rosy glow faded
from her cheeks and she hid her face
in her hands.
When Hugh Arlington entered the
parlors an hour later, he hardly knew
the vision of loveliness that met his
eye.
The little brown bird had changed
into creation of silk, lace and flow
ers, atop of which bloomed a flower
like face with dawn tinted cheeks and