Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1892-03-29
CHAPTER xv.

much dis
n turbcd In
~ his mind.
u.& ~ lie was In
MHN6I|IEPo love with
~ kt3S&tt leoni the
IN IJ<xlfi ~ dancer.
yfp2@SHl and h Q
-VOve40f had promised 10
VtREClTU marry Amy Bay.
-~yyffI liz. the rectors
lNW --H daughter The
NJ N worst Of Il was
" u that bs was very
fond ~ Amy and
NJ no dill not want
~ To trcat her un.
ga kindly. hut b q
was determined
To marry L,onl. On that point ho was
stroag though on most others he was
weak. IIc would still lot Amy believe that
they were 10 b. married In tho fall. Per-
haTs In ths meantime he could think of .
gcei excuse for breaking oil tho match.
iIs might pretend To b. jcalous-to hs-
lieve that she didn't love him. Not only
was John disturt--i on this account, hut
tho state % affair. of the Mutual Divi-
dend Mining company dill not tend 20
make him happy. Col Mortimer was
drinking heavily and playing high-two
SURF sisns that he was losing faith In tho
continucd prosperity of the company.
and there were some ugly rumors ahoat
that reflected upon the company'scrciit.
John. too. feared day u reckoning.
and ho followed the example ~ his chief
In tho matter ~ drinking ami high play.
Ills letters % Amy became les frequent,
ani his visits to l.oni more N lilo vas
infatuated by the Italians t-,auty and
her passionate love for him. and hs could
not keep away from her. Two or three
times he hal gone 10 80 her while fesl.
ing the worse for liquor. She was terri.
bly, shocked. bat he explained the cir
culnstancc as an accident. and sho was
quite willing to aocep, the explanation.
On. day, after |. matinee. bs called for
her at .l,e slago door % the Academy 10
take her hOme In his carriage. She re-
fussj ~ 10 with him At lrst, becau.e her
mother was not with her; hat John
srgie,l - elslucnily that shs yielded.
Were they not engaged 10 b. marrieR
lndrci. they w.re p'ally a- gupi a. hti--
land and wife II was only question
% few word. % ceremony. Moreover.
be hal something - great Importance
lo say o. her. and he must s,y u 10 her
alone.
\, i.coni got into the carriage. John
spike "a few words In low tone to his
Italian ,alc,. who AT on the boS with
yhe colchman. and sprang into the car
,agc. shutting the door after him with a
tang 10 victory. ~ the bor,s- dashed
up thu strc,t he took l~oni's hand and
ki.-..i II dcfcrentially. and held u In his
own while h. talke,l % her a. he could
- well talk 20 women. John had tssn
drinking. bu, no, heavily. AMI not enough
for L.oni a. notice; only enough Ia make
/ him determined to accomplish his object,
- which end be brought all his clo-
cuenc, a. hear. lie told leoni the story
of his love for hcr--a story she never
tir,Si ~ hearing. AMI then be- asked her
II IA. really lovcl him. Her words
were few. hut their emphasis and the
look In her eyes satisfied him. Then he
told her that he was going 10 put her
love Ia the tsst-thai he was going 10
ash her to marry him. AMI to marry him
that very afternoon Circumstances
which b. would explain 10 her Somo day
made u necessary Tor their marriage TO
h. private. ,
II DO could have his way. hc would Ike
/. 20 be prcclaimci from the house
tops and cried through tho strccts lie
Vas proud of hi. love. and ho wanted
the world 90 know of IL, hut adverse
fate would have u otherwise II they
wero to be married at all. u must
b. privately. Lconis face grew pale at
the 'if.- and .ho pre~-ed Johns hand
tha, held hers with an energy that gave
assurance. II wa. - SURF that you
woull say ycs. darling. that ] brought
thi. ring. and I have ordered the coach
man o. drive u 90 the houso of rc-
,pcctable clergyman. who will perform
the ccrrmony as IL should H. performed,
making thee mine and me thine beyond
any chanc. of separation" Tears filled
L,on,. eyes at the thought of dec,iving
her Lind father and mother. Tut John
kissrti them away and told her that u
would only H. for a short time lie had
III. way. and as the clergyman's houss
was rachel In few moments tho oere-
mony was performed a, once, Johns
valet acting a. witness. ieoni. In bet
agitation. with her imperfect knowledgs
~ English. dill not notice That John gave
tho name Of lIurlsione.
After the ceremony John drove hsi
home and took dinner with the family
lie was never gayer and never mads
himself more agreeable Ia Signor and
signom Celia Lconi Was moro OF les'
embarrassed. She felt that she was In q
false position. AMI she was displeased
with herself for having deceived heI
uarents, particularly her mother. from
whom che had never concealed anything
I'm her life. Both her father and heI
mother felt SURE that John was seriously
In love with Leoni. but they knew tbeil
daughter to- well 10 fear that she woulc
entertain any proposition from him bu
that ~ honorable marriage. Those wb'
look upon lallst dancers as an utterly
corrupt and abandoned class who regart
well Ia do young men as their Legitimate
prey should have known Lisa Celia.
better girl never liVc,L Not only VIZ
she the bread winner for her famil,
tmany les virtuous girls aro that. bu
sh- was purity and goodness Personifled
Many women of society, whoapplaude'
her dancing. but would have tosss'l an'
turned away their virtuous heads u the.
hal met her In n drawing room. coul'
NO, have submitted their lives TO such
scrutiny as hers would hear. Even dear
good Mrs. Hurls,one would have take
10 her led hal shc known ~ her John
marriage to premiere danscuse of Oh
Italian opera not only because he wa
already engaged 10 the girl of her choice
but chiefly because ~ her horror of such
mcsalliance. Inreality the mother 10 hav
been made wretched by this marriag
wa. signora Celia. Li-a was much 10
cool a Girl for John IIurlstonc. and neve
under any circumstances could he max
her :. devoted husband. She was pre-
par~i to give mp tho stage-anythins
cycrything-for him hut u be ha'
lived with her quietly for three month
| 1T. ne. ..-.s.,I haxa tsalIfxl nm