The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1892-12-14

stole into her heart, that she would
make this man suffer all that be had
made her suffer-" she lifted her eyes,
which he noticed for the first time
were very beautiful. and said, half
playfully: Il must, Mr.. Chalmers,
and you know the old adage, Go where
duty waits thee" !"
"Besides." she added, "there is no
one but mother who cares where l GO,
you know"
s4But there is some one who cares,
Miss Lyle. 81 care" he paused, then
said, hesitatingly, "Miss Lyle, can't
you and I be friendsp"
"Oh, yes, Mr.. Chalmers, certainly
we can," she answered, with a light
laugh, which somehow sounded hollow
to him; "yes, the best of friends; but
excuse me, l have not had breakfast
yet and l am awfully hungry. Won't
you come, too?"
with great pleasure, he returned.
81 have been waiting here hardly dar-
ing to hope for your company"
Three weeks drifted by and to-day
Edith Lyle was. going back to begin
her teaching again; and as she sat
gazing out over the bay, with its blue
waves rolling and tossing, tipped here
and there with white foam, sparkling
in the rays of the August sun, she
sighed audibly at the recollection that
here she had found and lost all that
could ever make her happy.
"Why that sigh and that far-away
look in your eyes, Miss Edith?" said a
voice close to her side.
She raised her head and saw Harry
Chalmers bending over her, look of
intense admiration in his eyes.
"How you frightened me-" she ex-
claimed. Il do feel a little sad," she
continued. Il am going home to-
night and I almost hate to leave this
full place when one is all tired out with
work"
"Yes," he answered, as a shade
crossed his face, "and l, too, shall go
tomorrow"
After short pause he continued,
speaking hurriedly. shave been hunt
ing for you ever since lunch; want
to speak to you" He hesitated an in
slant. "I want to know my fate,
Edith, he continued, taking one of her
hands in his. 81 love you; will you
be my wife?"
All the color left her face and a
steely CLEAN flashed in her eyes which
seemed more beautiful than ever to
him, as rising to her feet she looked
down into his face and answered,
slowly:
"Mr. Chalmers, I never loved but
one man and Edith Lyle was not the
woman to make him happy. Do you
know who that man isP"
Then lifting her hand she added:
Gas much as I love him I hate you,
and only hope you may suffer half
what you have made me suffer-"
She turned, without waiting for him
to reply, and left him. Half an hour
later she stepped aboard the train
which would carry her home.
The sun was low in the western sky
one afternoon some ten years after
the events above noted.
A man was sitting by the window
looking out across a fine lawn, when
suddenly curly haired little girl
turned in at the gate, and as she
tripped up the walk he rose to meet
her.
After giving her hearty kiss on the
upturned mouth he asked: "Well,
Edith, how do you like the new
teacher?"
"Oh, papa, she's just the goodest
teacher, she's just like my own mamma
used to be-"
A sigh escaped Mr.. Randall as he
clasped his little daughter in his arms,
for the little girl was motherless and
sometimes his heart ached in its lone
illness.
Papa" murmured the little one, as
she nestled her bright head on his
shoulder, 81 asked the new teacher to
come tomorrow night after school
and see the flowers. You don't care,
do you, papa?"
No, dear, I shall be very glad to
see your teacher and we will try and
make her visit pleasant"
Toward evening the next day Tom
Randall suddenly glanced up from the
paper he was reading and saw his lit
tie daughter coming up the walk, her
hand placed confdingly in the lady's
who walked beside her.
He dropped his paper and taking his
hat stepped from the room and down
the avenue TO meet them.
AS he drew near he paused. "Where
had he seen that figure, that face be-
fore?" he asked himself.
"This is my teacher, papa, this is ny
papa, teacher-er-Miss Lyle" said
the child, in her childish confusion.
There was an instant's pause, ther
like flash it all came back, and reach
ing out his hand he said quickly, "Mis'
Lvle, can it be | am mistaken-is this
Edith Lyle that l knew ten years agC
at the seashore?"
"The very same" answered Eslith
for she it was, and, blushing, sh,
| placed her hand in his, adding: 81 an
very glad to meet Mr.. Randall again.
"Come into the library, l want t.
tell you something that never knew
until few days ago"
She followed him into the house
while the child with wondering eye
looked first at her father and then a
her teacher, as if seeking in childisl
fashion to discover solution to wha
she saw.
Edith, please go and tell Mrs. East
lake to have tea in half an hour" saiC
Mr.. Randall, and as the child hesitatet
he kissed her tenderly, saying: 1T
all right, DEAR"
| anu dS Su0 Edu uONu bl6 Hall LII
closed the door, saying: "Her mothe
died two years ago and she is my con
stant companion now.
But" he continued, 81 wanted t.
tell you that l received letter few
days ago from my old friend, Harr.
Chalmers, in which he told me all tn
despicable part he played ten year
ago, and though it is so long time
may not be too late to tell you all h
did"
'It will not be necessary" Edith an
swered. 81 was an unwilling listene
to the conversation you and he haC
the night before you left SO suddenly
and were he here have no doubt h
could tell you how he prospered il
trying to usurp the place anothe
filed in my heart"
Edith, is it too late now?" he sud
denly asked, seizing both her hands.
She trembled as she slowly raise
her beautiful eyes to his and answere
softly: 81 have never loved any on
else"
A half-hour later there came timi
knock at the door and when it wa