The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1893-06-28
TREMAINE TOWERS.

had received an Invitation from
the flowers" to spend the holidays
| with my uncle, Philip Tremaine. and
l was loath to accept. Eight long
years he had ignored my existence, /
had lived perfectly contented with
! Grandma Brandon. We never spoke
of my mothers brother, who disowned
her when she married my father, but
l had long ago made up my mind to
hate Uncle Philip. Grandma insisted
that should 60, so in weeks time l
was ready.
arrived at Tremaipe about dusk
and as alighted from the train gen.
tleman stepped up and asked: as this
Miss Brandon?" l answered, "Yes,"
and he Immediately slowed me away
in one corner of an immense carriage.
After he had gotten in and we had
driven ways plucked up courage to
talk to him. He was Capt. Caring
ton, protege of my uncle's. His IA
ther, who had been a great friend of
uncle's, was dead and the son had Just
returned from the army and was stay
| ing with uncle. All this | learned
from him. The carriage stopped and
servants took my boxes.
When inside the large hall with its
many lights looked at my companion
and he at me.
81 am satisfied" said to him in a
joking manner. "And l." he answer
ed, "am more than satisfied"
He led me into large room. A lit
tie old man tried to rise from a mass
of shawls and pillows but hurried to
him and said:
Don't get up; can come to you."
He sat down again but said, in sad,
low voice:
"Come nearer, child" and 1 knelt
before him. He gazed lovingly into
my face. $50 this is Ellen's child. Do
you think you can forgive an old
Grabbed fool?"
l said: 81 shall forget and forgive"
My uncle, as if ashamed of his feel
ings, said: "Carrington, ring the bell
for Mrs Westover. 1t is almost din
ner time and this child needs rest.
A little. bright-eyed woman came in
and was carried away to my room.
%Roses in winter!" l cried.
Eyes, the captain said he knew you
would be fond of flowers, so he robbed
the hothouse."
1
"He is always kind" she answered.
So it was entered the flowers, and
two happy weeks passed away.
Capt. Darlington was SO very hand
some, with blue eys and fair hair, and
noble 1 did not realize where my
heart was drifting. One morning
| Uncle Philip sent for me and l entered
the library, never dreaming what
torture I was to undergo there.
81 sent for you, Ellen, to tell you my
plans for the future. You know love
Percy Darlington with all an old mans
dotage and have learned to love you,
fortune go out of our family, so l
thought of way where you both
would be benefited. l told Percy this
/ morning that if he married you the
difficulty would be settled"
"And he consented?" l found voice
enough to ask.
"Yes, he consented and if you re-
fuse l swear my wealth will 60 to
him."
No." 1 said, 81 will never consent
If Percy Darlington can be such 9
hypocsite for paltry sum of money
|
Capt Carrin gton now and always"
| told my uncle he had treated my
mother shamefully and now he was
doing the same with her child; that
regretted the day l ever came to the
Towers, and then l slammed the door
and left him. That evening as / sale
goodnight Capt. Darlington followed
me out into the hall.
"There is something that trouble
you?" he asked anxiously.
claimed. 81 believe l am nervous
tonight; l will be better off at home.
you are going?" he said almost un
der his breath, but in tone so pas
sionate l grew frightened and turned
to 90 upstairs, but he held my hanC
80 tight l almost cried out with th
. pain.
ELLEN, l can't keep silent-I hav,
no right to speak; the brief time-ev
erything, but my heart will burst if
keep its secret" He captured m,
other hand and was forced to listen
breath upon my face and l knew if
did not sit down l would fall into hi
arms, so | cried: "Let me sit down
captain, don't think l can stand"
"Why, you poor little sweetheart
you are trembling all over and it
my fault. Sit here on the stairs and
will not frighten you again"
Il am sure you do not mean wha
you say" but he interrupted me
"From the first moment looked in
to your lovely face my heart was no
my own. Ellen. ask you tonight t
be my wife" My strength came bac
and rose slowly and looked him fu,
! in the face and said: "Capt. Caraine
ton, l can never be your wife. Uncl
Philip has told me why you wis
me to accept that honor and l refus
it,"
He stood there, but did not say
word, and l went up the stairs to M
room, never once looking back.
"My dear Ellen, Percy and hav
been having grand quarrel thi
morning and 1 have promised to Sc
matters to rights" said Uncle Phil
as 1 entered the dining-room wit
swollen eyes and a very haggard lool
but Capt. Darlington looked eve
worse than l did. Uncle gave Ii