The Hocking sentinel. [volume] (Logan, Ohio) 1871-1906, 1897-09-30

mamma?"
"He has lost all his money. Did
you ever hear of anything so dread
ful?" and Mrs. Ward drew a little
fiuttering sigh of sympathy and con-
dolence. Her relief was so genuine
that Pauline felt she must either cry
Or laugh outright. She chose the lat
ter alternative as being the safest.
ooh, is that all?" she said.
"Why, you ridiculous child"
screamed Katherine. what more did
you expect? For my part, I can't
possibly imagine a worse disaster 10
befall a man like Wilton Eliot"
IT can-several," said Pauline, who
had grown suddenly grave.
WHAT" demanded Katherine.
But her sister slipped out of the
room without replying.
For several days thereafter Wilton
EliOt's misfortune was the theme of
conversation in the Ward household
with Katherine and her mother, that
is, for Pauline made no mention of
the affair and did not care to hear 1t
discussed.
Then the nine days wonder ceased
to be a wonder. and Wilton Eliot
dropped out of the minds of every.
body apparently.
So few months glided by. One
morning Pauline had been sitting at
the piano long time, playing me-
chanically, for her thoughts were not
on the music before her. Suddenly
her hands fell from the keys into her
lap and a tear rolled down her cheek,
splashing upon her blue gown At
that moment two hands were laid up
on her shoulders, and Jack Donelson's
voice, vibrating with happiness,
sounded in her ear.
Pauline-Pauline, guess what
Katherine has just been saying to
me! Katherine, my Katherine now,
for she has promised at last to be my
wife"
Pauline sprang up with little joy
full cry.
"Oh, Jack, has she really? Oh, I
am SO glad! Dear. dear Jack. you
cannot know how glad ann"
"Oh. yes, 1 can," the young fellow
said, laughing and coloring, ''for am
so glad myself" Then for the first
time he noticed Pauline's tear-wet
lashes. "Not crying, Pauline-surely
not crying?"
Pauline laughed nervously.
Il don't know but 1 shall-for joy.
Let me go, Jack; 1 want to find Kath-
erine"
And she rushed out of the room in
search of her sister.
Katherine was in the parlor, gazing
abstractedly out of the window at the
snow-flled street She turned about
as Pauline entered.
"Oh, Katherine, Jack has just told
me! He is SO happy. Are you?"
Pauline threw her arms about her
sister, and looked affectionately into
her face.
"Of course I am, silly pate! Jack is
dear boy, and with money enough to
make one very comfortable. After
oii, lhoI 10 tuC CulCl
Pauline's arms fell heavily to her
sides.
20 Katherine!" she said.
There, you needn't look SO woebe-
gone. OF course I'm fond of Jack, and
l do not doubt we shall make a most
devoted couple" And Katherine bent
with softened look in her beautiful
eyes to kiss the grave young face.
So it had all come about as Pauline
once thought it never could Jacks
will not say Katherine's
to her the sad longing of
her own heart. Whether Wilton Eliot
loved her or not she loved him with
all the strength of her nature. AS
the winter wore into spring she Won
1ered vaguely if his promise to come
again would ever be fulfilled, or if in
he great crisis through which he had
passed he had lost all thought of it
and her. She was glad that the prep
arations for Katherine's wedding in
worked feverishly until even Rather
ne was compelled to bid her take a |
est lest she fall ill. And then came |
he first sweet month of spring
March, not cold and stormy as was it's |
wont, but warm and bright.
Daily Pauline stole away to walk by |
he river, where the brown sedge |
grasses were changing to palest |
,reen, and there one sunny morning |
Wilton Eliot found her.
you see 1 have not forgotten my
'romise," he said, as he took both her
lands in his, and looked anxiously
own into her suddenly pale face.
What! Not word of welcome for
ne? Only tears? why, Pauline
'auline!"
Nevertheless he understood her sill
nee better than words. Presently,
1hen he had soothed her into some
hing like composure, he asked
''SLall you mind marrying poor
nan, dear? I am rich no longer ex-
ept as being rich in your love. Tell
lie, Pauline!"
Shall l mind?" she said, "I who
ave been used to being poor all my
fe?" Then she laughed her bright,
weet laugh. ''It is you who ought to
lind marrying so Insignificant per-
on as myself, Mr.. Eliot. for to the
nd of the chapter I shall be "only
auline. e."-Waverley Magazine