Democratic Northwest and Henry County news. [volume] (Napoleon, O. [Ohio]) 1894-1905, 1897-01-21
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II N Box 46, Saratoga,
v Santa Clara Co.. Cal
Democratic Northwest.
AND HENRY COUNTY NEWS.
HOW GREEK MET GEERK.

You have been triaing with me from
first to last. May God forgive YOU
l can-notl' said Ralph Ashton, Bit
terly, as he dropped the white hand
and gazed down scornfully at its
owner.
why, Ralph, lisped an affected
voice Il never dreamed you meant
anything-really, it seems SO oddr
'Odd, Jessie Hardbrook!' and his
eyes flashed angrily. You never
dreamed that l loved you. You knew
it WE'LL Day by day you have been
leading me on. Why when you saw
that ! was beginning to love you from
my very soul, did you not check me2
Twas because you wished to swell
the list of your victims. l congratu.
late you upon your success. Now
farewell foreverl And before the
apparently astonished young lady
could frame sentence, the door had
slammed behind Ralph Ashton.
He strobe fiercely down the street
to his studio, and entering it, locked
the door behind him. A picture stood
on the easel, partly concealed by a
cloth which had been thrown over
it. This he snatched hastily off and
revealed full life potrait of Jessie
ardbrook, just as she looked the
first time he had met her, clad in
white silk trimmed with tube-roses,
the same which nestled in her long,
golden curls. A smile parted the
saucy red lipsand dimpled ono dainti.
ly tinted cheek; it was Jessie Hard
brook, surely, but a thousand times
more beautiful, for he had endowed
it with a soul-not hers but one of
his own creation--one that he i'm
agined the woman he loved possessed.
He had spent much time on
this picture, and had succeeded be-
yond his widest hopes. 1t had be-
come the greatest pleasure Of his life
to sit before it, and with every stroke
of the brush paint and fancy wond-
erful dream Of the future when he
should call her his very own.
All this may seem romantic and
nonsensical for strong man to in
dulge in; but it was true. Ralph Ash
ton possessed the sensitive nature that
continually leans toward the ideal and
shuns the practical side of life. What
ever pleased or attracted him, he en-
dowed with gifts of divine nature.
He was honest and truthful. in the
highest degree-just the one to fall a
victim to the snares OF this hard, hard
world.
Jessie Hard brook was flirt of the
deepest dye, without a shadow of a
heart. Her one aim was to secure o
rich husband-who would keep her in
ease and affluence all her butterfly
life. She had been pleased and fat
tered with Ralph Ashton's presence,
and, when she saw him falling under
the spell of her charms, instead Of
releasing him there and then, as an
honorable woman would have done,
she strove the harder to please, until |
she gained her own wish--mainly, to |
say mo- to the important question.
AS Ralph Ashton gazed long and
bitterly at the beautiful picture, he
felt the one great hope of his life die
within him, and all become darkness
and despair. AT last, snatching it
angrily from the easel, he ripped the
canvass with his knife and thrust the
whole into the CRATE, watching the
flame consume 1t with a look of fierce |
hatred.
The next day friend coming to
call, was surprised to find this placard |
on the door Gone to Europe
4 X II Il X Il
A suppressed murmur ran through |
Mrs. BIS crowded rooms as Ralph |
Ashton entered them. 1t was the first
appearance in society since his return |
from Europe, and Mrs. B-had |
secured him, though by dint of
for that one evening, at least,
as she announced trlumphantly to her
guests.
4 He was quite lion now, for his
paintings had won him fame, and al
ready riches enough to secure COM
tort. When life had become barren
and distastefuI TO him he had sought
consolation in his works, and had
grown to love it with the intensity
which insured success.