The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1900-11-09

nave not pieuscu my soiemh Woru
to you, Mark?'
"No, but swear I'll"
81 swear itr' 's->r
For one instant look Of ineffablc
peace hovercd over the white face, and
so, with his hands folded on his breast,
Mark Lyttleton died.
"Is my papa bettcrT
The child's soft voice at the door plead.
ing for entrance reused Colonel Oxford
as he knelt on the floor beside his friends
dead face. How should he tell her?
He led her away from the door.
She stopped nbruptly-a tall, ungainly
child of 10, with big. black eyes and
swarthy hair hanging down her back in
tangled curls--and looked wildly up into
the plying face.
'J'ell me. Why don't you speak to
me? oh, know-I know-he Is dead.
Oh. my papa, my papa"
And CARL Oxford went silently away.
feeling that solitude was best for the
poor little tortured heart.
81 don't know what the mischief I'm to
do with herv'
Truly It was rather a perplcxing ques-
ton for the young widower Of two and
thirty.
"How on earth can dispose of her?
What do people generally do with girls 10
years old? Ethel"
"Sir!"
"What would you like TO do with your.
self for the next two or three ycars?"
'If you please, sir. l should like to go
to school,"
"The very thing! Why didn't 1t occur
to me before? Yes. Ethel, you shall go to
school,"
The little black eyed girl had been
sore weight on his mental system, and il,
was no small relief to be able, some two
weeks aftcrward. to deliver her formally
into the keeping Of Nine. de la Vanicr.
"Goodby. Ethel" he said, STOPPING TO
kiss her. BE good girl, and study oil
you can"
And so they parted for eight long
years.
New scenes were visited. and new
friendships were formed. And then CARL
Oxford fell in love with the beautiful
Essie Howard. Miss Essie did not say
mo"
''Then you will let me take you back
to the old hall with me, dearest Essie r
CARL said. tendcrly prisoning the soft
little hand in his. 1T is nine years since
! have crossed its threshold now, and
= He paused abruptly. remembering, thai
he had not told Essie of his ward.
my ward is there now-little Ethe
Lyttleton. just returned from Nine. d,
la Vanicr's boarding school, You vii
love her, too. Essie"
There was n slight shadow on Essit
Howard's brow that fell like ice acros.
Carlrs heart MS she withdrew her hand.
SIS your ward to reside with your"
"Most certainly, Esse. ! pledged my
word TO her father on his dying bed"
Il do not approve of any such arrange
mcnt as that. Cannot you send hci
away" ~ A
"Essie, this is n subject on which my
resolution cannot be. altered. even by
your wish. Ethel Lyttieton is a sacred
bequcst to mo. Her happiness and inter
est are my lfe's study. While have
home Ethel must share it. While my
never feel their bitterness. Essie, will
you not take her to your heart also?"
You must choose between me and this
Miss-Miss Lyttleton. ] take no divided
allegiance"
'Esse"
'Your decision nlone can settle the
matter, Colonel Oxford"
Then 1t Is made. Essie, I love you
more dearly than my faltcring tongue
can ever tell. but cannot forget my duty
as a Christian. my honor as gentle.
man. Essic, will you not relentY
Il have told you once that your choice
lay between me aud your ward"
'"Then farewell"
For one moment he bowed his head on
his two hands with all the stifed anguish
of strong mans grief. He smiled bit
terly us he took up velvet case, con
tanning a set of red sparkling garnets
that he had purchased in Paris for his
ward.
The next evenings sunset was purpling
oil the horizon when CARL Oxford walked
up the broad gravclcd sweep of the lawn
Home again; but, oh, with what q heavy
heart.
Mrs. Tudor, the old housekecper. came
forward courtesyins in stiff black silk
dress and gold spectacles.
"Welcome home once more, Mr.. CARL
Miss Lyttleton has only been here a few
hours"
"Only Just arrivedY q
''rhats all. sir. She Is In the rose gar-
den, Mr. Carh."
Il may as well 60 and speak to her at
once and have 1t over WITH" thought Or
ford as he turned abruptly round, dust
and travel soil to the contrary .notwith,
standing. For what was Ethel but a
child?
As he loss himself among the crimson
wilderness Of the delicious June roses a
slender figure. all in white, giided out
from the fragrant thickets--a figure with
heavy blue black curls and deep sultana
eyes.
"Essie Howard.
mo. dearest guardian; Ethel Lyttla-
ton! You swere true to me--true as u
knight Of old-and have come to you,
bearing my heart in my hand. Will you
take 1t now, Cell"
"Essie, am dreamingr
Ethel, IL you please. sir. No, you are
not dreaming. But / was very lonely,
and my heart was filed with doubts and
fears. and ] wanted. to see what you
were like. and SO I behaved like the hero
Ines in novels and played an incognito
part. + could not endure the idea that