The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1903-12-25
Copyright, 1905. By
John j. O 'Beekst

/ TlCn- lie not only DelonEeu oy btrt0
10 the class which is not obliged ito do
anything for living" but effectively
pertained 20 that unhappy portion of il
which assumes the cnnui of an exist
ence stimulated 10y no fixed ambition,
lightened by no definite endeavor. Such
vital hardship has been known 10 drive
a man 10 drink.
The bride was one of two sisters eel
ebrated in European ccnters for esprit
and beauty. They We're Of fine New
| England stock. both parents descend
ing from families OF high repute for
political and literary achievement.
Baldwin was forced TO admit that for
once a glowing report had not paved
the way to "A disappointing reality. lie
mad not supposed the girl was so
young: still less had he imagined the
compulsion OF her charms.
Clarice Eonvale WAS so radiantly
beautiful that the most hlase observer
could not but surrender to some thral-
dom. Her face was nristocratically
oval. Her clear olive skin. smooth as
a rose leaf was suffused with the most
delicate pink. as If Cupid were breath
ing on her cheeks: well modelled
nose, n mouth with clean cut. subtle
curves and sensitive to a degree. which
revealed perfect teeth when the lips
parted and lent a lurking mobility. al
most childlike. 10 her lower face. But
her eyes and hair were the girls
crowning glory-such round. lustrous
eyes, so brilliantly soft and. despite a
keen alertness in their glance. incon-
gruously bcseeching. The long. silky
lashes, with their upward curve. failed
to lend even suspicion OF language TO
their brightness. The dclicately arehed
eyebrows were an added note OF visit
fulness. In the wavy masses of hair
there was a subGucd CLINT as OF bur-
nished copper. On her hands, which
Were very temperamental, two or three
unique gems flashed with dignihed
splendor.
"A transplanted Helen thought
Baldwin after a critical survey OF the
beautiful young creature. She was
type, and he relished a new type Of the
eternal feminine" more than he would
a bottle of Johannesberger from Prince
Metternich's own cave. During his
dinner he watched her from his table
with keen but well cloaked vigilance.
The duchess was right again. The
girlish bride wore Worth dinner
gown deliberately wrought out in the
highest elegance of the prevailing
mode. Her neck was so round and
plastic that Baldwin felt il delight TO
see the shapely head pivot on 1t, while
the tempered modesty with which her
corsage screened her exquisite bosom
showed mastery knowledge of the
value of modified exposure.
: The groom? Why, he was the groom,
side light on the bride. Baldwin re-
garled him solely as a correlated be-
ing. an accompaniment TO his wife. a
worthy one so far as externals went.
: He was not above noting that Mrs.
: Bonvale partook moderately Of the
champagne which Mr.. Bonvale or
) dered. He consumed most of II and
with something more than the relish
with which a gentleman drinks wine al
dinner.
7 "They are married. and It is the hon
eymoon," Baldwin remarked airily &c
< the duchess as he passed her table.
r During the evening in his role OF be
utNOlDuS eNudtht VI hAf
5 kind Baldwin did not neglect to OBJ
t serve that the young husband left his
: wife alone two or three times. though
: as yet she had apparently discovered
:. no acquaintances ut Shepherds. Thesi
!. Withdrawals were TO repair the fatigue
/ OF travel by supplanting the wine a
j dinner with more potent IL smalleI
g drafts. Besides his absence OF desir'
b to supply his wife with any other com
panionship than his own. the perfume
It tory character OF Mr.. Bonvale's atten
" tions attested no tender solicitude q
5 make himself as agreeable as possible
i He seemed to guard rather than pro
y tect his wife.
IS Later on Baldwin felt the younI
5. wife's artlessly rowing gaze veering Il
% his direction. He considerably al
" stracted his own. When he let hi
il glance drift her way again. thinkin
n she would have passed him by. he wa
5 momentarily fattered TO find her eye
'r fixed on him dreamily. Almost at tn
ee moment her husband turned and, wit
:" what Baldwin thought tactless quicl
$ ness, let his own eyes follow the dire'
i. ton of his wife's TO ascertain the oil
he ject of her regard. With still less tao
p he brought his thin lips tightly togetl
ne er, and his white forehead puckere
or like peevish child's. He must hay
~ intimated TO the lady his desire {
y withdraw, for he brusquely rose an
ne looked about with the repellent a
r with which some people insinuate the
n exclusiveness. She got up at once an
C. followed him from the room wit
&c graceful Difference.
n "He seems to like to stalk ahead m
e. let his woman trail after him n la Il
er aboriginal lords OF creation" refiectG
ue Baldwin with a somewhat contempt
nd Gus smile. "The honeymoon Is dwi
st ding to crescent, l fancy. and
bt should not wonder il there were a Bo
n vale impaled on its horns before Ion
But whichr'
g The Bonvales spent six weeks
re Egypt Mrs. Bonvale had that orient
re- sojourn In her memory ever after vii
I'D something of the feeling with whl'
an the children OF Israel may have revel
de- ed to their bondage in that land 81
n had little expected In a region saturf
ID I'd with antiquity TO make scuuaintan