Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1860-09-14
LOVE AND POLITICS.

udge Compton, ana DIS masculine lips CURED
with most dignifed contempt, as he threw him
self lazily back on the lounge and unfolded a
fresh newspaper. ~
"And pray, why /? said Mrs. Smith, look
ing up from her embroidery, with look
Of mischieyous inquiry in her merry black
eyes.
Il believe, my gallant cousin that Eve par
took of the fruit of the tree of knowledge
even before her liege lord and master, aud
what Is to hinder her daughters from studying
politics, or aught else they may choose ?"
"Oh, if you are TO commence an argument,
Jennie, yield in advance, for you viii be sure
to have the last word. You know that when
the angels threw down twelve baskessfnll Of
! talk, in the days when the world was young,
| tradition says that the women took immediate
possession of eleven"
/" Ah yes, aud did you know that whenever
a man IS outwjtted in argument by some sensi-
bic woman, fyou needn't laugh, sueh things
have fIappened,) there is sure to come out this
vile sIander about our talking. No evasions,
sir Question
Well, then, if you will persist in taking
! the matter so seriously, there are several rea-
sons why a woman should not be a politician.
A woman's sphere is home, and it is hers to
| make that home a paradise, if she viii, while
it is incompatible with that delicacy which is
her greatest charm to ningle with the noisy
crowd that filI the dusty political arena. I'm
agine an election day with female voters -
How disgusting
The very ground expected you to take
let women say anything about politics, and
Immediately you men imagine we are possessed
with the insane idea Of rushing to the ballot
box forthwith. No true woman desires that,
and you know it, or ought to, but she may
! keep herself informed concerning the state of
affairs, or even appreciate good political
speech, without that"
"My dear cousin, what good will it do her
when she has done all that?"
"What good II her mind will net be as
much improved BY such course Of reading as
by silly romalices and sentimental poetry, l am
mistaken. But how much knowledge would
your Highness allow US !?
"oh have no objection to your knowing
iswho is President, or Governor of your State,
if you wish it,
"Thank you, how generous
Seriously, Jenny, you know as well as /;
that woman's sphere is not a political one, and
she had best let such things alone"
Yes sir think you made similar re-
mark not long since. Woman's sphere =
That mears she is TO stay at home aud admin
lister to the wants of some incarnation of mas
cl.line Incidence, and selfcomplacency like
like yourself, for instance; and Jenny has
tened from the room in answer to a call from
the nursery, while the Judge turned Tor conso~
Latiea to his cigar ...,..9-,
Why Judge Compton was anaold bachelor.
was question often asked without any salts
factory answer being received, but that he was
in confirmed state of single blessedness, was
beyond "a doubt. Nevertheless forty summers
had rested lightly on his head, for not thread
of silver cleaned in his dark brown hair, and
his keen eyes had ray of mischief lurking in
them that bctokenetl an unfailing fount of
good nature somewhere in his capacious
heart.
4 gallant man was the Judge, yet withal
somewhat fastidious in his notions of female
proprety. and dreading strong minded wo-
nnin as if she were the arch enemy in disguise.
AT present he was rusticating few weeks at
the pleasant country home of one of his rela-
tives, where he was gladly welcomed, as indeed
! he was everywhere.
/ The quiet of Maple Glen was broken short
/ ly after the above conversation, by the advent
of Miss Maud,, lAtimer ward of alr. Smith,
who had just finished at a fashionable
boarding school. Though Cousin Jennie had
| much to say to our gallant hero concerning
Maude, yet he paid very little attention to it,,
not having, in fact. much opinion of the intel
| lectual abilities of boarding school misses !"
as he was pleased to term them. Still, as bis
Cousins guest, be was prepared to receive her
with defferencc, though it must be confessed
his anticipations were not of the most pleasant
nature. 1t was late one evening when Maud9
arrived, and he only caught glimpse of a
slight figure in sober grey travelling dress,
which figure was rapturonsly seized and EN-
braced by Jennie.
| The next morning at the breakfast table
| they were tremendously introduced, and even
the Judges critical eye was at fault as he scan
ned the 1.-THE, slender form before him, the
! clear, dark, grey eyes. aud the brown hair ly-
| ing smoothly above the high, white brow
| No sckly sentimentalisrn was there but an
earnest, true soul had stamped its impress on
every feature.
1t will be needless to state oil the incidents
| that marked the progress of the friendship
| that sprang up between the Judge and Maude.
Had they met in society, the result would have
been very different, but being under the same
Eroof, thrawn inte,c constant. eoupanionshp- and
with minds that perfectly accorded, they could
not but be friends.
Maule was well read in the best literature
of the day. and her cultivated mind had grasp
ed the grand thoughts of the master spirits of
the age, and made them all her own. The
well furnished library of Maple Glen was the
scene of many pleasant morning hours spent
in conversation or in listening, as one or the
other read, to. the strains of the great old
bards " whose footsteps echo down the corri-
dors of time
! Then, there were long rides, takeE through
the winding woodland roads, and along the
rocky banks of The picturesque river that
wound round Maple Glen, and sails on the
crystal lake embosoned in the green hills that
fed its clear waters. There were gorgeous
sunsets to be admired together when the dying
day drew around him all his royal drapery OF
crimson, purple and gold, and died ina blaze
i of glory-calm, solemn, Moonlight evenings,
whose perfect beauty filed the heart too deep
for words, and sometimes, yes, often, there
were times when they watched the sun lift bis
head above the eastern hills, and saw the earth
| glori6ed With a fresh baptism of loveliness.
| Yes, the Judge and Maude got along anna
.zingIy well together, and Cousin Jennie smiled
:. to herself as she cav it but like prudent
woman as she was, she kept her own counsel
and said nothing Rllt the spnSjbilitipe of our
hero were destined te receive a rude shock
One morning he entered the library in search
Of some book he wished to consult, and discov.
cred Mande engaged in the perusal of some
thing interesting, evidently, for his entrance