The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1869-07-22
AFTER MANY DAYS"


John Mellish had said to his cousin !;
and Brian, remembering how very
gloomy last Yule-tide had appeared
as viewed from. the solitude of his
chambers, gladly accepted. Brian's
exile, if ii. may be so called, was en-
tirely voluntary. If he had excepted
the invitations that poured in, he
might have passed his days in hunting
shooting and dining but being of an
ambitious turn, and having from his
earliest boyhood heard it asserted that
he would do something" and attain
some position above the ordinary herd
Brian had laid down a course of hard
law-reading, to which he had hitherto
stuck honestly. Perhaps there was
not much merit due to him yet; the
plow and furrow may have been as
fascinating as the outer world.
He had run the gauntlet it is
true, of many of those tempta-
tions which most easily beset man
but he had never been in love: that
trial remained, and we shall see how
he met it; of flirting he had done his
share. Law is, we know, at best, dry
work, requiring counter excitement
now and then and Brian, being indo-
lent in his amusements, took that
which was at hand. But the woman
with whom he fiirted said he had no
heart.
1t is written that there is tide in
the affairs of men. This particular
tide had not as yet set in upon the
even shore of Brian's life, but the cri-
sis was not far OFF, and, as is generally
the way, fate came concealed by the
most innocent of disguises; and so it
was, that being in fair way to be-
come @. c., if nothing more, Brian,
running against his cousin, John
Mellish, in the Strand, was summoned
to meet his fate at "The Cedars,' y
where, a'week before Christmas, we
found out hero, sitting by the Squire's
young wife, but looking with all his
eyes at the young face of the wife's
younger. sister Kate, and trying with
all his ears to catch the murmur of hel
low, soft voice.
I'll marry that girl or none," Brian
said to himself, as he undressed the
night after his arrival and so he re.
peated still more passionately when,
ON the footman arousing him next
morning,he became conscious that
Kate's gray eyes had been shining up
on him in his dreams.
"The hounds meet at the kennel,
sir" said the servant, "and master
says'yoa'd better be down soon, as he
and Miss Kerr are going to ride tc
cover"
".All right" quoth Brian and hav
ing luckily come provided will
breeches and tops, it was not long be-
fore he descended to the breakfas
room, where he found Kate presiding
and the Squire and couple of Stran
gers from the other side of ofthecountr,
busy in fortifying against the chances
of long day.
"I've ordered the young chestnut TO
you, Brian,n said John. 81 want hin
shown off, and l am too heavy for tn,
country well be likely to cross to
day besides, you handle horse bet
ter than any one / know" Then tn
conversation turned upon the merit
of the horse and the prospect of hav
ing run.
For the first ten minutes after start
ing Brian had his hands full, and no
e until the chestnut quieted down hat
r he fair opportunity of looking a
Kate, who, like all pretty woman VIII
can really ride, looked better on horse
back than any where else; and, a
Brian watched her Frightening color
and little figure swaying with ever
5 motion of the horse, the remembrance
I of his chambers came up like night
mare. ralasi, ---.f r...
e What had green leaves laced wit
II dewladen gossamers,a caroling lark
and full throated robins, to do witt
dusty folios and blue-lined foolscap
Brian thought it over that night, til
as the reader will see, the odds again.
q the @. c., became longer and longe
7 What the riding, dancing and game
had left undone, the dressing up {
the church and house for Christina
day completed, and by the time til
grcenery was gathered and hung
Brian knew that the tide" had set
and the full waves were beating dow
every obstacle in their course.