The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1870-03-03

employers, needing his pens and
making preparations for the clerical
labors of the day.
Timothy resided in lodgings which
were under the charge of a. colored
woman, who had, after many years of
anxious attention, acquired perfect
jknowledge of his peculiarities, and
who accommodated herself to them
with praiseworthy care. Never, by
accident, of late did she place the but
iter-knife east and west instead of
north and south, never was there a
wrinkle in the table-cloth never was
the salt-cellar, hairs breadth out of
the position in which Timothy de-
lighted to see it, never was corner
of the rug turned up; never was the
poker placed at angle of 45-degrees
instead of BIZ degrees; never was
the big arm chair placed three feet in
stead of four feet AMI seven-eights
from the hearth-stone. With such a
superintendent of his domestic affairs
is it to be wondered at that Timothy's
bachelor life flowed on TRANQUILITY and
uninterruptedly? In an evil hour he
visited the theater and saw Fanny
Elssler dance the Cracovienne.
ThenceforWard he was an altered
man. For the first time in his life he
began to consider the diversity of the
sexes. The only feminine society he
had hitherto immediately encountered,
was that of his worthy house-keeper
and the ladies whom he met in omni-
buses. Timothy put the question to
himself, ''why are women sent into
the world ?" and after laborious de-
liberation, he arrived at the philo-
sophieal conclusion that they were
sent to be married. The fact had
never struck him forcibly before but
now the idea took complete possession
Of his mind, and like bee shut up in
lantern, buzzed and buzzed without
inteF1nission. His firsteintention was
to propose to Elssler, but before MAX
ing himself ridiculous by taking that
step, he fortunately consulted his
friend Huggins, the Secretary of the
Asbestos Insurance Company.
Nonsense, old boy said Higgins,
after Blodgett had confided to him
his connubiai aspirations; don't
make such fool of yourself at your
years. Come round to my house in
Madison street, and youshall see some
girls worth a whole theater of opera
dancers. Mrs. Hugging gives small
party, and will be delighted to see
you."
a,ssItwill come" said Blodgett, with
solemnity, as if nerving himself to the
determination of taking critical step
(" Twill come"
Early that evening Blodgett aston
ished his, houss-keeper, Mrs. Lane, by
Iissning from his chamber dressed in
black tights, white vest, and blue
ceat with brass buttons. Had he ap-
peared before her with wings, she
could not have been more confound.
ed. ~ =
i" / shan't be home till half-past ten
Mrs. Lane" said he, with grave and
mysterious air, as he strove to button
a white kid glove around wrist none
of the slenderest.
! Mrs. Lane gazed in silent and abb
sorbed wonder, and made no reply
Biodgett thrust on his hat, and will
look of desperate energy, marched
out of the house.
Among the nymphs assembled a
Mrs. Huggins's was Miss Amanda
Smith, who was regarded as the bell,
of the evening. She was accompanied
by sort of duenna, in the person O
maiden aunt of severe aspect, who's,
anxiety seemed to be to entrap som,
one ,ef the, less cautious of the ''eligi
BILE" male visitors in the moose thrown
out by the unquestionable persona
charms of.ber. niece Tbe instan
Rlodoett entered the room amt Re
becca procured from Higgins a com
pIete,scbedule of his available assets
The aggregate met her anbrobati,n
and she Instantly determined in he
own mind to secure the unsuspectin.
E"y yCoelebs" for Amanda. Her maneu
Ivering proved successful, and thre
weeks after the fatal visit to Higgins
Blodgett gave I'm his Gree ,mbouse,
Iconditiop- y and became tbe busban,
of young, light-headed, spoiled vii
lage coquette. So
what a transformation ensued
Poor Mrs. Lane, his venerable house
keeper. was cashiered without cere
mony. All his old habits were ruth
Elessly disreqarded and lauebed n
Dnr;ng the bonev-moon R,odoett wa
spficientlv pxor;ons to vield witbo,
u.,rpe,r-to~any demaps-ho,veve