The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1872-05-02
WON AND LOST.
+" Those " no will not when they may,
When they will tsley shall have nay.''

When they VIII tfiey snail nave nsy
A garden party on the banks of the
Thames croquet and straw berries the
excuse filtration and matrimony the
object. But,in all the glory of 8 June
sunlight, the bright river glittering as
it runs to the sea, roses fling their rich
perfume in the air, soft music blend
ing with the song of birds, the excuse
and object are sometimes forgotten,
and delicious sense of purposcless
idleness and inexplicable enjoyment
alone remfins. AT least such was the
case with Phillip Kerr, Captain in the
Royal Rifles, az, leaning against tree
he looked around him. @
What to him was the remem brance
that two brothers stood betw cen him
and title? What the apparently cer-
tain fact that his fathers broad wood
lands and the halls where he was born
were not for him. That his only home
was the headquarters OF his regiment
in garrison town, or the dining room
of the Rag and Famish? 1t was
nothing to him at the instant that his
pockets were empty; and his banking
account overdrawn. Had he not ir-
feproachable lavender kids on his
bands, and, as far as he was concerned
priceless boots on his aristocratically
small feet? Above all was there not,
smiling on him, between her turns at
croquet, the only unmarried daughter
of the great CITY firm OF Richly, Nj
pacca q Co.? Not very young, and
not very handsome, to be sure, but
then there was a dowry of thirty
thonsard down, and seventy thousand
to come when the senior partner
should take his flight to q better
world, and that surely would balance
thirty years of age and remarkably
plain face.
Besides, she was well inclined to
regild with her wealth some wornOut
coronet; or, failing that, to attach her.
self as branch grated on to some
long descended 1amily-tree, and so
enter " society" in her own right, as
fourteenth cousin by marriage, to a
peer of the realm, rather than be ad-
mitted by sufTrance of dowagers on
the lookout for heiresses.
Whilst awaiting this desirable event
she kept her hand in by series of
unlimited and sentimental flirtations
with every agreeable and intellectual
man she met with; for Theodosia
Richly went in for intellect-high art,
Broad Church notions, and women's
rights-and Phillip being particularly
agreeable and passably intellectual,
aud above all, the third son of Scotch
baron, Theodosia had selected him as
her present oide-de-cana21 and Gttache.
She had always the alternative, i'll all
cases when intellect asserted it's su-
periority and became too troublesome
of referring it to the senior partner,
ar1t xxyhn inf a cho T1to
lively remarked, should not infl;ct
on You q penniless wife, my dearest
Henry" or Robert, or whatever might
be the Christian name of the present
aspirant; and this reference generally
terminated in the dismissal of the in
tellectual being, no particular reason
being given, and the fair Theodosia
gently hoping, That though things
were not propitious, still friendship
need not part" Then, by way of con-
ISOLATION, would arrive anonymous
presents, and sentimental cores
pondence would be kept up with the
family; but to this stage Phillip had
not vet arrived.
He was content to be smiled upon,
TO disregard the warnings of wiser
men than himself, and drifted down
the stream, careless whether it strand
ed him on the sandy shore of a home
paid for by his heiress love, or dashed
him on the rocks of foreign service.
There were just two or three things
fhal Philip could not do. With all
his fascinatiens, his perfect moustache
his talent for soothing irate tailors,
his seat on horseback, and his step in
the valse, he could not be angry or
stern with woman, or, indeed, with
any one He could not take anything
deeply to heart, he could not fret or
fume as to what might or might no.
be his destiny; and he leaned lazily
against the tree and thought of moth
ing.
The game was ended at last and
Miss Richley came toward him.
81 am very tired, Captain Kerr"
she remarked, and the seats here are
all in the sum-"
1t was fair challenge, and Phillip
accepted it. He was an hdbitue of the
house, and he knew of a shady walk
he could do no less than offer his arm
to the hciress and take her to it. And
there they sat, the sunlight just play
ing through the branches, and the riv-
er ripling by. There was a certain
luxury and case in all this which
struck Phillip.
A vision came across him of dull
garrison town, and the troop-ship, and
the foreign station and then the con-
trast: home in England, hunting
and shooting, London in the season,
and the moors III August; and the
thought shot across him, {" One word,
and this may be mine." Then came
1itting thought of a fair young face.
with its rosebud bushes aud it's
trusting look. He put it away as too
costly bargain, and turned to the
woman ut his side.
% Now, he had certainly paid great at
tention to Miss Riehley. They had