The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1874-12-01
i. Selfrt Stow.
\ Flatteling Renaissance.

I.
GA BEAUTY! an heiress! an eccentric
guardian, whose invitation includes any
friend You like to take with you for a
few days shooting Why,my dear Fred,
Won have bound me to you forever by
your selection of myself feel quite q
new man already; for must confess
that, when you caine in just now, / was
suffering from an unusually desperate fit
of the blues " aal.|
consequent, in remote degree, on
last nights supper" suggested Fred
Clayton, land a good deal also on The
way you remain cooped up in these dis
NAL quarters"
Fred glanced contemptuously round
my dingy chambers as he spoke-a sur
vey scarcely necessary, considering their
resemblance to his own adjoining rooms:
However, f, rb IRE any remark; indeed
the delightful prospect just presented TO
me absorbed all my attention, and l
grasped my friends hand in fervor o'
gratitude,
''Tell me all about it," said, "and
how you came to think of me-"
"There is nothing to tell" replied
Fred, seating himself on the corner o
the table and swinging his legs backward
aud forward laziIy. "rhis morning
got letter from an old fellow in thu
country, reminding meas if ! couls
remember it-that he and my father hae
been friends thirty years ago, land askin2
me down to his place for few days
shooting, with permission to bring
friend if | liked.
"And his niece that you told me Of
the heress Y'I said.
"Oh,of course he did not mention her,
said Fred sand l merely tell YOU be
cause, if you choose to put yourself un
der my guidance, l may be the means o
helping you to good thing. You know,
he added more deliberately show disin
terestea my assistance can be after th'
lconfidences we exchanged last night
"True," said 1, charmed with the re
tcollectiou; 1.-THE pretty Miss s.; tn
lSecret enSageMeht-
,"Yes," interrupted Fred, "you know
all about it; and we know more ahou
each other than most fellows; so il wa
natural should think of you as a com
panion for my holiday, and I'm righ
glad you're inclined for the trip" s.
saving, and silencing nv renewed pro
testations of pleasure, Fred left me, ap
pointing a rendezvous at the first trail
leaving for our destination, some two o
three hours later.
Fred Clayton and l had been school
fellows in our early days, and many o
| his vacations were spent in my father,
lhouse. or late years, however, he 'ha'
lived exclusively in the city; like me,
i young aspirant to the uncertain honor
of the bar, but, unlike me, possessing
4 large circle of friends and acquaintanceS
and never without super abundance o
Invitations to dinners balls and concerts
for Fred was said to be very popular,es
pecially in ladies' society.
Except in the mere fact that we wer
both younger sons without any expects
Etions, there was but little resemblanc
/ between Fred Clayton an6 Jack Harris
/ My residence in town only dated back
| few months, and already the great cit
Possessed no charms for me; l pined fo
the country, for freedom, and for the az
tive life of home. l might, indeed, wit
1.-THE assistance of Clayton, Or through lei
ters of introduction from nay own fam
Ily, have procured fashionable invitations
and have received partial tolerali)n i
society; but the prospect of crust
heated rooms, and strange faces, was
thought of terror to my timid natur,
especially with the underlying chance {
presentation to young lady,and the ur
happy knowledge that my deficiencies i
the art Of small talk would make such
change a perspective martyrdom. No;
, confessed in my own heart that societ
was not my forte; other talents ce
tainly had-deeper, more intrinsic me
its than those that passed for genuineli
, all ball-rooms-bu they were merits
4 develop in an atmosphere Of peaceful
8 ness and repose, qualities to expand
the quiet of domestic hearth, and
thrill of JOY shot through me as, Gran
ming every available article of clothin
shinto small portmanteau,I L took leave
lmy comfortless chambers, dand allowe
my fancy to dwell on brilliant poss
bility that Clayton's words had evoke'
An ,heiress and beauty countl
beauty, ofcourse; bushes and simple
ty, and rich-how rich? Rich enoue
i to live on a grand estate; to keep lars
stud to dispense princely hospitality
; L must ask Fred This, however, WI
secondary. 1 would not of course, a
knowledge myself to be mereenary.-
Love must come first; love independe
Of fortune
'"Like Dian's kiss, unasked, ,,unsought,
Love gives itself, but is not bought"
SO assured myself; but then,in all ca
dor, / did not anticipate any very gre
: difficulty on this score, for had ev
been painfully susceptible of the tend
passion Finally, for success, I mu
d trust somewhat to my own individu
e attractions, land here nervous trem
d seized me, and not little to the coo
IL Grafton of my friend, for whose pre-e
!; gagement Twas more gratified than
q liked to acknowledge to myself.
9Gt a 's1e II.
"Fifty thousand pounds" said Cls
lton, in answer 10 my inquiries, when
had secured coupe to ourselves, a
! were preparing it for the comfort of
future travellers by lighting our cigar
"fifty thousand, my boy, and the esta