The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1877-05-03
AN OLD LOVE IN A NEW YEAR.

AN OLD LOVE IN A NEW YEAR.
"Beastly climate /" calculated MIR. Al
exander Lotus, as he buttoned his last
glove, one foot on the sleigh-runner.
In the sleigh sat Ernest LOTUS. his
nephew, handsome, alert, point-device IN
costume, from the new-nOt too neW-hat
to the flower in his button hole, as became
young man on round OF New Year
calls. He laughed as he caught at the
word, and the dd-twisted look Of dissat-
isfaction cast by his uncle at the winter
sky, blue and sparkling enough just then
to suit any but returned China merchant.
Mr.. Lotus was not English, but long res
idence in the British atmosphere Of Hong
Kong had taught him to swear at the eli
mate, and use the national adjective as
one to the manner-bOrn.
ssBeastly!" cried Ernest. why, I'm
| Gle Alick, what would you haveE Cold!
| To be sure; what else should it be on New
Years day? Icall it tip-top weather for
the season. Why, last year the mercury
stood at ten above all day, with wind
like a razor Jim Hemingway and |
started with a list Of 100 calls to make,
and by the time we got to the thirty-sec-
ond we were SO clean beat out that we
gave up. and STAYED on in the Eustises'
rooms till after dark Sixteen other fel-
lows did the. same thing. 1t was like a
party. Our driver was stiff when we came
out. We had to dose him with brandy,
and rub him, and make him jump about,
or he would have fallen asleep on our
hands. You might have called that day
l,eastly if you liked, but this
1 "Ugh!'' was all Uncle Alexis reply.
He tucked the robes comfortably round
his legs, and then said, Where first, Ern-
: est, my boy?'
.sLet's see. Here's the list" producing
formidable document. Its made out
by streets. Green, Gray, Abernethy
Winslow = Sixty seventh street, driver,
No.12. These are all your acquaintance
uncle. | have saved my separate calls tol
the afternoon and evening"
So to Green's and Gray's, and on
, through the list they went, meeting ev-
erywhere the same unmeaning, would-be
cordial reception, the same set society
| smiles. the same salad, champagne and
, trivialities in the way Of conversation
! Even the servant in the white gloves seem
ed the same as he opened door after door
q For the rooms, they struck Mr.. LOTUS a
: produced bv machinery from common
! model, costly. inexpensive, unhomelike
e He was too recently returned to have be
4 come used to the universally of handsom
+ commonplace things, and, not havin,
. much small-talk at command (conversa
. ton does not flourish in the tea-garden
4 Of British China, he diverted himself b.
: STUDYING the objects about him. Wher
. did all those huge bronzes come from
). and those monstrous pier-glassesl- VII
3 must all the carpets suggest the same gen
i eral patternl And was it necessary
have fine sets Of shades and curtains
,sr each window! Surely sunshine in a
: American winter could not be SO entirel
If q disadvantage as to require these pains
i shut it out. He made these observation
N through an eye-glass perched astride h
- nose in what Miss Maude Jennison afte
ward called i. fascinating way, soforeig
10 and queer, you know" There was tel
dency among the young ladies OF Ernest
= circle to admire his uncle. Uncles fro
I India are proverbially rich and interes
ing, on the stage and off it, and an nnc
from China, with ascertained good loo
n and fortune, should hardly be less 50.
IL Now for the Brixhams'.n said Erne'
IN as they bowed themselves out OF Nj
Jennison's drawing room. You are loo
ess ed for there. Uncle Alick- Miss Bri
ham was very impressive, and made 7
swear to bring YOU He laughed as
spoke, detecting tinge Of red stcalll
The over his uncle's manly cheek-bone 2
why not Youths may laugh. but !
III man Of forty three may not offer the tn
ute Of blush when q pretty girl pa
him compliment, middle-age = ever
tel more distressful state than has been
igh ported.
The The Brixhams house was one Of
mn largest and finest in the city. Mr. Loft
pad as It CHANGED, had not entered It befc
nd and he was struck with its space and
Ye Of superb luxury Miss Brixham was
vgn tistic, to use word almost too hackney
,erv for repetition, and the rooms were cro'
ed with pictures and bric-d-brdc Of her
lection. Porcelain idols gr1nned rom
sive anticipates; Venetian mirrors repes
your face ii detail from their giiftef