Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1877-01-26
AN OLD LOVE IN A NEW YEAR,

AN OLD LOVE IN A NEW YEAR,
"Bcastly climate" calculated Mr.. Al
exander LOTUS, ms he buttoned his last
glove, one foot on the slcigh-runner.
In the sleigh sat Ernest LOTUS, his
nephew, handsome, alert, pont-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
Years calls. He laughed as he caught
at the word, and the odd.twisted look of
dissatisfaction cast by his uncle at the
winter sky, blue and sparkling enough
Just then to please any but a returned
China merchant. Mr.. LOTUS was not
English, but long residence in the British
atmosphere of Hong Kong had taught
him to swear ut the climate and use the
national adjective as one to the manner
born
Beastly" cried Ernest. Why, I'm
Gle Alick, what would you have? Cold?
To be sure; what else should it be on
New Years Day? | call it tip-top
weather for the season Why, last year
the mercury stood at ten above all day,
with wind like razor. Jim Hemming-
way and | started with a list of 1870
calls, and by the time We got to the
thirty second we were so clean beat out
that we gave up, aud stayed on in the
Eustises' rooms till after dark. Sixteen
other fellows did the same thing. twas
like 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 beastly if you liked, but this"
"Ughm was all Uncle Alexis reply.
He tucked the robes comfortably round
his legs; then, " Where first, Ernest, my
boy?"
d Let's see. Here's the list," produc-
ing formidable document ITS made
out by streets. Green, Gray, Abernethy,
Winslow ow-Sixty-scventh street, driver,
No. 12. These are all your racquaintances
uncle. I've saved my separate calls for
the afternoon and evening"
So to Green's and Gray's, and on
though 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
seemed the same as he opened door after
door. For the rooms, they struck Mr..
Lotus as produced by machinery from
common model, costly, inexpensive,
unhomelike. He was too recently re.
turned to have become used to the uni
versatility of handsome commonplace
things, and, not having much small-talk
at command conversation does not flour
ish in the tea-gardens of British China), he
diverted himself by studying the objects
about him. Where did all those huge
bronZes come from? and those monstrous
pier glasses? Why must all the carpets
suggest the same general pattern? And
was il necessary to have five sets of
shades and curtains to each window? {?
Surely sunshine in an American winter
could not he so entirely disadvantage
as to require these pains to shut it out.
He made these observations through an
eye-glass perched astride his nose in what
Miss Maude Jennison afterward called
"a fascinating way, so foreign and
queer, you know" There was tenden-
cy among the young ladies of Ernest's
circle to admire his uncle. Uncles from
India are .proverbially rich and interest
ing, on the stage and off it, and an uncle
and fortune, should hardly be less 50.
"Now for the Brixhams'," said Ernest,
as they bowed themselves out of Mrs.
Jennison's drawing. room. You are
looked for there, Uncle Alick. Miss
Brixham was very impressive, and made
me swear to bring you" He laughed as
bespoke, detecting a tinge of red steal.
ing over his uncle's manly check bone.
But why not? Youths may laugh, but
il man of forty-three may not offer the
tribute of blush when pretty girl pays
him compliment, middle-age is even a
more distressful state than has been re-
ported.
The Brixhams' house was one of the
largest and finest in the city. Mr.. Loft
us, as it CHANGED, had not entered it
before, and he was struck by its space
and air of superb luxury Miss Brixham
was artistic" to use a word almost too
hackneyed for repetition, and the rooms
were crowded with pictures and bric-G-
brdc of her selection. Porcelain idols
grinned from the mantel-pieces; Vene-
tian mirrors repeated your face in detail
from their glittering facets; jars and
pots of every nationality filled the cor
ners; ivory carvings, cloisonnes, Sevres,
Limoges, illuminated missals, precious
bits of this and that, crowded the tables;
and everywhere, on the walls, the
shelves, the slabs, were plates, plates,
plates There was all the rich confusion
and something of the discomfort of a
museum in the apartment; and Mr.. Loft
us-who had not " learned China" in
the modern sense of the word, and hated
brfc-a- brae-after stumbling over an
Egyptian water-cooler and musical foot
stool, and humping his head on a Palissy
plaque, was glad to sink into sofa cor
ner, at safe distance from all curiosities,
and listen to his hostess, who looked un-
usually handsome thatNiay, and who, as
always, found plenty TO say to the quiet
Mr. LOTUS.
Gertrude Brixham, in spite of some
extravagancies and exaggerations, was a
superior girl. She had a genuine lean
ing toward the hest things. Circum-
stances and education held her away
from them, but the impulse and the
struggle, which were fTuitless of real re-
suit, had the educating power which inn
pulse and struggle must always carry
with them. She was wider-minded than
the girls about her, read more, thought
more freshly. II was this which made
her attractive 10 Alick LOTUS, who had
reached the age when more than good
waltzing and pretty face is desirable
even in the partner Of an evening. lie
had asked himself once or twice why he
shouldn't fall In love with Miss BrxhamY !
This afternoon the question rose again in
his mind, and with more emphasis. lie
was able TO marry, and desired home.
Why would not this handsome, capable