The Democratic advocate., 1877-08-25
Select Storg.
From AppletOa's Journal.
A MIDNIGHT DRAMA.

What sigh was that not noisy, but
profound aud eloquent at once of an old
grief aud fresh perplexity. Bob With
er, the gentleman in his shirt-sleeves be-
fore the mirror, had hcaved that sigh every
nlght for ten years, simultaneously with
the act Of removing from his head the tine
chestnut wig which conceals the almost
complete destitution Of the natural cover.
Ing The grief is therefore an old one,
but an element,of perplexity has mingled
With this nightly sigh more lately-namc-
y since having woOed and won Angie
NcLane in his wig, he mas been screwing
" his courage to the point of revealing
TO her that it is wig, as he feels in fair
ness he ought to do. He has put it off,
never finding just the right opportunity
for the confession, until now the wedding
but month of, and the task seems
harder, more impossible, than ever. He
SIS at present spending couple of days
At the house Of the McLanes in the coun-
ay, with view to getting acquainted with
The family, For the sake Of enjoying
eAalloyed the pleasure of Angles society
1r this short time, he has compromised
With his conscience by resolving at once
% leaving TO write to her and tell the
.ulh, and by no means TO procrastinate
further.
Meantime the process Of getting ac,
painted with the family does not get on
l'Fy prosperously. Bob is poor match
liOm the parental point of view, and a
sl'Ier disappointment to the McLanes,
Nothing but Angles resolute character
could have extorted the grudging consent
'alch their engagement had at length re.
,elVed. The family consisted, besides
Angie, of her father and mother, and two
eIOlhers, John and George. Mr. McLane
iept bis room, being a confirmed invalid.
''hn, strong-willed aud arrogant in tenn
~ ruled the family with rod of iron
1eoTge being kinder tempered, but Of
aach less strength Of character. Angie
,s the only member of the family whom
s0an could not rule, aud she had carried
" point of her engagement against his
utter opposition. Mrs. McLane was
aere shuttlecock between John and Angie,
seelylng an impulse from one which last
ull the other got hold of her. John
"a accepted the engagement with an ex-
Iealngly bad grace, and made scarcely
scent pretense of concealing from Bob
~ contempt and hostility, and his desire
y mud any pretext for forcing a quarrel.
ils was particularly unpleasant and de-
1o'allzing to Bob, because the injury to
= own self.respect by the sense of the
-sa ~ deceit he was guilty Of as to his wig
s' him unable to meet Johns overbear-
Y insolence with the quiet dignity he
'usla have liked to assume.
A,ler going to bed he lay awake
uple OF hours thinking over these en-
.II'assing circumstances, aud the delight
iact Of Angles love, to which they
's,e Offsets. In the course Of his tossings
uecame aware that his seal ring, was
y " % his finger, and instantly remem-
@ VIZ that, after nsing it for forfeit in
a'or'same that evening, he had forgot
II 70 replace IT, Vexation at his care
N TraOess instantly made him wide awake.
as tlng must be on the library-table. 1t
nen he knew not where; and, If there,
night be filched by servant in the
''hlng. Associations made it invalua-
y, and he found himself 50 uneasy about
a'ety that he could not sleep. Per-
r the best thing he could do was 40
ssay step downstairs in his stockings
alOIt disturbing anybody, and make
se about Il. He knew that he could,
A. ny =, 10 the dark, steer his way straight to
!, n library, In this sleepless, excited state
4 ~ MUD the slight tinge Of adventure
Is plan had an attraction.
jumping out of bed be put on part OF
, S'othes, and, softly opening the door OF
\ 'Oom, went across the hall Snd down
I NJ, s'sln to the ground-aoor. II was
''"' dark, but he found his way easily