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

''BeaStly cllmate eJaculatcu MI. 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 ntW-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 odd-twisted look OF dlssat-
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 mannerborn.
"Beastlv!" 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 Hemingway and
started with list of 100 calls to make
and bv 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 tel
lows did the. same thing. 1t was 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 oul
hands. You might have called that day
l,eastly if you liked. but this"
"Ugh!' was all Uncle Alexis reply
He tucked the robes comfortably roune
his legs. and then said, "Where first, Ern
: est, my boy?"
Lets see Here's the list, producin!
formidable document. Its made on
bv streets Green. Gray. Abernethy
Winslow = Sixty street. driver
No. - These are all your acquaintance
uncle. | have saved my separate calls TO
the afternoon and evening"
So to Green's and Gray's, and o.
, through the list they went. meeting ey
erywhere the same unmeaning, would-bt
cordial reception, the same set societ
smiles. the same salad, champagne an
, trivialities in the way of conversation
I Even the servant in the white gloves seem
ed the same as he opened door after doc
q For the rooms. they struck Mr.. LOTUS 8
: produced bv machinery from commo
: model, costly. inexpensive, unhomelik
f He was too recently returned to have b'
4 come used to the universally of handson
# commonplace things, and. not havln
. much small-talk at command tconvers'
q ton does not flourish in the tea-gardeI
h of British China) he diverted himself /
: studying the objects about him. Whel
. did all those huge bronzeS come from
:. and those monstrous pier-glasses. WI
, must all the carpets suggest the same ge
i eral pattern. And was 1t necessary
have fine sets of shades and curtains
ar each Window Surely sunshine In I
: American winter could not be SO entire
If disadvantage as to require these pains
n shut it out He made these Observable
m through an eve-glas- perched astrlde /
=. nose in what Miss Maude Jennison aftt
I ward called "a fascinating way. 50 forei:
,o and queer, YOU know" There was te
dencv among the Young ladies Of Ernes
: circle to admire his uncle Uncles fro
!; India are proverbially rich and intere
ing. on the stage and off it. and an un'
from China. with ascertained good loo
N and fortune. should hardly be ie,, so
i, Now for the Brixhams',' said Erne
On as they bowed themselves out OF NJ
Jennison's drawing-room. You are lot
90 ed for there. Uncle Alick. Miss Br
ham was very impressive. and made
swear to bring you He laughed as
spoke detecting a tinge OF red steall
he over his uncle's manly cheek-bone !
why not Youths may laugh but
lii man Of forty three may not offer the II
ute of blush when a pretty girl p
him compliment, middle-age i eve
,tel more distressful state than has been
igh ported.
the The Brixham's house was one Of
mn largest and finest in the city Mr. LOT
,ad as it CHANGED, had not entered It bel
nd and he was struck with its space and
Ye of superb luxury. Miss Brixham was
v2- tistic. to use word almost too hackne
ery for repetition, and the rooms were Gro
ed with pictures and bric-a-brac OF her
lection. Porcelain idols grinned from
sive mantle pieces; Venetian mirrors repe'
your face in detail from their glitter