The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1878-01-26
0riaiaaI Storp.
THE IMPUDENT FELLOW.
Written for the Democratic Adroeate
BY LAUREL.

"They say that Ernest Norwood is com
ing back here to live. How different he
is from most Baltimoreans. He has made
his hundred thousand by city lots, and now
says that he has enough, and longs for the
quiet of the country"
So spake one old maid to another in the
hearing of Lena Morgan, who was con-
cealed from them by massive pillar and
elinging ivy of the old village church.
Then the other answered, "But tho
strangest thing about him is, that he still
thinks he must make love to that poor
penniless Lena Morgan, just because they
had some childish clatter together about
love, when they we're at school"
"And such splendid matches, all over
ready to jump at him." "And she sick
half the time, and hardly able to keep
herself and her old mother decent"
'.Oh, the baggage! There's my cousin
Jerusha, has got almost as much money
as he has; and she's fine, big rosy-cheek-
ed girl, and such good housekeeper."
"And my niece, Huldah, that has taught
school ever so many years, and has forgot
ten more than Lena viii ever know"
"But mercy, when it comes to that, he
must have seen ten thousand girls in the
city, that would suit him better than her. y
IL is nothing but obstinacy r.
"Or he wants people to call him that
eccentric man"
Lena left the church, and started for
home without further spiritual edi6cation.
Her cheeks were burning and her ears
buzzing.
Ernest, who had been standing outside
of the church, waiting for the opening Of
the services, saw her walking rapidly away.
He followed. His honest, loving heart
was full of tender solicitude. She must
be sick. How could she keep her health
in that dreadful damp house How he
longed to offer her better shelter But
she was so shy now-diferent from. the gay
frOlicsome girl to whom he had plighted
his boyish faith. He overtakes her.
Lena, are you i'll?
II feel very much indisposed, Ernest.
Mother will soon set me straight" Her
face was burning.
"Why, you have fever" said he.
"Let me feel your pulse"
He was long while doing this neigh
borly act As far as he was concerned, il
seemed TO sbe excellent" She allowed
the liberty very naively. "You know" he
said, Il studied medicine. Your pulse is
very rapid-the hand fererish."
at win be still more so, if you hold it
thus much longer in the highway" aud
she pulled it away.
GLOW strangely you act You are not
my same fond Lena
Il viii try to be my own fond Lena"
fsCan't you belong to both Of us Why
should we not hold hands in the road !?
Everybody knows that we arranged that
matter long ago" "Pshaw !" and she
shrugged her shoulders "That was child's
play"
Well, how shall | play the man to suit
you? "Must ] so down on my knees, in
the dust Of the road, like Don Quixote.
when the three maids Of Toboso came ri
ding along on dOnkeys, and humbly crave
permission to address your serenity, with
a view to matrimony."
A twinkle of her old merriment was in
her eyes, as she replied, "You are very
amusing, Ernest, and very gay. You can
afford to be so; you 'are successful"
"Well, are you not to share my sue
cess?''
"Once for all, tell you No | have
some pride. l will not enter into such n
one-sided arrangement. should wish to
feel, when | walked beside my husband
that we had come together as equals, in
every true sense"
"We ere we are Did you not exceed
me in all our school-exercises =? used to
be so proud to see my girl at the head Of
so many classes"
ooh, that was nothing When it came
to the real work of life, you outstripped
me at once
"a thousand times no If you had
been boy, we would have gone to the
city together, and risen to fortune, side by
side. Must | now be deprived of the grand
object of my life (she stirred uneasily) on
account of this whim? And you, too, if
| mistake not 1t seems to me that Lena
Morgan loves Ernest Norwood very much,
and he strOve, as they walked, to clasp her
hand again.
She flushed, but quietly aud persistently
withheld her hand.
"Be ye not unequally yoked."
"Oh, yes" with unbelievers." Now
you are talking nonsense. We both be,
lieve most devoutly in our holy religion
and in each other, too, l think, which i:
almost as important
"You are very generous, Ernest Be
just to yourself first"
"Lena, have been talking quietly
thinking you would listen to reason.
shall get vexed and break something
pretty soon, and he switched bush sav
agely with his cane.
"NOt your heart, think" she replied
with a faint smile.
snow, you are really insolent If yol
were a man, believe | would cane you