The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1878-01-17
The Anti-AGonopo1ist.


the child is father of the man. or rather
Tin this CASEY woman, and no doubt
you've kept up your patches since I left
GortOn."
Lucretia smiled as her friend ratified
on, but merely said;
Il see you are the same Kitty-as much
given to exaggeration as ever. But
who is the gentleman? I see you know
him."
His name is Gale Bertram. Brother
Charlie is very fond of him, although a
mere boy compared to him. Charlie has
hobbies, you know, and Mr. Bertram is
SO learned on almost everything under the
sun, that, if Charlie gets puzzled, all he
has to do is to go to his old gentleman
friend, and he's put straight in no time y
kitty, how you run on! If every one
we're like you, poor Mr.. Bertram would
be laid upon the shelf for society, l
fear"
"He doesn't care for society, so he'd be
no loser.'
"He's to be envied for his indifference,
then, as he values it in its true light
Kitty turned and looked at Lucretia in
quizzical way from head to feet.
well, my dear, if l did not see a
pretty, stylish young girl with my very
own eyes, should rather say was talk
ing with an aged philosopher, who had
outlived his youth. Lucrctia this
was said with great impressiveness-"you
shall have an introduction. I foresee
that Mr.. Be1tram will be drawn out of his
SHELF
"For shame, Kitty" said Cree, indig-
nantly; Il will not be Introduced after
such speech l should feel conscious
and uncomfortable after hearing him
made fun Of
Kitty saw that she had gone too far
and turned the subject with ready tact;
she was natural tease, but did not like
to see any one in bad humor, and in
that way was restrained oftentimes from
wounding by her mischievous propen-
sity.
Several days had passed since the girls
conversation, when the object of it called
to see Charlie about the result of some
experiment he had BEEN making.
A newly engaged servant answered his
ring.
All unused to the ways of the family,
instead of conducting the visitor to Char
| lies ''den," al he called it, he was taken
directly to the music room, where his young
friend was listening to some Scotch airs
which Lucretia was singing in her rich
contralto voice.
As he paused on the threshold for a
moment an unobserved listener, she was
throwing her whole SOU into the render
ing of "Oh, vert thou in the cauld
blast!"
Tears were near his eyelids as she con-
cluded the plaintiye little song.
Thoughts long before banished from a
mind that could not be morbid-looking
resolutely at the blessings vouchsafed in
stead of brooding over those denied-now
came thronging into his mind with resist
less force.
"Why. oh why could not the Great ALL
Father have taken my wealth. and left
me an unblemished bodyl Then 1, too,
could have looked forward to a happy
home, shared by loving heart Now it
is denied me. Lonely, and uncared for, l
must go through life"
| Thus for few moments regrettul ideas
came thick and fast.
effort he became again his cheerful
self, as, balancing his broad shoulders
on his friendly crutches, he went for
ward.
Charlie greeted him cordially. and in
| roduced him to Miss Armstrong.
| She bowed, and rising. went immedi-
ately out of the room.
! The recollection of kitty's remarks
male her sensitive for him, and she was
only too glad to escape from the scru-
| tiny of the dark eyes she feared could
read her thoughts on her too expressive
face.
Bertram attributed her departure to a
different reason.
Like all others, she wishes to avoid
SHOW ing her aversion to cripple" he
said bitterly
During her STAY at the Langdon's ne
formed habit of calling often. and
never objected to being drawn by Charlie
into the family circle, although former
" he had preferred to have him all to
| himself, and to avoid the ladies of the
| family.
Several times upon his entrance, Lu-
cretia found. al opportunity to leave upon
some os,ensible GRAND; but, after time
/ she forgot to be nervous about his visits.
and remained an interested listener to his
eloquent and instructive conversation, and
/ then he learned to look for the swift glow
of sympathy which never failed 70 bright
en- the large gray eyes, as the chosen
theme SCARED to regions accessible only to
those gifted with natures above the CON-
monplace.
The Langdons lived comfortably and
very elegantly, but could not afford car
rage
I, One evening. just at sunset. Mr.. Ber-
tram drove up to the door. and asked for
Miss Kitty
She came TO the door. and absolutely
danced with pleasure when he invited her
and her friend on, for drive
Il took the girls but few moments to
put on their wraps and take their places
Ii the carriage
As Mr.. Bertram took his seat in front
of them he said TO Kitty
Il am sorry never have thought be-
fore that a drive might be enjoyed BIZ
some OF mv young friends. / have been
very selfish IN appearance. fear; but it
was il reality owing to my pocr appre-
citation of my lonely rides Il never &C
cured to me that they could be made en-
/ durable TO pleasant society