Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1879-11-27
NO. 2S5.
Gales ano Skettbes.
HIS INVISIBLE BROTHER.

Far into the soft summer night l sat
with little Susie Naseby on the piazza Of
| the Belle Lake Pavilion. Our talk had
| not powerful snack of sentiment, though
| the moonlight on the water, a low. signing
breeze from the south, vague cadences OF
distant singing from yacht on the lake,
and the seclusion of our vine-embowered
corner, all combined to lend an air of ro-
nance to the interview. But Susie and
never flirted with e..ch other, whatever we
might do with some. We had in the
course of long acquaitanceship, established
a delightful and unrsual relation, sort OF
| iraternal and Platonic sentiment, quite
chivalrous, quite harmless, quite novel,
| and altogether charming. So well was
this understood that Mrs. Naseby felt not
the least anxiety on leaving her daughter
in my hands, only bringing out q thick
shawl to wrap the Baby Bunting in"
and leaving us with a parting injunction
not to go on the wet grass.
G0ssipng away like couple of katy
dds about everything and everybody. we
came to speak of certain Charles Selwin,
a young gentleman OF fortune then So
journing at the Pavilion. For reasons
that will transpire, l could not abide Mr.
Selwin, on any tel ms, and was sorry to
find that he had succeeded in interesting
little Susie more than good and pretty
girl should be in brainless idler. Stupid
ly enough spoke straight out, giving my
opinion of the gentleman without mincing
words. Of course, woman fashion. she
defended him strongly, and in searching
for arguments discovered new merits in
her subject.
"You can't deny that he is very hand
some. urged Susie; 'such rosy cheeks
and nice brown hair curling around the
forehead-I do not think that fine COM
plexion and large clustering ringlets are
to splendid!"
When Selwin first came to Belle Lake,
he and went in swimming one day. On
coming out of the water, | observed that
his ''fine complexion was washed off,
leaving a sort of whitey-purple, ashes-of-
roses color, much prettier for moire an
tique than for mans face. His large,
clustering rnglets," too, were non est,
and in their place his hair hung in strings
over his eyes. Shortly after, l saw him in
the BARRIERS shop, where Joe was operat-
ing upon his mead with the curling tongs.
His cheeks were still the color of frozen
turnip, but in half an hour at dinner, the
| SIoW Hhu ICtuIuCu, uTllllAiit
than ever.
really had to much regard for my sex
to confess, even to Susie. that any man
ever painted his face and if had might
not have been able to produce positive
proofs of the statement, so Icontented my
self with deriding his lisp and drawl.
"A sweet style of talking, hasn't he, nv
dear? 'Aw. NTH Natheby, aw, what
thplendid thenery, awr"
.'Just as if he could help that. He was
born with peculiar throat, I suppose.
And after all it doesn't sound so badly,
when you know that it is not affectation"
Yes; but / know that it is affecta-
ton -
Now, William. ! never knew you so
uncharitable before. What has Mr. Selwin
aver done to you?''
"My dear child. you are sensible girl,
so can speak plainly with you. should
not have thought twice about this young
person. had he not made, apparently, q
a good impression upon you, as believe,
by false and fleeting shows, for woman's 8
illusion given. | consider him humbug
and a puppy, who has made you admire
him for what he does not possess. Are you
satisfied 9''
"Yes, am satisfied that YOU are entire
ly mistaken about Mr.. Selwin, and very
obstinately preiudiced generally. You
have only seen him few times, yet you
think because he is not OF your feather-a
a literati-a quill driver-a Bohemian-or
whatever you are-that he is not good
enough for you / say he is handsome, &C.
complished, elegant, amiable, gentleman
lly-"
"Sweet, lovely, splendid, delightful.
pretty, nice young man"
"Hush won't allow you to say anoth-
er word about him !"
OF course, had to yield l simply de-
termined to keep an eye on Selwin, and
to see that he did not gain too powerful an
ascendancy over Susie's susceptible heart.
Concealing my prejudicies, then / made
myself somewhat intimate with him, but
discovered in him only a well-dressed
nonenitv. Sometimes | detected a low
bred cunning in the cheap articles by
which he imposed upon Susie and her
mother. But had no good opportunities
to expose him, and he went on, through
all the long August days. playing the role
of conquering hero.
He knew how to listen to stories from
old ladies; how to talk politics with old
gentlemen; how to kill time for himself
and others at watering place.
Surely as mean to crush him utterly,
before | get through, let me do him JUS
tice now. Let me not forget the least of
his attractions.
How bravely he led the German, and
how graceful his positions in the Lancers !!
What prowess he displayed at the board,
where regiments of bottles went down
empty; and the youths of aristocratic
taste, who were happy enough to know
Selwin,' often went down full How we'll
and freely he disbursed his income of five
thousand year. and how nimbly and
sweetly it recommended him to every
body. How promptly were his bills paid
how heavy they were! A prime favorite
with the hoste was he, and the underlings
knew well the surety of ''tip every time
they came in contact with him.
What would resist the fascinating, the
dashing the splendid Selwin. The fac
ton that held out against him was small
indeed-consisting in fact, of myself, sol
itary and alone.
Ora a affarpoon I wac ,rroatlv srrs,rssod