The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1880-09-30
HIS INVISIBLE BROTHER.

q Far into the soft summer night / sat
with little Susie Naseby on the piazza
of the Belle Lake Pavilion. Our talk
had not . powerful smack Of senti-
ment, though the moonlight ON the
water, the low, signing breeze from
the south, vague cadences Of distant
singing from o yacht on the lake, and
the seclusion of our vine-embowerod
corner, all combined to lend an air of
romance to the interview. But Susie
and l never firted with each other,
whatever we might do with some.
We had, in the course of long ac-
quaintanceship, established q delight
ternal 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 a thick shawl to "wrap the Babie
Bunting in," and leaving us with .
parting injunction not to go on the
wet grass.
Gossiping away like a couple of ka-
tydids, about everything and every
body, we came to speak of q certain
Charles Selwin, a young gentleman of
fortune, then soiournimg ut the Pavil-
ion. For reasons that will transpire,
could not abide Mr.. Selwin, on any
terms, and was sorry to find that he
had succeeded in interesting little Su-
sic more than a good and pretty girl
should be in brainless idler. Stu
pidly enough l spoke straight out,
giving my opinion of the gentleman
without mincing words. Of course,
woman fashion, she defended him
strongly, and in searching for argu-
ments, discovered new merits in her
subject.
"You can't deny that he 10 very
handsome?" urged Susie "such rosy
cheeks, and nice brown hair curling
around the forehead do think that
= fine complexion, and large. cldster-
ing ringlcts are too splendidP'
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 q sort OF
whitey-purple, ashes-of-rOses color
much prettier for moire-antique
than for q mans face. His" "largc
clustering ringlets," too, were non est
and in their place his hair hung il
strings over his eyes. Shortly after
i saw him in the BARRIERS shop, where
Joe was operating upon his head with
the curling tOngs. His cheeks were
still the color of o frozen turnip, but
in half All hour, at dinner, the rlddy
glow had returned, more brilliant THAI
ever. t-..., -.
really had too much regard for my
sex to confess, even to Susie, that any
man ever painted his face and if
had, 1 might not have been able te
produce positive proofs of the state.
ment, so contented myself with dc.
riding his lisp and drawl. ----
"a sweet style of talking, hasn't he
my dear? sAw, NTH Nathby, aw
what thplendid thenery, aw!"
"Just as If he could help that HI
was born with q peculiar throat,
suppose. And, after all, it doesn'
sound 50 badly, when you know i
isn't affectation."
Eyes; but know it is ectation!'
ssNow, William! l never knew yol
SO uncharitable before. What has Mr
Selwin ever done to you?"
my dear child, you are . sensible
girl, so l can speak plainly with you
l should not have thought twic
about this young person, had he NO
made, apparently, a good impression
upon you, as 1 believe, by false an'
feeting shows, for woman's illusioI
given. / consider him humbug ant
q puppy, who has made you admir-
him for what he does not possess. Ar
Won satisfied, ma chere?" -af
"Yes, mon cher. / am satisfied tina
you are entirely mistaken about MI
Sclwin, and very obstinately prcju
diced generally. You have only sec
him a few times, yet you think be
cause he is not one of your feather
literati-a Journalists quill-driver-
q BOhemian-Or whatever you are
that he is not good enough for you.
say he is handsome, accomplished
elegant, amiable, gentlemanly-"
"Sweet, lovely, splendid, delightful
pretty, nice young man"
"Hush! i won't allow you to sa
another word about him!''
OF course had to yield. simpl,
determined to keep an eye ON Sclwii
and to see that he did not gain to
powerful an ascendancy over Susie
susceptible heart
Conceali4 my prejudices, then,
made myself somewhat intimate wit
him, but discovered in him only
well-dressed nonenity. Sometimes
detected q low-bred cunning in til
cheap articles by which he impose
upon Susie and her mother, but ha
no good opportunities to expose hin
and he went on, through all the Ion
August days, playing the role of con
quering hero. He knew how to liste
to long stories from old ladies how t
talk politics with old gentlemen no,
to kill time for himself and others at
watering place. ......,
Surely, as mean to crush him nj
terly before I get through, let me 4
him justice now. Let me not fOrgs
the least of his atfrac ti0ns