The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1882-12-28

''the Bell girls father" He himself, in
full dress and a light overcoat, was COM
plimented by his eldest daughter as '.just
too sweet for anything Then he
jumped into the carriage, consulted a
formidable list and began the days
work.
The first caller at the house was old
Mr.. Crump-" nobody at all, you know;
just a friend of mammals ages ago. when
she was young" as Sissy remarked.
"Ah," exclaimed Mrs. Bell, with rap
ture, as she wa entertaining him, my
dear girls are quite leaders of society,""
eyes. madam" answered the ridicu-
lous old party; land we live IN the only
country in the world where a mother can
make such a boast of children in their
teens"
CT know it." responded the mother.
with a sigh of pious contentment, land
Pm deyoutly grateful for our free insti-
tutions."
"Free and easy institutions" Mr..
Crump suggested; then pinching Pop
pets cheek, he asked: .'Well, small child,
and what do you do on New Years
dayp"
80, 1 rethieve all dap long. It it'll
quite tirethome," said Poppet, gravely.
Crump, as he gave a hasty farewell
nod, made some strange noise under his
breath. Josie thought it was a groan,
but Tiny, who stood nearest, said:. sit
was a swear, an awful swear.n
81 Think said Poppet, he it'll dret-
fully poky, and hathn't any thyle."
The early calls were mostly from very
young men, solemn under a eense of
iuvenility. or hilarious and kindly pat
ronizing toward elder people.
At eleven o'clock Josie whispered to
Sissy: 'What a bore! I hate boys"
BY noon old married men and the
heads of families hurried in, paid elabo-
rate compliments, declared that Mrs. Bell
hadn't grown a day older in twenty
years; then made off, checking against
the name ssBelr' in a business-like way
Just at the carriage door.
eat lastr' exclaimed Josie, about one
o'clock-'at last the manageable men
are coming"
They came by dozens-men who led
the German, men who drove their own
s.four-in-hands," men who lounged
about clubs, men who had s'seen life in
Paris, and watched talkative young girls
with a sinister interest.
Rather late in the afternoon Mrs. Bell
became so pleased with a tall. handsome,
who spoke in amellow voice and with an
English infection, that she contrived to
whisper to Josie: whats his nameP''
'.I'm sure 1 don't know, mamma"
answered the young lady, gayly. There
are dozens here whose faces even I can't
recall.n
80, yes,n Sissy chimed in, with a
languid smile, sswe sent so many cards,
you know"
Mrs. Bell, who had begun to feel he
would make an ideal son-in-law, said to
the gentleman. with a proper preamble:
sit is objectionable, blu. we have really
forgotten your name"
Montgomery" he suavely replied.
"Your card came to my hotel-the
Windsor"
80, yes. certainly, of course The
girls sent out a great many. Pleasant
custom, isn't it?"
"Charming CUSTOM" answered Mr.
Montgomery, so-convenient-that is, ]
mean 500 cordial" His eyes were
fixed in a horrible stare directly ovel
Mrs. Bells shoulder, and he hurriedly
offered his arm. s'My dear madam
Che stammered dreadfully), will you
permit me to admire Che jerked out the
words) s.the works of art in the mex
roomP"
Mrs. Bell turned about to sec at whai
he was staring in that CHASTITY way ant
found standing behind her nothing worse
than a short, stout man of forty or so
with a fiorid countenancc, and a pleasan
smile upon it, who was waiting to pal
his New Year compliment. That duly
received, she took Mr.. Montgomery!
proffered arm and ven into the mex
room to view a large oil painting. Th'
stout gentleman followed them ant
cheerfully offered the remark, s.Fin,
picture" Mr.. Montgomery dashed OF
to a corner where there was a piece o
statuary. The stout man dashed off t.
the corner also, and gave the opinion
'tFine statue"
"Poppet," whispered Mrs. Bell, beck
oning the child to her, '.go and ask JOSH,
this gentleman's name"
Meanwhile he was delivering quite
little lecture on art. 1.-The wonderful
pcrmanency of works in marble render
them of value to the historian; they are
so to speak, petrifed history" he said
blandly.
Poppet came running back and saidil
capital imitation of her elders: wv
really can't thay who everybody it'll"
Mr.. Montgomery's attention was fixe'
on a fine etching that hung near the opeI
4 lo1r ,-l L. -, u,ol - - IT, 49,,
person performed a sort of quadriH
figure in front of him all the way an,
stationed himself on the threshold. Mont
gomery attempted to cross that threshold
a fat hand met his advancing shoulde
and the words, SO, mol" very gent
spoken, met his ear.
The words were evidently softer tina
the grasp; for at the moment the thre
girls and a train of callers were passin,
through to the dining-room, where a col
lation was spread. and Mr.. Montgomer
staggered back, violently propelled b
that plump hand. The rude stout ma
seemed about to speak with great We
hemence, but he looked into the faces q
the three young girls in succession, an
down into Poppet's innocent, wide
opened eyes. then laughed, and said
'Why, ladies, here's a fortunate meet
ing; this gentleman has forgotten me
but 1 know him." Montgomery locke
something like an upright corpse. ..rv
been looking for him a long time. Why
Charles"-and he put out his hand
''don't you remember-" Montgom
cry was still uncanny to see. "Don'
you remember-your brother JackP"
Then the stout man seized the younge
ones hand. wrung it and laughed agai
in the heartiest way imaginable. Th
newly-found Charles stepped bach
stepped forward, looked about wildly
then finally calculated: Jack! oh We:
Jackr
Your brother jack"
"Yes. How dye dop"
Mrs. Bell murmured in happy symps
thy: "How fortunate! what a delightfl
meeting.' and the girls chirped li>el Ii
tie birds about the wonderful scene
while the brothers spoke quietly apar
From that moment hearty Mr.. Jack
devotion to his newly-found relatiy
knew no bounds. Arm in arm they wer
to the r~efreshment table. Charles had
s%inoularly small appetite. but Jack al