Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1882-10-19


suspense, the prolonged waiting for the
bringing 70 light Of the fraud OF which
he had been the victim, was undermin-
ing his friends health and spirits. He
therefore devoted himself 10 cheer him,
and more than ever endeavored to in
duce him TO seek change and recrea-
tion.
II don't seem to feel it as much as I
did, st. Lawrence said one day, when
Douglas was exhorting him TO be pa
tient. "If il were not for the sake of
Justice, could be well content to give
1t all UP, and 60 abroad again, to Italy
or Palestine, or anywhere out Of the
way. IL all were set right tomorrow,
/ don't know what good 1t would do
me-"
.Then for what in the world are you
moping like sick catp" Douglas ex-
claimed. "You seem to be in Hamlet's
yein-'Man delights not me, nor woman
neither Why don't you fall in lover
By Jove. you'd have no time for the
sulks, If you were to set to work to try
to win the heart Of some sweet little
woman Like my Bertha. Heigh-ho, 1
renee, do do you think that I have any
"For Heavens sake, Douglas, don't
be hammering on that theme for ever,
or You'll drive me distracted" st. Law
renee answered, almost angrily, shad-
ing his face with his hand, as he sat by
the table. "How should 1 knowp Why
don't you ask herp"
sand get point-blank NO for my
palms," Douglas replied, ruffiing up his
Eo.- to nxrfA ant
stand the art of war, old fellow. Did
you ever hear of fortress being taken
by the enemy's going up and saying,
Please let me have it?' Besides, where
would be the fun? Think what excite
ment, what a world of new sensations
one would lose. Where would be the
marchings and counter-marchings, the
erecting Of batteries, and directing of
field-guns, and all the interest of watch
ing for the first signs of breach? 1
verify believe that one OF the reasons
why wives occupy higher place in the
scale of society than they used to do is
because they are more difficult to win.
Formerly man could buy the woman
he wanted, or else run off with her; she
was only just like any other possession.
Now-the deuce take itl-one has to go
beating about the bush for months, and
then perhaps, after all, one may get the
sack-and there's no help for it"
II don't believe, Douglas, you're half
In earnest, or you wouldn't talk so
much, said st. Lawrence, starting up
and going to his painting-table, where
he began to sort his brushes and c0lors.
''Oh, am not, thought" cried Doug
las, taking his hands from his rumpled
hair. Wasn't it one of the first things
1 did, after that dear old lady departed
to the Elysian fields, to write the name
of Bertha Douglas on the blotting-
book where l had been drawing my
first cheque, just to see how it looked?'
"Pshawl" muttered st. Lawrence,
impatiently.
'You see l don't take things au grand
serie,tr, as you do, old man." Douglas
went on. II haven't it in me. l have
not the remotest idea why Romeo killed
himself, even il Juliet was dead; nor
how Othello felt after smothering his
wife. But III make good husband
for all that-see if / don't"
"If you don't-if you ever cause her
sigh, or tear" ST. Lawrence began,
hotly, the color rushing to his face, but
with great sigh, as if out of the depths
of his heart, he checked himself
''Don't mind me-" he said-"I'm out of
sorts just now; shall be all right soon.
If it were not for Riggs, as l said be-
fore, I'd 60 away for a time-the fur
ther off the better. But let US talk of
something else. What will you have?
Claret's the coolest"
'Claret, by all MEANS" Douglas re-
piled. II intend to forego whisky and
pipes, and all that sort Of thing, and to
go in for tea and buttered mullins. The
fellows at the shakespeare Head will
lose one of the chief ornaments of their
society, and will have the more to re-
gret whenit remains ungraced by the
presence of Eustace st. Lawrence,
ESQ.,"
II have no taste that way; suppose
was not to the manor born. More
over, Pm afraid I'm but a morose sort
of fellow, better left to myself. shall
miss you nevertheless. Douglas, when
you settle down." said st. Lawrence.
Miss me? Why, you know there
will always be knife and fork for you,
old mani" Douglas exclaimed. II don't
know why Bertha should have been a
little shy with you lately, but she did
like you. | am sure"
st. Lawrence went to the window and
with a jerk threw it up as high as it
would 60.
Its awfully hot, he said--"I think
there's going to be a storm.n
I'm glad of it," Douglas returned,
looking up at the gathering clouds-''it
will clear the air."