The Republican journal., 1882-01-26
just friend of mammals ages ago, when


ture, as she was entertaining him, "lny
dear girls are quite leaders Of society"
Eyes, madam" answered the ridicu-
leus old party; land we live in the only
country in the world where a mother can
make such boast of children in their
teens"
81 know it," responded the mother,
with sigh of pious conttntment, land
I'm devoutly grateful for our free institu
tiOns."
"Free and easy institutions" Mr. Crump
suggested; then pinching Poppet's cheek,
he asked, well, small child, and what
do you do on New Years DayP'
'Oh, | rethieve all day long. 1t it'll
quite tirethome," said Poppet, graveIy.
Crump, as he gave a hasty farewell
nod, made some strange noise under his
breath. Josie thought ii was groan, but
Tiny, who stood nearest, said, 1T was ii
swear, an awful swear"
"I think said Poppet, che ith dret
fully poky, and hathn't any thyle."
The early calls were mostly from very
young men, solemn under a sense Of jn
venilty. or hilarious and kindly patronlz
ing toward elder people
At eleven o'clock Josie whispered to
Sissy:
"Wbat a bore; hate boys
BY noon old married men and the heads
Of families hurried in, paid elaborate COM
plimel is, declared that Mrs. Bell hadn't
grown day older in twenty years; then
made off, checking against the name
"Bell' in business like way just at the
carriage door.
''At last" exclaimed Josie, about one
o'clock-"at last the marrageable men
are coming"
They came by dozens men who led
the German, men who drove their own
''four-n- hands, men who lounged about
clubs men who had "seen life" in Paris,
and watched lalkative young girls with a
| sinister interest.
| Rather late in the afternoon Mrs Bell
| became so pleased with a tall. handsome,
dark haired man OF about thirty five,
who spoke in a mellow voice and with an
English infection, that she contrived to
whisper to Josie, whats his mts'
I'm sure don't know, mamma," an
swered the young lady, gaSly. There
| are dozens here whose faces even | can't
recall"
"Oh yes" Sissy chimed in with a Ian
guild smile, ave sent so many cards, you
| know"
Mrs. Bell, who had begun to feel he
would make an ideal SON Law, said 10
the gentleman, with proper preamble,
| 1T IS unpdi dUnable, but We have really
| trgotten your name
Montgomery, he suavely replied.
Your card came to my hotel-thc Wind
oUr."
"Oh yes, certainly, Of course. The
girls sent out d great many. Pleasant
custom, isn't il I"
Charming CUSTOM" answered Mr.
| Montgomery, so-cuu, enlent-that is,
mean so--so CO.. dial His eyes were
| liked in horrible stare directly over Mis-
Bells shoulder, and he hurlledly offered
| ms arm "MA dear madam Che StaInluer
ed dreadtulll J, ""ill YOU permit me to
admire (he jerked out the words) 1.-The
| works OF AIT III the next room =
| Mrs. Bell TUNED about 10 ste at what
he was staring in that ghasty way, and
found standing behind her nothing worse
Than short, stout man Of forty or So,
With d f1orld cuunttnance, and pleasant
smile upon ii, who was waiting to pay
his New Years compliment. That duly
received, she took Mr.. Montgomery s
prefer ed arm, and went into The next
room to view a large oil painting. The
stout gentleman followed them, and cheer
fully offered the remark, Fine picture"
Mr. Montgomery dashed otf 10 a corner
where there was piece OF statua1y
The stout man dashed off to the corner
| also, and gave The opinion, "Fine statue"
"Poppet," whispered Mrs Bell, beckon-
ing the child 10 her ''go and ask Josie
this gentleman's name.
Meanwhile he Was delivering quite
little lecture on art. "The wonderful
permanency Of works in marble renders
them of value to the historian; they are,
50 to speak, petriied history he SAID
nankly.
Poppet came running back, and said,
| ia capital imitation Of her elders, 1--WE
| really can't thay who ever; body ith.'
Mr. Montgomerys attention seemed
fixed on fine etching that hung near the
open door, and he went toward it. The
stont person performed sort of quadlllt
figure III front of him all the way, anl
stationed hmselt on the threshold. Mont
gomery attempted to cross that thres-
hold; fat hand met his advancing
shoulder, and the words, "Oh no.' very
gently spoken, met bis ear.
The words were evidently softer than
be grasp; for at that moment the three
girls and d train of callers were passing
through TO the dinner-lOpm, where a col
lalion was spread, and Mr.. Montgomery
staggered back, violently propelled bl
that plump hand. The rude stout man
seemed about to speak with great vehe-
mence but he looked into the three young
girls in succ ssion, and down into Pop
pets Innocent, wide opened eyes, then
laughed, and said, "WhS, ladies, here's
fortunate meeting; this gentleman has
forgotten me, but know him" Mont
gomery looked something like an uplisht
corpse. "l>e been looking for him ii
long time. Why, Charles Sand he put
out his hand-'don't you remember"
Montgomery was still uncanny to see
Don't you remember - your brother
Jack ?"
Then the stout man seized the younger
ones hand, wrung it and laughed again
in the healtesl way inlaginabe. The
newly found Charles stepped back, step
ped forward, looked about wildly, then
finally calculated "Jack. oh yes, jack"
our plplneF JdCk
"Ies. How dye dos'
Mrs. Bell murmured in happy sym
pathy, How fortunate what a delight
iul meeting !" and the girls chirruped like
birds about the vo lderful scene, while
The brothers spoke quietly apart.
From that Moment hearty Mr. Jacks
devotion to bis newly found relative knew
no bounds. Arm in arm they went to the
retreshment table. Charles had singu
| larly small appetite, but Jack ate enough
fir both, and remarked with sollcitude,
"Chal les was never very strong-alway>
liable to turn pale and break down-eh,
old boy, weren't yous :"
"1es, oh ye-yes," answered Charles.
why" exclaimed Sissy, tits quite
wonderful! How did you know your
brother was hele2"
"Why, said Jack, still holding Charles
arm, 81 traced him to the Windsor, ana
seeing your card in his room. followed
here on the chance Of finding him, and
also" (this with d gallant bow) Of pay ing