Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1882-01-19
: Il > responded the motbe,

{ II know it." responded the mother,
with sigh of pious contentment, land
I'm deyoutly grateful for our free insti-
| tutions.n
Free and easy institutions, Mr.
Crump suggested; then pinching Pop
1 pets cheek, he asked, "Wen, small
child, and what do you do on New ear
| DayP''
"Oh. retheiye all day long. II it'll
quite tirethome,' - said PopPet, grayely.
Crump, as he gave hasty farewell
nod, made some strange noise under his
breath. Josie thought it was a groan,
but Tiny, who stood nearest, said, at
was swear, an awfnl swear"
Il think said Poppet, ''he 18th dref-
fully poky, and hathn't any thyle.n
The early calls were mostly from very
young men, solemn under sense of
juvenility, or hilarious and kindly pat
ronizing toward elder people.
At eleven o'clock Josie whispered to
Sissy: What bore! | hate boys"
BY noon old married men and the
heads of families hurried in, paid ella
borate compliments, declared that Mrs.
Bell hadn't grown a day older IN twenty
years; then made off, checking against
/ the name Bell in a business-like way
just at the carriage door.
AT 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
''four-in-hands,' men who lounged
about clubs, men who had ''seen lifeH in
Paris, and watched laxative young
girls with a sinister interest.
Rather late in the afternoon Mrs.
Bell became so pleased with tall, hand
some, dark-haired man of about thirty
five, who spoke in mellow voice aud
with an English infection. that she con-
trived to whisper to Josie, What's his
name?''
''I m sure | don't know, mamma"
answered the young lady, gayly.
There are dozens here whose faces
even can't recall.
"Oh yes, Sissy chimed in with
langIid smile, ''we sent so many cards,
you know"
Mrs. Bell, who had begin to feel he
would make an ideal son-in-law, said to
the gentleman, with proper preamble,
1T is objectionable, but we have really
forgotten your name"
Montgomery he suavely replied
Your card came to my hotel-the
Windsor
"Oh yes, certainly, of course. The
girls sent out a great many, Pleasant
custom, isn't it?"
Charming custom, " answered Mr..
Montgomery, convenient that is,
l mean $3.50 cordial His eyes were
fixed in q horrible stare directly over
Mrs. Bells shoulder, and he hurridly
offered his arm. ''My dear madam
Che stammered dreadfully), Twill you
permit me to admire Che ierked out
the Words "the works of art in the next
rOOm?'
Mrs. Bell turned about to see at what
ne was staring in that CHASTITY way, and
found standing behind her nothing
worse than short, stout man of forty
or so, with a florid countenance, and a
pleasant smile upon it, who was waiting
10 pay his New Years compliment
That duly received, she took Mr.. Mont
gomery's proifered arm, and went into
the next room to view a large oil-paint-
ing, The stout gentleman followed
them, and cheerfully offered the re-
mark, fine picture Mr.. Mont
gOmery dashed of, to corner where
there was piece of statuary. The
stout man dashed off to a corner also,
and gave the opinion, .'fine statue
''Poppet, whispered MIS-. Bell, beck
oning the child to her, ''go and ask
Josie this gentleman name"
Meanwhile he was delivering quite
little lecture on art ..The wonderful
permanency of work in marble renders
them of value TO the historian they
are, SO to speak, petriied history he
said, blandly.
Poppet came running back, and said,
in capital imitation Of her elders, 1--WE
really can't thay who eueryb0dy it'll
Mr.. Mont ,,omery's attention seemed
fixed on fine etching that hung near
the open door, and he went toward it.
The stout person performed sort of
quadrille figure in front of him all the
way, and stationed himself of the
Montgomery attempted to
cross that threshold fat hand met |
his advance shoulder, and the words,
'Oh mol very gently spoken, met his
ear.
The words were evidently softer than
the grasp; for at that moment the three !
girls and train of callers were passing |
the dinnng-room, where a col |
lation was spread, and M Montgomery
staggard back violently propelled by |
that plump hand. The rude stout man !
seemed about to speak with great We
hemence. but he looked into the faces |
81 the three young girls in succession,
and 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 know him. Montgomery looked |
like an upright corpse. I've |
been looking for him long time. Why !
Charles and he put out his hand -
"don't you remember Montgomery |
was still uneanny to see. Don't YOU |
remember-your brother Jack?''
Then the stout man seized the Young |
er ones hand, wruDg it, and laughed |
again in the heartiest way imaginable. |
The newly found Charles stepped back, |
stepped forward, looked about wildly, |
then finally calculated, Jack! oh yes,
jack
Your brother jack"
YES. How we do?'
Mrs. Bell murmured in happy sympa-
thy chow fortunate! what delightful |
and the girls chirruped like
little birds about the wonderful scene,
while the brothers spoke quietly apart. !
From that moment hearty Mr.. Jacks |
devotion to his new relation knew no !
bounds. Arm in arm they went to the |
table. Charles had sing
ularly small appetite, but Jack ate
enough for both, and remarked with |
solicitude Charlie was never very strong .
always liable to turn pale and break /
down-eh, old boy, weren't you?''
Yes, oh ye-yes." answered Charles.
why" exclaimed Sissy. sits quite
How did you know your
brother was here?"
"Why," said Jack still holding Char
lie arm, Il traced him to the Win isor,
and seeing your card in his room, fol-
lowed here on the chance of finding him
and also (this with gallant bowl |
''of paving my res, ects TO some Ameri-
can ladies.
1t was about six o'clock, and the cal
ling had fallen off as the wretched vic /
Tins of the days pleasure took the usual
dinner time for breathing space be-
fore the evening rush and hurry. In
fact not visitor remained except the