The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1883-01-25
He FAILED TO WIN.

HI FAILED 10 WIN.
it was from his neither.
Where the hot dusty road led through
a furlong of cool shady wood, he paused
to read it, sheltered by the spreading
branches of a noble century oak, and
there was decided frown on his good
looking face as he folded the missive
impatiently and transferred it to his
pocket.
When is thee coming home, Stepheng'' she
had asked but it was not that direct question
that had caused him such evident annoyance
Thee knows that am but poor company for
little Lefty" she bad added, land IT Is hardly
cavaier-iike i'll thee to leave her to her oNr
devices when she so kindly consented to visit
us. Another reason: others besides thyself
Miss Winthrop 1 fear that she would make too
learned wife for thee: Lefty is perfect lit
tie house-mistress, and would make thee a
sweet and comely partner for life. Remember
that others have found out the whereabouts
of our treasure, and do not complain in after
time that did not warn thee in season;
"Pshawr' muttered Steve. switching
off the heads of the inoffensive yellow
dandelions with the tip of his slender
cane; lone would positively think. by
the way mother writes. that there wasn't
another girl in the world like Lefty
Not that she isn't pretty enough little
thing, and her 'housewifery,' as the wo-
men folks call it, beyond questions; but
a man doesn't always want to marry q
woman because she's good cook. At
any rate, Becky Winthrop is worth a
dozen like her,
Now, as a dinner not prepared to the
last degree of nicely had been known to
throw young Mr.. Stephen Landor into
such a state of mind that he could not
be beguiled into a smile for the rest of
the day, it may be thought that his con-
Guiding remarks were little inconsist-
ent.
1t should also be written that he had
never yet mustered courage enough to
address Miss Winthrop by her christian
name, not feeling exactly assured as to
the manner in which that young lady
might be inclined to receive the famili-
arity. Il was only in the solitude of his
own company that he ventured to desig-
nate her as E'Becky Winthrop"
The person last named occupied a
dainty willow rocker on the hotel piaz-
"a as Steve came up the steps, a tall,
slim girl dressed in the plainest and best
kLIlilS VI OLCSoCS. llulSll-
ed at the neck with a band of snowy
linen.
Her hair was dark, and, ruffied over
her forehead by the cool ocean breezes
that fairly ran riot at this pretty seaside
resort. formed fitting frame for the
ielicately cut features. Her eyes were
large and of a clear grey. AS for the
rest, Miss Winthrop was from Boston,
and wore glasses.
Eight weeks before, Steve Landor had
presented himself as q guest at the ho-
tel, just as the world of Nature was put
ting off its June robes.
A low fever contracted the previous
spring while camping out with some
choice spirits in the wilds of the Adiron-
dacks, necessitated, in his opinion, q
change of air. Hence his coming.
The first time he went out he ran
against an old acquaintance.
"How do, Steve?" said this youth,
laconically putting out his hand.
'sHow do?" returned Steve with equal
cordiality.
know any of the peopleP" he en-
quired.
No" answered Steve, with a shade
more of interest in his manner. care
you acquainted?'
"Well, rather" assuming an easy air
of superiority. ''You can sum 'e!n all
up in few words. There's lots of mar
ried women and widows, most of 'em
young and pretty enough to care for a
sly Irritation. There are old Dobbs the
bankers daughters, splendid dancers
every one of them; and the Briggs
girls, homely, with lots of tin. Then
there are five old dowagers, fat, and
more than forty, and Miss Winthrop
''And what is she like?' quoried
Steve, with suppressed curiosity.
Now, my dear boy, you have me"
answered his friend, brushing the dust
from the tip of his patent-leather shoe
with affectionate solicitude. ''She?-
Well, she reads in three languages. and
knows all about chemicals, and rocks,
and things, and can talk like a Greek
professor when she can butSon-hole any
cne who knows enough to understand
her. She is Bostonian; and Hunter
heard De Haas, the noted geologist, say
that her intellect would do credit to any
man."
Hem! She's a spinster, then, with
corkscrew curls, and look of general
| blueness about her."
"Oh no, indeed! She is not exactly
handsome, but there's not woman in
the place who can copy her style. De-
cided air of culture, you know, and all
that. But she has away, metaphorical-
ly speaking, of sitting down suddenly
on one, that is anything but pleasing to
a fellows vanity-and, say, old boy,
she don't like menu
young, cultured, and averse to male
society,"" summed up Steve reflectively.
''why, she must be a curiosity! I'll
make her acquaintance" And he did
AS l have before intimated, Stephen
Landor possessed more than the average
share of good looks; added to which, he
came of good old Quaker stock, had
travelled, and read little in a desul
tory way; could sing in mellow tenor,
and repeat bits of poetry in voice
| equally musical. Moreover, he was al
immense success with ladies, and his
pretty :,uSin Lefty has already fallen 9
victim to his manifold charms.
Poor little thingn' he had often
| thought during the lapse of his eight
weeks absence. ''It's too bad to think
that have not written to her as prom.
ised; and she has so little company in
that slow-coach of place. Well, she
can amuse herself by concocting some
new dish to tempt the palate, or by talk.
ing religion to the pale-faced curate til
I get home. The idea of mother worry
ing about her going off as a prize in the
matrimonial marketr'
Young MIR. Landor Would have helc