Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1884-08-28


mind, do you, dear" and left the warm
print Of rosy lips on my cheek, can assure
you did not mind so much as might.
When left Mrs. Ans.uther had fully
intended to quit the Grove, whether or no,
the following day; but that half-dozen words
with Lucy left me undecided again. l was
an idiot for staying, first, because was de-
hberately sacrificing a very pretty
prospect in life by not going and,
second, because I might have known
beforehand what sort of an experience the
next weeks would be likely to be. But men
are idiots when pretty girl is concerned and
l was a great deal more bewildered with
Lucy than owned to myself. spoiled my
own mess too, with my conceit. l am will
ing to own that men are more conceited than
women, but t, en- they have so much more to
make them 70. Why, only think of one
woman like Lucy Basset making sweet eyes"
at you.
am Wiling to own at this day, that had
not at that tiIle one misgiviag as to how it
was likely to turn with Lucy and me if I
stayed. My going or staying was a mere
question Of self-abnegatiOn. Should l try
and win the girl who loved me in the face Of
Mrs. Anstruther's threats of poverty and
starvation, or should generously leave her 10
forget me as fast as she could, and bestow her
matchlessness upon some prince of the crew
that were coming to the Grove that weeks
was not generous 1 did not at all relish
being forgotten and stayed.
Mrs. Anstruthers company came in due
tiue-a household of them, too-gentlemen
and ladies; some married, some single; the
young ladies pretty creatures enough, and the
gentlemen good talllers and well dressed.
l understood long before the passage of the
first day what Mrs Anstruther meantb by her
talk about gentlemen. She meant men who
owed their right to be ranked above the
'"plebs" to their tailor. My best coat was of
last years cut, and a trifie seedy, having
done duty alternately as every day gear and
Sunday toggsry. My boots were neither
patent leather nor morocco and my I'M
mentionables, though as well kept as could
| possibly be expected under the circumstances,
had quite lost that beautiful shapeliness of
| limb which characterized those of Mrs.
Anstruther's gnests.
In vain L kept repeating to myself, "A
mans man for a that" and "Nress doesn't
| make the man." | was humilia tingly sure
| that | wasn't half a man because of my
seedy garh
Mrs. Anstruther watched me, and I felt
rejoiced at my discontinue. what she could
see of it Out of sheer revenge 1 devoted
myself to Lucy. Secure in Lucy's fondness
for me, took airs upon myself, and fol
every SHEER 1 imagined flung at my
clothes, managed to make Lucy snub the
| sneerer.
| n, ,N,1f how I I,
taken a little too much wine that evening
and there was a Count Leopold Keirst who
was especially affected by Mrs. Anstruthel
for Lucy, and who was nothing loath him
himself. The man was the lnerest dandy
empty headed as a rattle-bex, positively
nothing but clothes and title, but because
hated hirR for daring to aspire to Lucy, in
sisted upen her openly insulting him by dane
ing with me when she had promised him, ant
they had even got their places upon th,
floor / suppose | was mad with jealousy
envy and wine, and l saw Mrs Anstruthe
shaking her head at Lucy from "a corner.
insisted that Lucy should dance with me in
stead ofithe count, and she refused, of course
Half an hour afterward, carpet-bag il
hand, l had left the house, and by mornin,
was miles on my journey city-ward.
l had recovered my sense by that time, ant
was sufficiently what.an idiot hat
made of myself.
Whatever conceit was left in me then wa
taken out before the day was done
AS | gotoff the cars at noon q strange maj
put his hand on my shoulder. l was arrestet
for stealing Mrs. Anstruther's diamonds. Sh
had telegraphed to have it done, and Luc'
had not hindered her
1t was odd, but l never felt myself NOR
a man than,at that moment The touch o
that terrible finger of disgrace was like tn
prick of the surgeons lancet to a swoonin!
consciousness. By noon the next day Mrs
Anstruther herself came to the city to me il
my prison cell
The woman was positively wild about he
diamonds.
"Oh give them back to me, Felix, and
! won't prosecute the thing. I've got none,
\ enough to hush the matter, and 1 will; ant
4 I'll set you up in business besides. Only
give me back my diamonds, Felix How
could you have the heart to touch them
Why, man, they've been in the family NOR
than 200 years"
Mrs. Austruther wrung her hands wildl,,
as she pleaded, and clung to me when
| would have risen from my chair
MADAM, you will never see your diamond
more, if the return of them depends OF
me-" said l.
@You ungrateful bey!'' cried Mrs. Ans
truther.
smiled.
"After all have done FOR you"
Il am aware that l owe Mrs. Anstruthel
one debt which it will be impossible for MI
ever to repay"
"Do you mean Lucy, sirs Give me bacl
my diamonds, and you shall even have her.
Madame values her diamonds at curl
GUS price,
"Do you mean to keep them III the face O
everythings What good will they ever dc
you now%
MADAME forgets that there is limit tx
durance vile, even for stealing diamonds
Many man has toiled longer and harder fol
fortune than that"
Mrs. Anstruther thought was in earnest
Her face whitened and she trembled witt
agitation.
"Well, then, Felix" she said, aif you art
so hard as that, must leave you to the law
l should have liked to save the diamonds, ant
avoid the disgrace to the family. But yol
will not permit me-"
"Mrs Anstruther," said ], putting de
tanning hand on her arm as she was going
"do you honestly believe I know anything
about your diamondsg'
She stopped, and looked at he In odd per
plexity.
"Who else could"
"When did you first miss them, Miss An
struther.
"In the morning after you went away"
'When did you see them last before thata'
NI al1Ira1r loc,lx Iela