Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1884-02-07

- f-N~@N H@NCA Ss-s
Something in Jim's distressed face
made the boys urge him to come in.
He did 80, and took 9 seat Just be.
tween them on the sofa and begged
that they would continue the flow of
conversation, which his untimely pres
ence had interrupted, adding that Ar
chic looked q. though he wss in love
too.
'And 50 l sm,' bitterly said Archie.
oh Lord! shouted Jim, i am
there too and fantastically grssped
both Of his brothers in bis arms.
Jim, insisted Tom, mo nonsense
for once. Do let CO.
'Nonsensei | am in dead earnest.
Have been for three years, and Lord
knows low | am going to break it
gently to mother And the sweat
stresmed down Jim's face. Boys, let
us all 60 in body and storm the old
castle
The girls breaking with me has
saved me the trouble of breaking it to
mother, bitterly replied Archie; she
does not love me any more, he con-
tinued.
20, yes she does, Arch; we'll make
her.
And now that Jim's secret was con.
fessed to some one he grew so light
hearted that the boys suspected him of
making game of them. But Jim was
in earnest, and, as he told them, and
been for three years Ever since Nell
lie Brown, then pretty girl of fifteen,
had come to live across the way Jim's
heart had gone. At first he did not
mind it much, but as he didn't get
over it he began to wonder if she cared
tor him, and just three weeks ago he
ended his suspense, and now-O. if it
wasn't for muther-Jim would be too
happy.
Come, my beloved brethren, we
must bear it like men. We must meet
mother But, jim, for heavens sake
don't spring it on her tonight; she
can't bear any more, and Tom led the
way down to the parlor, just as Frank,
who was growing more like his father
every day, was telling his mother how
much he liked Toms fanced. He de-
clared he loved her we'll enough to
marry her himself, and said she had
more sense than all the rest of the
girls put together.
i knew it, my son, if Tom must
marry, of course there is no objection
to her; but why couldn't he waltz
Tom is too young to marry said
giddy Harry.
The other boys we're bound to en-.
courage the babys attempts at wit,
and after the laughter at Toms ex-
pense had subsided the chums went
down stairs, leaving Jim with his
mother,
He was restless, and Toamed ner-
vously around the room, upsetting
the piano stool and punching the dog
instead of the fire, then desperately
Pumping himself down at his mothers
feet, he began:
"Mother, what would you think of
a woman who would refuse one of
your boys?' All! willy Jim knew
that the jealous mother love could not
stand that, and his mournful face and
tragic tones did the rest. He looked
the grief he felt for Archie and moth
er Beresford expressed her opinion of
the woman lnsensible Of the honor
conferred on her by one of her boys
in very pronounced terms.
Having gained his point, be kissed
his mother and left for a call on Mel.
lie Brown.
He speculated much as to who could
have refused Archie, and resolved to
get the story from him before long.
i have done him a good turn, too,
soliloquized he, 'but he won't thank
me for it now. Never mind; he will
in time when Miss What's. .her-name
comes to terms
Next week Lewis engagement was
announced. Mrs. Beresford bore it
like martyr according to the baby,
and really seemed satisfied. For was
it not better to have him happy than
sad as poor Jim, and she looked tend
erly at jim, who was gazing at Nellie
from distance, being obliged to keep
up the role of discarded lover before
his mother.
But he resolved to keep his eyes
open and find out about Archie if pos
sible, and he looked towards the dan
GERS, where Archie's graceful form
was to be seen. Well, he doesn' t
care straw about the girl he's dancing
with. Let me look around a bit.
Wonder If that performance worries
Minnie Ross any? Archie used to
like her. No it isn't Minnie, and the
keen blue eyes roaned over the
room.
'Ah! by Jubitel, it's Stella Graham
and before she had time to think, she
does love him, too
Surely Jim had grounds for the
opinion. Near the door stood a love-
ly lady with face white as death and
eyes like stars, and they followed the
graceful couple dancing with gaze
that to Jimmie seemed despalring.
Some Internal misunderstanding he
muttered, and both as proud as Luci-