Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1885-08-20
CHAPTER III.
A LOVERS FANTASIES.


Meanwhile Willie Snow worked as hard as
any Of us to get at the secret. Had not
been 50 fond Of the lad should have laughed
many time to see how in every converse
ton he wound round by all kinds of turns
and twists to the one topic He had thou
sand devices for bringing in the name of
Vanity Hardware. As follows:
"Fine evening, doctor"
Beautiful
"Grand sunseti Did you notice the light on
the hillsf'
"No; was mixing black draught."
"Wonderfully clear 1t was. One could al
most see the daisies in the grass a mile off;
and the windows of the old farm shone and
glittered in the sunset"
"Shone and glittered, did theyT'
"Yes; and thought could see that old
solitary sitting in his garden"
Enjoying the sunset l suppose"
81 suppose SO. By the way, doctor, now
that we have mentioned their names, have
you seen the young lady latelyf'
Many time he led me a dance like that;
and when once he managed to edge Miss
Vanity into the talk, he took good care not
to change the subject. Still, he found out
nothing; and, to Miss AFFORD herself, the
father and daughter were not more mys-
terry than to Willie Snow.
His evening walk, however, was always
uphill now. l dare say the sharp eyes of
Vanity Hardware soon noticed him strolling
past the farm evening after evening, and
casting wishful looks in at the windows.
Very soon she began to reward his pains by
a glimpse of her pretty person. She would
be opening window, tying up a struggling
flower in the neglected garden, leaning art
lessly against the gate; and her eyes would
meet his. And perhaps when he turned his
head to steal another look at her, she would
let herself be caught in the act of gazing
after him. Then Willie would go home con-
tented, for his love was SO great that
morsel of favor from her was feast to him.
After time she grew more marked in her
signs of kindness. She met him occasionally
on the unfrequented road; and how those
dark, staring eyes set his honest young heart
beating none but himself knew.
Beautiful she was; as beautiful as Satan
himself could wish a wicked woman to be.
Every time Willie saw her, in his own mind
he decked her in some new womanly charm
she was shy, modest, loving, refined. He
tricked her out in all the hues of loves rain
bow. o days of youth, happy days of first
love- when inexperience provides the colors
and the hand of new-found passion paints
the picture! once sat before the easel N.Y.
self as fond as ever Willie was; but frailty
and death long ago rubbed out the picture
drew, and all of my warm madness is past
years ago, except it be certain memories
which help me to write this story with a
more intelligent pen. Now, who would fancy
that old Doctor Book could write like thats
Ah, friends all, as we meet in the street or
chat over the news, we are apt to say Of each
other, II know him very WE'LL" but there
are secrets in the life you know best which
would astonish you believe me- We shabby
old fellows have our secrets like our betters.
Everybody knows that the king does not tell
the queen everything; and can assure you
we tradespeople sometimes have old remem-
brances which, for good or evil we think it
just as well to keep private.
Where have got to2-Vanity, I was on
the point of say ing, led Willie on On a
particular evening in June, Willie pursued
his upward way, coming toa turn of the
road where ON either side ran tall hedges,
pink and white with flowers, that made the
sunset air sweet like honey from their thou
sand breathing blossoms Who should he
see here but Miss Hardware. OF course she
did not know he was near, innocent grill
She was trying might and main to catch at a
spray of wild rose that hung temptingly out
on high just beyond her reach. What an
opening for Willie Yet, easy as it was, so
did he reverence his ideal of this woman
that he thought it presumptuous to offer her
help. But he plucked up courage.
"Can Lean lido that for youP'
She turned round, her face bright with
surprise and pleasure.
''Thank you. do SO wish for that particu-
lar rose"
II the spray Lad been twenty-five feet
above his head, mark you, Willie would have
secured it. In a moment he held the rose
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