Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1885-11-05

i uNcs BInFci cxFcrlctiCcus Oue WHO uhQ long
looked life in the face-"you must admit
that a man ought to make up his mind some
time
Yes rom replied, Certainly he ought
some time, as you say.n .a=
II suppose you win marry, Tomr
At this artless question the dragon posi-
lively blushed
"And 1 suppose" Maud went on, ''Ara-
bella Hardcastie will be the womanr'
.Can't say. Tom replied diffidently. Then
brightening up, he added, II think it highly
probable that the man Arabella will marry
will be myself. mean, you know, Arabella
end her mother together, Maudey.' jln1
Tom applied himself vigorously to his
| cigar, like man who has got out of q fix
cleverly. o." ~ -Ho
Maud was greatly amused, and laughed
heartily at brother Toms wit. ,f,.-.-. q,
''For shamen she said. "Poor Arabellal
And after all, Tom, she is rather nice old
lady,"
Rather" Tom replied; "but only rather
not very" ,.,...
"But, Tom" Maud said with an admirable
DIR Of surprise, shave you and the Hard
castles fallen outi You did not speak in this
way few days ago" t- r,a-
At which our dragoon's blush, just reced-
ing, broke out again most visibly.
'In one word" Maud said, looking him
full in the face, there is a newcomer. I
think can guess.
In this way Maud contrived so skillfully
that there and then her brother confessed
that he admired Vanity Hardware, and she,
like the tactician she was, received the in
telligence with perfect composure, not pro-
testing but ready to discuss the matter in
the most business like spirit Maud Neville,
hot as she was, could keep her temper, espe-
cially with her brother, upon whom she
dotted, fearing him little too This only
she said: .--a..... F. +.
''she is very handsome, good, kind; but
then, Tom"
II know what you mean," Tom remarked,
seeing she hesitated. "Ought we to visit
her?"
well, you see, Tom, we have to ask such
questions" ,,- .-s .s.-... !
So Tom turned full on his. sister, half
laughing, yet with a certain seriousness in
| his voice. ,.... ..
"If you had to choose for me, and the
choice lay between Arabella and my new
comer--" ...
Really, Tom, should not know what to
| do.n
This NAV seem STRANGE enoucb but Maud
could not 6ear the idea of having Arabella
Hardcastle for sister-in.law. Her dislike was
not a recent affair. Mrs. Hardcastle had
brought her I'D from infancy. and had man.
aged to make her. as child. girl and Young
woman. cordially detest her guardian Ara.
bella. too. had ALWAYS been pitted aoainsa
Maud. Her music, her dancing. her wav Of
entering room, her singing. her Paris ac
cent. whatever could become a yo,lne woman
was praised in Arabella to the omen dispar.
agement of Maud. Now. Maud was horn
with a temper, and never could submit tt,
this odious system of comparison; and many
time. as Child. she had been sent To he'd
with bread and water for dinner, because
she rebelled against Mrs. Hardcastle's insult
ing comparisons. Her hour Of triumph came
at last: for wealthy Augustus Neville chose
her, and not Arabella, when Mrs. HardcastIe
was COMPRISING sea and land to get the hus-
band for her own daughter Maud loved
her husband because he was clever and kind.
and perhaps, most Of all because he deliy
cred her from the bondage of this female
Pharaoh. But she never could forget her
humiliating past. Not that she was revenge
full; but indeed, old Mrs. Hardcastle would
have prevented any mortal Christian, no
matter in what stage of perfection, from for
giving her.
But that potent old lady had managed to
entangle Tom Pembroke. Tom was easy
natured, and liked bit of Irritation, and be
was so dexterously managed that by this
time he was more than half convinced that
he had won Arabella's affections, and might
end by breaking her heart! He was a man
of scrupulous honor, and his sister well knew
that if old Mrs. Hardcastle once convinced
him that he had thoughtlesslv gained her
daughters affections, Tom would marry the
girl at all risks. At the very thought of
such an event Maud shuddered
Accordingly, when Tom told his sister that
he had really taken a fancy to Vanity Hard
ware, that sensible and straightforward
young woman was in fix. Perhaps, of the
two she might have preferred Vanity. but
all lady readers will see that there were very
grave objections to a marriage with this
brave, beautiful, but certainly most monde
script heroine. Some women might have
finessed one girl against the other, trying at
the same time to lead Tom away from both.
But Maud, while not above practicing
feminine arts and minor duplicities, was at
heart as honorable as her brother, and would
have hated herself ifshe could have serious-
ly entertained ths idea of playing with poor
Vanity's affections for any social gain what
ever. Accordingly Toms question was a
decided poser. 4, ,,....,,,,..
(Which Of the two would it be, Maudv'
Tom saw his advantage, and pressed his
question. Maud traced pattern on the
gravel with her foot, raised her eyebrows, as
If to signify that she was mt in an unfair