Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1885-09-10

clothes never looked any better, and the Sun
day clothes never looked any worse; but IL was
curious the difference the two uitz made in
the red face Of Gracious Me. Meet him on
Saturday night. and you win conclude that
his color was got IN q tap room; meet him on
Sunday. you would refer the same 10 q snug
back parlor, and would. perhaps find your
self trying to guess how much fine old port
went 10 finish that respectable ruby nose.
For in his Sunday clothes Gracious looked
quite the gentleman. He had no friends, no
children, no wife, and never knew for GER
tain that he had any home, though be must
have had a peg somewhere ON which he hung
the second suit He looked as ugly as sin,
and between you and myself much uglier
than many sins; and ugly looked that ugly
was.
Inever found out why Nancy Steele sus-
pected, at this particular time, that some
thing very important was going forward be
tween Willie Snow and Miss Hardware.
Perhaps the news that hardworking VIII
meant to take three months holiday set
her thinking; perhaps she read the facts in
his face. A jealous woman will erect a
whole edifice Of conclusions ON the founda-
ton Of some trifing incident as fine as the
point Of her own needle. However that may
have been. Nancy guessed rightly the actual
state Of the case. Knowing that mystery
hung around the Hardwares, and deciding
in her own mind that they were not likely to
have any secret which could be credit to
them, she resolved to set watch upon the
house, and so, perhaps, find out more about
her rival Vanity than would be to that lady's
honor. But who was to keep the watchi
'Gracious Me- said Nancy to herself the in
slant that question presented itself. "Gra-
cious Me will do itI'
A rat is happier in sewer than he would
be in any clear, daisy-bordered brook; and
Gracious Me, who would have felt excess
lively uncomfortable If Nancy had sent him
on any mission OF charity or mercy, relished
this undertaking beyond measure. He was
sincerely moved, and shed manly tear or
two when he pledged himself to absolute
secrecy. Tho reason he gave for this in
violable secrecy may sound to the ear some
what irrelevant.
why, bless your heart, miss" said he, II
knew your motherln
But Gracious did not set up for logical
mind.
AS to succeeding, of that Gracious had not
something in his hand which bound him
faster to Nancy's service than all the
promises he could have made in twelve
month, as she, no doubt, well knew, being o
prudent lass, you observe, and worldly wise.
Al that Gracious Me saw and heard and
his adventures at Tumbledown Farm came
to my ears after time; and relate the
whole here in the order of events. His in
structions were to keep himself out of sight
Of the Hardwares; and for several days he
skulked behind hedges or lounged in the fields
in the neighborhood of the farm, taking many
snug nap, dare say He saw nothing
whatever, and had to return to Miss Nancy
empty-handed. Either she suggested, or the
t. o:,ght arose in his own mind, that he should
try .i,r experiment of watching the house
aftc- dark; and he no sooner adopted this
plan than discoveries ensued.
About 10 o'clock one night he crept slowly
into the farm garden, with lie in his mouth
ready, in case he should be surprised: he
was wayfarer who had lost his road, and
he was coming to inquire if he must turn to
the right hand or to tho left
It was cloudy and dark, and about 10
o'clock heavy rain began to fall; SO that,
after shivering up and down theroad for half
an hour, without hearing or seeing anything
human, the little man resolved to break off
his watch for that time. Just as he turned
for home. beam of light fell across his path
he looked up and saw that it shone through
the Hardwares' parlor window.
"Now for it," thought he; NOW or never
for peep inside"
Stealthily he crept into the garden and up
the walk, cycling the front door fearfully,
lest any one should be about. The door was
shut and Gracious passed by it, and falling
on his hands and knees the reptile crawled
under the window and slowly raised his head
to bring his eyes up to the line of view.
One flap Of the shutter had fallen open, and
the greater part Of the room lay exposed te
view.
No person was to be seen, and the old mans
long blue cloak hung against the door. Two
lighted candles stood on the table, and beside
these huge gin bottle, with o tumbler hall
filed close to it. The room appeared to bt
in great disorder; thes table thrust aside
against the wall, and one chair lying on tn,
floor; which led Gracious TO believe that tlt
place had lately been the scene of scuffie
4. shawl and large white straw hat, gaylJ
| trimmed, were tossed carelessly into an arm
hair, and large pair Of boots, very muddy
| ay upon the carpet The owner might have
| Just kicked them off his feet. The window
was partially drawn up, and the candle.
| fickered and guttered in the wind.
| While Gracious was making these observa
| tions he heard hoarse shout, and immedi
ately the parlor door was flung open and
man staggered in. He was tall and of pow
erful build, decidedly handsome, with an ap
pearance Of intelligence and even Of goot
breeding which his drunken demeanor die
not wholly conceal None draw the line be
| tween stmann and gentleman with lnor,
shrewdness than persons in Gracious Me-
| rank of life. He at once set the stranger
down as gentleman, and began to feel him
| self on the path of discovery, indeed. Mean
while the tall man reeled into chair, AM
| snatching up the tuinbler drank its content
greedily and filled the glass again, the necl
Of the bottle clattering against the rim
| through the trembling Of his hand. Then b
threw himself back and sung something in
| foreign language French, Gracious though
| ii must be--and at last called out in loud
angry voice:
| 'svanityl'
YES" replied she from another room
coming coming in minute
1T had better be minute" said th
stranger, in deep, thick voice; tone minut
4 and not ten.a
4 Vanity entered the room. Her dark hal
hung loosely down her shoulders and he
dress was a little disarranged, as If she Nigh
have been making ready for bed
Her quiet, pensive manner struck eve
Gracious Me, whose faint remnant Of mar
| hood paid an involuntary tribute to her Low