The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1886-10-13
IN THE MIDDLE WEST,
a story of Life in the Great
Mississippi Valley.
BY ALVA MILTON KERR.
[CoPYBIGHT, 1886, BY THE A. N. KELLOGG
NEWSPAPER COMPANY1
CHAPTER VII.

When the moon came very leisurely
from under the world that evening and
looked down benignly upon Openstone,
at no point, perhaps, did her coming
seem so inconsistent-for at no point,
perhaps, was her light so evidently
superfluous as at the windows of Mrs.
Julius Popp. For the windows of Mrs.
julius Popp, SO designated since it
would manifestly be untruthful to
more intimately connect them with
MIR. Popp for the reason that Mrs. Popp
held all right and title to the little
house in which the windows were built,
olased very brightly. The little con-
servator1es on either side of the door
way We're fairly effulgent, while the
oarJer-shop below threw out stream
81 light, and the one small window in
the gable above shone like a star.
Scarcely less provocative of mention as
an especial illustration was the pres
ence of Julius. That he quite scintil-
lated, as he received the hastily-invited
guests and led them to their seats,
were not, perhaps, an over-statement.
That the quiet Mrs. Popp as hostess
was eclipsed, or at most shone but as a
pale planet in julius radiance, was
certain. That Julius, too, had during
the afternoon as terrifying measure
been in suspicious contingency with a
certain black bottle in a cupboard of
his office, was also well-nigh capable
OF being set down as a naked fact. For
nothing in julius case was more surely
Indicative of such mellowing contact
Than the seemingly aggravated state of
hostilities between his mustache and
MS nose, and upon this eventful even
ing they were certainly unusually
oelligerent, the one being quite purple
with feeling and the other utterly in
capable of control. That those present
attributed julius exceeding happiness
OF spirit to the proper cause was per-
maps doubtful, considering the cheerful
nature of the occasion, for that he
should be unusually springy at the
knees, luxurious of language, and
oeamy of visage, seemed not at all un-
natural, albeit his remarks by times
Were rather irrelevant, and some of his
attitudes quite startling. To say that
many, or perhaps even any, of those
present were of Openstone's upper
most social crust would be at the very
teast use of doubtful color. But none
were OF wholly bad repute, and some
were quite as worthy, doubtless, as
mat more highly-reasoned strata sim
mmelring goldenly at the top of the stew.
ms fact, presumably, was occasioned
oy the counter fact that the reputation
Of Julius Popp, lawyer, was of slightly
doubtful flavor, though Mrs. Popp was
everywhere respected, and their signal
want Of riches. Many weather. men
mere were in Openstone, however, of
conscience scarcely less elastic than
mat which so slightly swerved the feet
Of julius, and few in truth among her
women were more truly good than
mrs. Popp, but in Openstone, as
throug hout the world, the lofty sinful
ana the lofty virtuous were about
equally careful that their social skirts
u a not touch the apparel of their
number counter-parts. Perhaps from
somewhere in the shadow of this gen.
eral rule came the soft cloud that made
he brow of Mrs. Whitney seem slightly
more sallow than its wont, as the eff
iaigent light from Mrs. Popp's little
eonservatories smote against her silk
azure. Joel, however, was in high
feather.
Aha! Mrs. Whitney! Mr.. Whitney,"
sac sr5 Julius, coming forward springily.
ihls is eXhilarating! brilliant! Ahem
airs Whitney, allow me to conduct
you e to seat, Honor me by accepting
'nis chair, Mr.. Whitney," and Julius
went smiling and bowling rather wav-
eIlhgly toward the door again. The
olo9d on Mrs. Whitney's brow deep
saed a little, and julius good-natured
usage relaxed into smile as he nodded
70 those about him.
PRESENTLY julius came bowling in
Win WV pleasant gentlemanly person,
AfVerend Mr.. Cuttleton," he was say