The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1886-07-28
A ROMANCE SPOILED.
The Dire Imposition Upon Rev
Septimus Haslingdean.

The Dire Imposition Upon Rev
Septimus Haslingdean.
Rev. Septimus Haslingdoan, having beer
escorted to most comfortable seat by al
attentive guard, having arranged his va
rious belongings and finally unfolded hi
afternoon paper. reclined against thu
cushont back Of the compartment for &
moment, sighed gently as a relief conse
quent on the fatigue and bother of his drive
the trouble Of buying ticket, and seeinl
that he was properly taken care of. Thei
he leaned his head out of the window t.
survey contemplatively the busy crowc
hurrying and busting about. A crowd /,
always more or less amusing to spectator
OF its movements, and the reverend gentle
man, being Of gregarious disposition
rather liked looking on at other people
working or playing, especially well-con
Quoted, respectable kind of people, who did
not render themselves disagreeable. Rev
Septimus hoped he might be fortunate
enough to have his compartment com
pletely to himself, and had intimated his
desire to the friendly guard The carriages
were rapidly filing, and the train would
start in another five minutes, SO he blandly
surveyed the figures fitting and flying to
and fro, gazing on their busy actions
travelled beyond the outskirts of his
own Arcadia, and objected strongly
to encountering any discomfort on his
journeys. At his age-he was nearly sixty,
but his dressing glass, in common with his
him that he appeared certainly twelve or
fifteen years,less-when nigh six decades
have begun to whisper unpleasantly of
aches and pains. bothers and worries, it is
most needful to be gently punctilious as to
teous to the Rev. Septimus; she had given
him all the welcome offerings she could
scatter at his feet-good looks, ample for
tune, host of admirers, il not adorers and
WorshiPers q sunlighed path to tread on
through life. He had married q WE'LL
lowered wife, who had been moderately
kind to him, but after ten or twelve years
OF calm domestic partnership had departed,
leaving him not utterly destitute, incon.
solable or prey to despair. His only
daughter had married we'll In her teens;
ms only son had received an enviable ap-
pointment in India.
Nearly everybody was seated the final
slamming of doors ratified like musketry
fire all along tho line of carriages. Rev.
Septimus gently shook his newspaper, the
9l 1dor OF OF the printing ink being slightly Of
the daily journal was always solicitousiy
aired before being touched by the dimpled
white hands of the perhaps too fastidious
rector. With reluctance he had not yet
overcome even when alone. he took his
spectacles from their case, wiped the
glasses with a handkerchief fine and soft
as snow, such as a duchess might use,
perched the gold frame across his hand.
some nose, and meditatively resigned him
self to scan the latest news. Fate had, in
one OF her teasing moods, inflicted upon
her favorite the modification of wearing
spectacles, in malicious sport, as frolicsome
girls will sometimes scratch their lovers
with the thorn Of rose Ofttimes did the
rector think it was too bad, when he hap
pened to see some wretched old farm.la
reading without ''glasses'' and with mani
fest ease.
A soft, melodious voice said, 40 suddenly
a. to startle him:
MAY come in here!"
He looked up, whipped his spectacles
not only answering quickly, Certainly y
but rising and actually opening the door
himself. to admit most beautiful girl who
sprang lightly in and seated herself oppo-
site to him. The rector liked beautiful,
fashionably- y-attired girls, though he seldom
He ranked them among the agreeable,
solacing things OF this dull life-liEe roses,
peaches, pineapples, Rimmel's choicest
perfumes and SO on. In q mild, patsrnal
way he disapProved Of young female per
sons trying to be clever. or intellectual, or
straying outside the calm, sheltering pre-
cincts Of domestic duties, as no deemed it
necessary to rebuke them for Welding to
the temptations aud frivolity on the other
hand. This young lady was perhaps eigh-
teen or twenty years old, with charming,
and no doubt was as amiabIe Is her looks
declared her to be. Her attire, q master
piece OF richness in material combined
with chasts simplicity Of design, set of
her beauty to the highest advantage.
20 thank you SO very much" she said,
with an upward glance from the shadow
trustful child, with dangerous CLEAN Of
an admiriug young woman. The reverend
gentleman was accustomed to be regarded
with glsnces implying admiration; but
even the gods never tire Of slipping nectar,
and q critical little bird might have be-
E1ances more highly as the remorssless
years sneaked by.
81 am SO unaccustomed to travelling
she continued, smiling. "Of course I am
"",S never allowed k to travel BY myself-papa
athsre are 20 many rude, disagreesbie s. pco.
pls about"
'Thsn how" began Rev. Septimus,
pleasantly amused and grsti6ed by the de-
hghtful confidence thus displayed.
m, PoSuou mo-JuBt ono moment"
said the young lady; an eminently re-
epectsble elderly woman appeared at the
door. "You are very tiresoms." the young
lady continued, poutingly. to this indi.
1Yes, Miss Ada, but l can change my
ticket at the next station"
my maid was no stupid, or the man WAS
% stupid, or she did not understand, or he
did not understand-I don't know" ex-
planned Miss Ada innocsntiy. s'shs ought
10 have come In the same carriage, you
know; mamma would be 20 dreadfully
GROSS Il she knew, and papa would be hor-
ri6sd. but somehow Bellsmy took second
class ticket for herself, and you see"
"Exceedingly stupid" }" blsudly assentsd
tho rector, not altogether ill-pleased, how
ever. Servants are 70 apt to be neglt
9snt and thoughtlsss."
Il am afraid 20. But / must not find
fault With poor Bsllamy-she is 20 good, 50
Rev. septimus smiled; who could help
heing good to 20 delightful, 20 charmingly
ksank creatursl She laughingIy CON
uinnaA: Papa Vas 70 have met Ne ct the
ulnAien, but b had . Telegram, and was
obligsd 10 20 by On earlier tsAan, but hs
Wtu meet me ct the next station. You can
ehnnge The ticket at the next station. Bel
-Any, o. paps vii - 70 IT, Des't look y