The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1886-10-23

Olu lauy ever CHtIle HCTOSss hSN neT |
maid jenkins about the tongue and
leave Jack to vouch for the heart. l
have several photographs OF this vencr-
able old lady in my album. Whenever
entertain my friends and conversation
flags my albums are produced and !
doom my guests to the social penalty OF
gazing at and saying something appro-
pirate about hosts of people they have
never known. Everybody says, direct.
ly they see Lady Bctty's photograph:
"What an extraordinary old lndyN
She wore an nudacious wig, capacious
brooch, an old brown silk dress, and
on state occas ons n quantity of ex-
tremcly dirty old lace. Out of doors
she invariably wore an old fur tippet.
She was valiant old soul, free of
speech, given much to questionable
stories, hating shams, and fearing no
man. and loving Jack more than any
other creature on earth. She fought
his battles. she paid his debts, she out
ragged all the properties for. his saie;
and when that last awful business crop
ped up and he had to leave suddenly for
Manitoba, the old lady broke down and
took to her bed for some weeks. When
she got about again she refreshed her
self by trotting over to Harley street
and having battle royal with Joseph.
How he hated hcr She alone had tho
power to rui1le his dccorum and to
make his pale face flush and his eyes
CLEAN.
1t was November. and ali the folks
had fockcd back from Scotch moors
and sea beach, and the season promise
to be u brilliant one. went round one
afternoon to call on Sir Peter. Joseph
and his father were sitting together in
the dismal dining room in Harley street.
Sir Peter was very shnky and silent, and
Joseph was more vrtuous and respect
able than ever. He told me he was 60
ing to preside at some philanthrop'c
meeting that evening mt Exeter Hall.
Conversation tagged; we all three
seemed sleepy and stupid. did not
dare to ask about Jack. Joseph kept
rambl ng on in his smooth decorous
monotone about the paupcr lunatics
and dscha. ged prisoners, temperance
washerwomen. and all the rest OF it,
when suddenly the servant announced
Lady PimlicO. Joscph's face changed
and hardened, and old Sir Peter bright.
encd up. My Lady entered, evidently
i'm high spirits. more untidy than ever.
She greeted her brother with affection.
me with cordiality and Joseph with pug
nacity.
"I've got news" cries the old lady,
seating herself, with her feet on the
fender and her hands on her knees.
l saw Sir Peters hands move feebly
and CLEAN of light pass over his face
Good news, hope" says Joseph.
"What call good news" snaps back
the old woman, "and what you may
call bad news. My boy is coming
home"
In an instant I could see tho sorrow
and grief of all those years pass from
the old mans face rs he turns to his sis
ter and cries: "What! when? Oh,
Elizabeth is it true?'
And then, before she can answer,
Joseph rises, pale and darkling, and
cries in voice no longer decorous:
"Lady Pimlco, this is your doing; you
have striven for years to complete the
ruin of your own house. But learn one
thing, your nephew John does not re-
turn here"
Ny Lady filings off her tippet and
stands to her guns. 'Hc shall return
to my house and to his fathers house.
Who are you to stand between my lad
and forgiveness Listen, Peter; your
son Jack was tempted and he fell; he
was rascal and II blackguard, don't
deny it; but he has suffered and he re-
pents. Listen to what he says in a let
ter had only to-day. He has fallen SC
low that he works as farm laborer
he hasn't decent coat to his back nor
decent meal to eat; he is broken
down, body and soul. But, Peter, don'i
forget he is your son-your own flesh
and blood"
Old Sir Peter turns very white, rises
from his chair and leans trembling to-
ward Joseph. ooh, Joseph. hear what
she says. Let him come back again.
"Lct him come back!" bursts in this
whirlwind of woman. "Aye, but he
shall come back. Are you master here,
Peter, or is Josepha" AS my Lady
wakes hot Joseph steadics down into q
deadly GOODNESS.
Il will answer that question for my
father" he says, folding his hands on
the table and look ng straight Mt the ole
lady. 'My brother has ruined his own
future, but he shall not ruin mine-ht
shall not return here. He strove fol
ycitIS " pan NVWu tuO Nohoi Va my
fathers name, and have striven fol
years TO bald it up. He suffers want
misery and shame. He has sown the
wind, but he is reaping the whirlwind. y
All the time he speaks my Lady is
plucking NANCY tufts of fur from hel
pelisse. Now She springs to her feet
shrill and rcdfaced. Don't quote
Scripture to me. You respected! yor
honored! you, with your smooth tongue
and your vanished face! AS a boy you
were a coward, rs man you're sneak
My boy sinned, but he sInned openly
You air your virtues in the public
streets, but you keep your French nov
els hidden behind your library shelves.
/ Now, of course, these allusious toi m
/ proper books were not at all nice or de
cprous, and ! never knew whether the,
were chance shots of my Lady's O
based on reliable information, but
, know that ! saw Soseph grow pale ant
vince He rose white with passion
, Madam" he says, you are an in
solent old woman. and if you were no
my fathers sister should"
{ go on" cries Lady Betty, the lich
, OF triumph glowing on her old face
''go on; abuse me as much rs you like
) But not you or hundred such shal
, keep my lad from coming back.
5 So Joseph drives down to his bank il
| dudgcon, and no sooner has he gon
, than poor old Lady Betty breaks dow
and fairly sobs, and this absurd oil
.on,1o IN 81 rrn into 90 oh othar'S e.rn,