The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1886-07-22

save by curious n interested chances.
Young Brown, lounging at the door fol
his usual five minutes chat with pretty,
blue-eyed Sallie Smith, has what he
deems a sudden inspiration. ibid you
know Professor Conrad married a native
Japanese iadyP" he says, quite gravely.
full"
She is full of enthusiasm and interest
as b looks at him with her round eyes,
accepting without question this inter
ersting piece of news.
Can he venture furtherF 81 think
her name is Yum-Yum," he saws with
a little hesitation, and again with mark
ed success"
What a funny name!' says Sallie,
quite innocently.
She has evidently not seer the "Mi-
kddo." This is really a new and de-
hghtful amusement young Brown has
discovered, and none can say how far
he might have pursued the subject had
he not been suddenly interrupted.
Mrs. Smith, missing Sallie from her
side, gives her an imperious summons
to join her. She has not quite made up
her mind that she approves of these
chats with Mr.. Brown.
Sallie obeys reluctantly. Her mother
is conversing with some one else, and
she has no opportunity of protesting OF
mentioning her news.
MA, l want to go in and speak to
Lill a minute, she says, hastily, as they
pass Judge Farnham's door. And
without waiting for permission, she
enters, and communicates the intelli-
gence to her most intimate friend"
Miss Farnham is of a less gentle and
credulous nature than Sallie, and stoutly
declares: 81 don't believe it,"
"Oh. but it must be true. Lem Brown
told me. And now 1 shall have to run
home, for ms won't like me to stay"
The ball thus started rolls swiftly on
ward, and before night there are few
people who have not heard that Prof.
Moncure Conrad, Mrs. Longs nephew,
had married a Japanese wife. Some
even averred that anybody could tell it
was so to look at her, and discovered
unmistakable Orientalism in her hair
and eyes.
MI. Thompson Black, q visitor in
town, lounging at the courthouse cor
ner, hears the tale. Though he has not
mentioned it before, he had a college
acquaintance with Moncure Conrad,
and owes him a grudge. His own col
lege record has not been of the fairest,
and he well remembers a sharp reproof
for some misdoing he once received
from the said Conrad. 1t has ranked
in his mind ever since, but he has never
had any chance of repayment. s.Mar-
ried a Japanese wife, did hep' he says
to his informant. 'Like enough he's
left two or three others behind him in
Japan. l knew Conrad at College,
Significantly 1t is but the dropping of
an idle word, but it has its effect.
Bromley is startled; Bromley h~esitates.
This is a queer story about Mrs.
Longs nephew's wife, isn't itP' a v
Mrs. Jones to Mrs. Parker. ssOf course,
If she had been staying anywhere but
Mrs. Longs, we should all have called
on her before we had a chance to hear
any stories about her. But now-do
you think we ought to go?"
'My husband says it's all stuff; he
don't believe a word of it." says Mrs.
Parker. with a little sigh; '.but it is very
uncomfortable"
Meanwhile the object of SO much du-
bitation is to be seen driving and walk
ing around town and over the beautiful
mountain roads in unconscious limo
cence.
At-last Mrs. Long begins to wonder
a little vaguely why no more visitors
have called upon her guests. Judge
and Mrs. Farnham have left cards, but
she was not well enough to see them
that afternoon, and Moncure and his
wife were out driving.
"Do you know, Pen," said the young
husband (they were out for an after.
noon drive), II have taken a great
fancy to that little house up on the hill
beyond Aunt Catharine's, and 1 think 1
should like to take it and spend the sum-
mer here. How would it strike you?
Favorablyp"
Mrs. Con rad hesitates. ats a beau
tiful place." she says.
Eyes, but that's hardly an answer to
question:"
''Well, the fact is, Moncure, the peo-
pie stare at me so I don't know what to
make of it, and feel as if I could not
stand it"
Your dark beauty is SO attractive,
my love" her husband says, with a lit
tie laugh.
"Nonsenser' she answers, laughing
too. .'But I'll make you notice it the
next time we walk down the street."
And so she does. Even the small
boys turn and run after her.
ut will only be a nine days wonder,
my dear" he remarks; but he is a little
annoyed as well.
suggestion about the little cottage that
she valves aside all objections. ssOh,
Penelope, my dear, I am sure you will
like the place and the people and every
thing after you get to feel at home here;
it will be delightful to have you settled
a me even for a short time" And
Penelope, seeing that her husbands
heart is somewhat set on it, makes no
further objection.
So the little house, which is partly
furnished, is rented, and they begin to
arrange it. At one side is a long mar
row room, with large glass windows
and blinds, which has in times past
been used as a sort of conservatory.
Mr.. Conrad had it covered with mating,
and dedicated to another purpose. His
wife sits down N a low stool, and he
throws himself on the mating beside
her, a billiard cue in his hand, and falls
to discussing their plans, quite uncon-
scious of an observer.
Jimmy Parker is peering through the
blinds. The Japanese lady has become
an object of deep interest to him, and
he pursues his researches Enthusiastically,
often at imminent risk of discovery and
punishment. At last MIR. Conrad rises,
and this scares him away, and present
ly he is telling an excited tale to an in
terested ring of small boys.
'Jiminy! didn't l see 'em both sitting
on their floors just as my mother says
they do to home in Japan, and with
their big eating-stick-they call 'em
'chopsticks'-in their hands!"
81 don't believe yer!" says the audi
ence.
Il tell you it's true; and they're q
yard or two long"
Now Jimmy had heen hroupbt n in