Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1886-07-01

0NluK OF llc uOucc VI GOuct uAu Nuc nOu1c VI
Done being grati6ed by the aroma Of aris-
tocracy which hung around Mrs Hands,
there came about an alliance between the
two, offensive and defensive, which was al
ways most enthusiastically maintained on the
widows side about lunch and dinner hour.
Mrs. Hands was q woman who had seen a
great deal of the world, and could converse
agreeably. She had beautiful set Of teeth
which made her smile q great deal, and
jolly laugh which caused people to feel COM
Portable, and between the laugh and the
smile she had a reputation for thorough good
nature. She was known in every house in
Kettlewell; she carried gossip with the
punctuality of a postman; she had broken of
two matches by her solitary act and deed;
she was kind Of parlor earthquake, making
splits and assures and shakings innumerablo
in hitherto stable households; and yet for all
this the true character Sf MrA Hands was
not suspected, and everybody said she was
such good-humored woman that it was
pleasure even to see her. Which shows,
reader, what can be done with a beautiful set
of teeth and smile and jolly laugh dis
creetly inserted in the talk now and then
Mrs Hands was no favorite with Mrs. Tenn
pie. That prudent woman, mindful of an
enemys craft and malice, never said what
she thought of the widow; but she knew, and
the widow knew. In her way, Mrs. Hands
feared the superior and more scientific world
ling, as was shown by the contraction of her
smile and the reduction of her laughter when
ever Mrs Temple was by. But Sophia liked
the widow and thought she had good heart
One morning, about four months after the
10 Iod GoThio.
and there was to be seen on her face re-
markable solicitude and depression, so much,
that Sophia asked, after little casual talk,
if anything had disturbed her.
disturbed mel" the widow exclaimed. 20,
Sophia, my heart is bleeding this morning"
"For whatP Sophia asked. "For anybody
/ knowr
"For yourself, dear girl. Now will not
keep you in suspense. Is it not true-I know
it is true-that you are still in your heart
keeping up with the clergyman's son, Percival
BrentF'
Sophia turned as white as death. Two or
three strange whispers about Percival had
reached her ears from different quarters in
the last three weeks.
"Have you any news of himl Is he illr
she asked, and yet illness was not what she
feared t
"Sophia, dear girl" the widow said, re-
garding her with eyes that absolutely mo ST.
ened-by what art or emotion / know not,
nor could the widow have told herself
"Percival Brent is a bad young man-un-
worthy of you-unworthy of your love-"
"What do you meanp Sophia asked, draw
ing herself up with a kind Of proud rebuke,
which yet had threatening of tears in its
very indignation. Nothing bad can be true
"Nothing good, Sophia" the widow re-
piled, shaking her head religiously. "lt is
sad for me to tell it to you, but it Is my duty,
dear-and my privilege, too; for who would
see you sacrificed to such fellows"
"You must not talk So" Sophia said, in
less resolute tone.
"In the first place, dear, he has not been
successful in his trade-business, whatever
you call it. He has lost everything--or the
person with whom he was in partnership has
lost everything, OF has died, or something un-
lucky anyhow-Brent is nowhere at all in
money matters"
"That he cannot help, Sophia said, and her
heart revived.
"Perhaps not, dear; but he could help being
idle, being fond of fast company, being fond
of drink-or, at least, of being atplaces where
people do drink-and all that sort Of thing.
This has been his ruin, for ruined he is.
II don't see much in what you say" Sophia
replied. "Whenever young man fails in
life, people are ready to blame him, and ready
to say, What could you expectF and all that"
"Yes; but smoking, dear-drinking
societyp ... --.....
"Well, he always smoked, and he always
drank wine," Sophia answered hotly Il
suppose once he has taken a little too much,
and of course spiteful people say that he
drinks and has ruined himself by it."
Had she really spoken her whole mind she
would have said: "One offense he has never
committed-he has never been false to me;
and therefore his peccadilloes shall be for
given"
"Sophia, Sophiap the widow exclaimed,
"there is more than that. How young you are
to think that such things ever 60 alone! Per-
cival is-well, my dear, he is not over partic-
ular about his morals, and that's the long and
short of it'll"
"Tell me all you know" Sophia exclaimed,
turning on her visitor almost fiercely, and
with eyes that enforced an instantaneous re-
ply yyir.u .,,.,, ,,,,. so.,. T.. 10. ,oor ,,n+,,.
wen, tnen' my oeaf' he haS peen ui'i u"
to y9u:" - s,,. ,...,,., a.o 30 p...;,
Warren"
"Never heard that name," replied the
widow" And he is not married, but great
deal worse He is well known out there for
his liking for fast women, and he has made
quite scandal of himself with an actress
a married woman, believe, only her husband
is in England, am told" r
How do you know all thisa' Sophia asked
Her voice was scarcely audible; for she was
now sure that her lover was false.
zone of my little birds told me" the widow
replied, with iauntiness that sickened poor
Sophia. "Forget him, dear. Be girl Of
spirit. Treat him as he deserves"
"How do you know all thisg Sophia re-
peated, putting her hand to her forehead and
speaking in tone Of genuine anguish. "Tell
me how you know itf
"Well dear, If you must hear everything
and perhaps it is better-look here"
The widow drew from her muff news
paper, and opening it, pointed to marked
paragraph. The paper was an Australian
one, and the paragraph, as will be seen, was
composed with that engaging ease and light
ness of touch which are characteristic Of GER
tain colonial journals I... ,....
CARRIAGE ACCIDENT IN THE SUBURBS
Yesterday evening, as Percival Brent was
driving Mrs Lanigan to the theatre after
pleasant lunch in the country, the horses ran
away, probably having had too much Moet
& Chandon-a beverage which, though it
never affects the driver, is sometimes known
to have an exciting effect on the steeds
After wild career through the streets the
vehicle was turned over close by the theatre
and the occupants thrown into the street,
after which, hghtened of their load, the inc
briated animals proceeded to drag the vehicle
ko r,,,nsl, nth a ma ~ino coloritv Young Per-