Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1888-01-26

new interest She had half turred from the
piano, but her sleeve was caught back on the
edge Of the keyboard, revealing the fair full
contour Of her arm, which glistened whittier
than the ivory beneath it.
"a mystery, how char1ning!' she smiled I;
'let me picture him: tall, with clustering
auburn hair on his godlike headn-
"Pish-excuse me, my dear--but more
| likely the fellow is some low, drunken jail
bird you would be afraid to pass on the
street. Some day they will find out there is
no good making working people uneasy.
| They want the work, and they ought to be
| glad the work wants them. Their interests
are identical with ours
"No doubt aSsented Mr.. Ellingsworth, in
his suavest tones, that seemed too smooth TO. :
satire, "but perhaps they think you get too
largo share of the dividends
You like to round your sentences pretty
well, " retorte1 Mr.. Breton, flushing slightly,
"but do yOl mean to say you, of all men,
sympathize with this labor reform nonsensef'
Ellingsworth smiled and shrugged his
shapcly shoulders just visibly
"You ought to know me, Nr. Breton.
sympathizc with-nobody. 1t is too much
trouble. And as for the sutTerings of the
lower classes-they may be very pitiable-but
don't see how the neither milestone can help
itself, or for that matter be helped either"
Then he glanced curiously toward tho piano.
"Why, where arc our young peoplep
After considerable dumb show Bertha had
become aware that Philip had some intclli-
| gence of startling nature to communicate.
SO it happened that, at the moment Mr..
Ellingsworth inquired for them, the young
people stood just inside the door of the coy
little room called ''the study"
II am going to have some high fun to-
night, Bertha; am going to that labor meet
| ing. want to see the business from the in-
side, when the public show isn't gonT on"
The girl looked at him in astonishment.
''Tney won't let you in
That's just where the fun is coming. 1t is
going to be better than all the college devil
try, and-wait here two minutes and I'll
show YOU
Book shelves ran up to the ceiling on the sid
Of the room, opposite the door. A long Of
flee table stretched across the center almost
to the high window looking toward the
street But all the business associations did
not oppress this elegant young woman, who
threw herself III luxurious abandon into the
solitary easy chair. She apparently did not
find love very disturbing. No doubt she only
smiled at its poems, fervid with passion un-
known to her calm, even life. Her young
lover had often been frightened at the firm
outline of the cold red lips, with never
thought of kisses on them, and at the spritc-
like Inconsistencies of her blue eyes that
looked culiousIy at him when love softencd
his voice and glorified his face She was not
listening for his returning footsteps, not one
line of eagerness OF of suspense was on tEc
dispassionate face, while she played with TIL
! flashing jewel her lover had placed long ago
on her finger.
| The door opens behind her, but she does not
turn her head-no doubt he will come in
front of her if he wishes to be-there he is,
slight figure, looking very odd and disagree
able in the soiled and ill fitting clothes he has
| put on, with no collar or cuffs, but blue
| flannel shirt open button or two at his neck.
| His faded pantaloons were roughly thrust
into the tops of an immense pair of cowhidc
boots which apparently had never been SO
much as shadowed by a box of blacIing. His
black eyes sparkle as he holds out to her q
bandless felt hat which shows the marks of a
long and varied history. Bertha looked at
him in dull distaste. What poor mouth he
bad, and how unpleasantly his face wrinkled
when he smiled.
| II wouldn't over do this again." she said
, oddly.
J hurt look came into his eyes; he dropped
lis hat on the floor and was turning detected
| y away.
The fun was all gone, and her words and
| Ter look he knew would come back to him a
thousand times when he should be alone.
| But she put out her hand to him like the
icepter of queen. "Never mind-you will
generally wear better clothes than these,
ron't your
but wouldn't like to have that make
any difference" said Philip, looking wistfully
1t the cool whito hand he held. "Supposing
was poor
She drew her hand away impatiently. If
he had known how he looked then, he would
, have chosen another time for his lovers fool
ishness
'Don't get poor. I like pretty things and
graceful manners and elegant surroundings
hat is the way am made. 1 should suffo-
cate if didn't have them"
But urged Philip uneasily, ''you couldn't
love anybody but me, could your
She smiled charmingly. ''You must not
let me!' Then she rose as if to dismiss the
subject. "Arc you all ready!"
In a minute more he was, after he had
fastened on his yellow whiskers and bronzcd
over his face and neck and white wrists
| "Your own father wouldn't know you!" she
laughed, as they opened the outer door,
| Philip went down two steps.
'You shake the foundation with those
boots" He was quite recovering his spirits,
now that she was SO kind with him. "And
you will tell me all about it, and whether the
leader has auburn hair as l said: How long
before you will come back-an hour? Well,
I'll be hero as long as that"
Ila pulled his r.'eat hat well down over his
.~i ..l SIartcis, ..;lt at tle gate he turned TO
look back.
Bertha stood in the doorway, tall and
qGcenly, the red gold of her hair glistenin,,
il the light like Il halo about her head. He
could not catch the look in her face, but as
she stood she raised her hand to her lips
and threw him a kiss with gesture of ex-
quisite grace.
In a moment more he heard her at the
piano, and he tried to keep clumsy step to
the strain from "La Traviata" that came
throbbing after him.
CHAPTER II.
MASQUERADING.
! Philip pushed open the door of Market
hall and looked in. About sixty men were
scattered over the benches in all conceivable