The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1888-11-24

| HE WAS MET on THE LOWER CORRIDOR.
phere of womanly purity and taste, lait
the letter on chair where it would catcf
the young girls eye on entering, ant
withdrew.
He was met on the lower corridor by
the stylish widow, IN most becoming
morning negligec
Had Mr.. Blake seen her naughty, naugh
ty Sim that morning!
Mr. Blake had. He was even then placid.
ly munching bonbons in his favorite resort
the open transom over Mr. Blake's door.
He
Yet glance at the transom showed that
it was empty. Sim. taking advantage of
Dicks absence, had probably descended
in quest of more bonbons 1t was way
he had.
But thorough search of the room, which
Mrs. Browns sense of propriety did not
permit her to enter, revealed no trace of
the missing link. So finally the lady took
a higher flight to the second and third
stories, whittier the erratic Sim was wont
to escape whenever he slipped his chain,
which or an average was six times week
Ten minutes later Mrs. Brown, with q
heightened color and Sim struggling in
her arms, passed Mr.. Blake's door and en-
tere1 her own.
But Blake had little thought for captor
or captive. The Marguerite refrain-''she
loves me--loves me not''-kept repeating
itself over and over again in the mind of
this usually matter-of-fact young man.
Would she or would she not wear his rosesl
Hope suggested she would-fear took
contrary view. And so the pros and cons
struggled for precedence till the summons
to dinner.
Though Dicks back was toward the din
ing-hall door, he knew with a lovers clair
voyance when Francie entered. Above
the clatter of chair legs, the rattle of dish
es and babble of voices he heard the soft
rustic of her dress before she reached and
passed him, but he had not the courage for
the moment to look up
Not until Francie had taken her accus-
toned seat at the table directly opposite
did Dick raise his eyes to learn his fate.
And then his heart almost stopped beat.
ing. He saw nothing of the little smile
and nod of recognition. All he saw was
that at Francie's VIII e threat, encircled by
a dainty rufIie scarce whiter-nU roses tUGrc
pinned.
How Dick managed to get through the
form of eating that Thanksgiving dinner
he does not know to his day. He ate and
drank mechanically of the odorous turkey
that tasted to him like the ashes of Dead
Sea apples. Side dishes were an abomi-
nation and pie hollow mockery The
only time he ventured second glance in
Francie's direction she was chatting gaily
with that Internal young Golden, of whom
he had long been secretly jealous. And in
metaphor, this was the last feather.
Guess YOU left your appetite upstairs,
eh, Blake!" cheerfully remarked Widger
on his left, entirely unabashed by Dicks
angry glare.
The Rev. Mr.. Putter, Dicks pis-d.uis, saw
an opening for word in season. He was
ton chop whiskers and a chronic dislike
toward Dick who had once surreptitiously
inserted Mrs. Browns pet alligator be-
tween his ed sheets.
81 fear" he solemnly remarked across
the table, that your young friend is not
duly thankful"
"What the devil have got to be thank
full for'" savagely calculated unhappy
Dick.
Rev. Mr.. Putters turned quite pale at
this unexpected and altogether diabolical
outburst which fell like verbal thunder
bolt in the immediate vicinity Yet what
could one expect from young man who
had boldly avowed his sympathy with the
heretical professors at Andover.
From the standpoint of those who had
heard this explosive query, Dick Blake
had much to be thankful for. Youth,
health, intellect, cook looks and COM
Portable competency are certainly bless
ingS worthy of being counted
THIS IN eject mildly lyremarked boarder
as Dick, having pushed his chair back.
abruptly left the room, followed by
wistful, wondering look from Francois
dark eyes, and one of different import from
Mrs. Thcodosia Browns languishing orbs.
''And rich widow to b0 had for the ask
ing,h muttered old Bynner, soto pOcc, yet
loud enough for Rev. Putter to hear-that
ntleman being strongly suspected OF en-
tel aiming designs against Mrs Browns
heart and bank account.
Mr.. Putter scowled and Widger, who
posed rs a cynic, shrugged his shoulders
"Blake is one of those fellows who, born
with silver spoon in his mouth, is mad
all the time because it isn't gold, don't you
know" he observed, looking about for the
applause which did not follow what he
thought trather neat remark.
But careessly unconscious of the char
table comments of his fellow boarders
Dick made his way to his room, locked the
door and began TO make preparations for
an immediate departure TO Kalamazoo or
didn't matter. Any
where TO get away from his sorrow-from
himself.
While thus occupied, highly, scented
lote was slipped under the door The con-
,ents were as follows:
MRS. Brown would be delited to have |
Mr.. Blake make one of little informal |
gathering at her rooms this Thanksgiving |
'vc. THEoDosIE B. BROWN"
regret to say that the young man NUT
cred something uncomplimentary TO the
emale sex, and widows in particular, as he
ossed the note into the waste-paper bas-
rot. Yet after thinking it over little, he
ecidcd to go. 1t would be proper time
nd place TO say goodbye to those OF his
GLOW boarders who were present. II
you'd look rather strange to refuse, any