The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1888-03-17

have been described above.
The appointed day and hour found Colonel
Punter seated in his room trying TO read the
paper, but In reality waiting little nerv-
,usly for Mrs. Werner She did not keep
him long. On entering the room she looked
keenly at the Colonel, and, advancing quick
", said in rapid, anxious accents:
30, Colonel Punter, don't keep me In sus-
pense; is IL truef' Then seeing his blank
look, she cried out: at is and he Is dis
honored." Then she sank into o chair and
burst into tears. This the Colonel had pre-
pared himself for; so in his most winning
accents he implored her to compose herself.
This in O few minutes she partially sue
ceeded in doing, and Immediately proceeded
to cross-exnminc him as to what he mad
found out and done at Aldershot; how there
was no doubt in the regiment as to young |
verners being the son Of rich people at
Singapore; how the Colonel himself had
told him 80, and how he Colonel Punter) |
had in q fit of Indignation spoken to the
young man himself. For this she mildly |
upbraided him, reminding him of her re-
quest, and the Colonel deprecated her wrath
and pleaded sudden impulse. When the
story was finished she rose, and, smiling
sadly through her tears, said:
81 don't know how can sufficiently thank
you for your kindness to me, Colonel Punter.
You have indeed been true friend, and
should like above all things, If you will
allow me, to ask your advice as to what
had better do in this sad matter; but, indeed,
feel quite incapable Of doing so on this
occasion. Hearing that these terrible re-
ports are true has, as you have scen upset
me very much, and think had better go
home now; but If you will allow me to hx a
future interview by note, when feel less
unequal to the effort, you will add one more
to your many kndnesses."
The Colonel very readily consented, and
in another moment she was gone, and with
her, so it seemed to our gallant friend, all
light and beauty departed from the room.
From that moment, too, though he would
hardly have confessed it to himself, he be-
gan looking forward to the day when ne
should see that note upon his table.
A fortnight had elapsed since the inter-
view above detailed but Colonel Punter
had not yet received the expected note. He
had not given up hope, but still he was un-
doubtedly depressed, and, whether it was an
effort to throw off this detection which had
induced him to accompany b is friend Cap
tain Jones to the Variety Theater, or
whether impelled by fate or for whatever
reason, we will not stop to inquire, but at
any rate in that theater, and comfortably
ensconced in two stalls, sat Colonel Punter
and Captain Jones on this evening, some of
the events of which are about to be related.
The curtain had just fallen on the first act,
and the house, till at that moment wrapped
in gloom, sprang suddenly into light. Then,
US If by common consent, every man, wom-
an and child in that great audience with
want of manners that would be permissible
nowhere else, but which is quite conventional
| a,,fc of r,1o
or without opera rglasses, to scrutinize his
or her neighbor. For q few seconds the
Colonel had discussion with his friend as
| to whether there was time for cigarette
between the acts. This was promptly de-
cided in the negative, and both officers
grasping their glasses, proceeded to Join IN
the general inspection"
With q calmness born of long habit,
Colonel Punter was sweeping the house, wher
suddenly his arm dropped and his gaze be
came intently fixed on the occupants of 6
box on the right of the stage; these consisted
of two gentlemen and a lady, and the lad.
was Mrs. Werner. On this point he had nj
doubt whatever, though he looked at he
with ever-increasing surprise. for she wa
in very full evening dress, and was exten
sively bejeweled. She was, moreover, q
this moment talking and laughing loudly
not to say boisterously, with her compan
ions, both of whom the Colonel mentally an
unhesitatingly pronounced to be cads. A
this juncture Mrs. Werner, turning her hea
suddenly, caught sight of Colonel Punte
staring at her from the stalls; the momen
their ewes met he bowed, and she also bowe
slightly and smiled; then, turning to he
companions, she seemed, from their uproal
ious laughter, to be telling them more tina
usually good story. Captain Jones had oil
served the mutual recognition pass betwee
his friend and the lady in the box, and wa
greatly astonishcd.
"Why, Colonel" he said, "do you kno'
: her? You don't mean to say that you hav
had to go to the Hebrews, like younge
menN'
"Yes, know her. But what on earth d
you mean by asking whether I've been goin
, to the Hebrewsl"
"Well, I think it was very natural que
ton, under the circumstances"
81 don't know what you are talking abou
Who do you think that lady is, then"
81 don't think at ALL Colonel. know tn
she's Mrs. Hart Moss. the female represent
tive of one of the biggest money-lendir
firms in town; and they tell me she's vel
: good hand at the business"
2 Colonel Punter made no reply, but becan
plunged in deep and apparently distressil
reverie, for he clenched his fist and almo
ground his teeth, until he attracted Il
attention Of Captain Jones, who had, In Il
4 meantime, been nodding recognitions
some people Of his acquaintance.
/, .rWhy, Colonel" said he, "what's &
matter! The sight of that Mrs. Moss seer
to have disagreed with you awfully. Who
t did you mistake her for!"
SIT has disagreed with me-" said t
= Colonel, grimly, "but see it all now VIII
you say, Jones, is quite true; she Is a We
good hand at her business" Then su
81 denly his countenance frightened son
q what, and he added:
g aCome and have something at the cl
after the play, and, If you will swe
secrecy, will tell you the whole story"
Y And he did tell Captain Jones cry
tail, finishing the narrative with the
words: $50 you see she made regu
" catspaw Of me, in order to find out II Verr
was worth powder and shot. I suppose,
his people live abroad, she found difficult
1t in the ordinary methods Of procedure"
O. ~ expect that you're about right, Colon
" BY Jove! she's clever womanW
~ wonder she had the audacity, thougl
ot said our gallant friend, his anger boiling
10 again for moment. "Why, might me
IL the whole matter public"
or "She knew you wouldn't, though"
IS "And she's quite right" said the Color
sfor Iwon't.--CornhM -nagaziAs.
,r, -e-
ly Farming as a Business.
of There are some among our read
,uho wo fanr think farming an