The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1889-09-07


her dear father sweet kiss the momen
he entered, she stood ready to throw
her arms about his neck-when to hei
astonishment who should appear but
Brown!
need scarcely inform the readers
that White, impelled by the same laud
able curiosity we have seen, already
had his eye at the key-hole.
What! you againP" said Lydia, be-
slowing on Brown the kiss she had re-
served for her venerable parent.
"How glad l am you have come back
But it is rash in you--"
Love makes the heart bold!'
laughed Brown, giving Lydia an extra
hug for the express benefit of White
who, he expected, was at the key-hole
II began to think the old man hadn't
come, after all; so came back to bid
you goodbye more deliberately"
"Ah! you are good fellow" said
Lydia; "but can't let you stop now.
really expect father every minute"
"Well, TIL go soon; but / must finish
telling you about how bluifed off your
very dear friend White"
"My very dear friend!'' echoed
Lydia, contemptously. II wish you
knew how detest that fellow!'
II thought so; and for that reason,
when l had the talk with him on the
road, Us l was telling you, out of con-
sideration for your feelings, deter
mined he shouldn't visit you tonight.
So followed him until he didn't dare
come any farther, for fear | would
mistrust he was coming to SEQ you.
Didn't bluff him off! and would ut
laugh to see him enter now!"
"What q fool l have been rnalSine
of myself!' thought White, glaring
through the keyhole. Brown is the
man Lydia loves, after ALL and instead
of fooling him so completely, as
thought / was doing, when we met, ht
was all the time playing off con
temptib!e trick on me! I'll rush in
demolish him, and tell that laughing
saucy jade just what | think of her!"
White was on the point OF carrying
an unusual hustle in the parlor caused
him to delay. He heard Lydia whisper
Gathers coming!" heard parting
lkiss-heard the front door opening
and the next moment Brown wa
thrust unceremoniously into the kitchel
where he himself was concealed.
If the reader imagines that tn,
rivals, on being shut up in dark room
together, flew at each other like tw,
hungry wild beasts, / would beg to in
form him that he is very much in error
The rivals did nothing of the sort, a
we shall see.
Brown heard light footstep, ant
knew White was in the room.
my dear fellow" he whispered,
"What the deuce do you want"
growled the irritated White.
"What a rich joke ha, ha, hal
laughed Brown. Lydia thinks sh
has been making fools of us, but l be
lieve we both understand her nov
perfectly"
Little doubt about that" salt
| White, bitterly.
There's no use feeling sore abou
the matter" observed the philosoph
ical Brown. sour acquaintance ha
commenced under peculiar circum
stances, and l think it is our duty t
cultivate it. | overheard your conysr
sation with Lydia, looking through tn
key-hole, and as you witnessed my in
terview with her just now, we are evel
on that score. Give me your hand, ant
let us be sworn friends in the future.
IL am proud to make your acquaint
ance," said White, feeling much con
soled by his rivals philosophical ha
rangue. 1--WE are quits as far as tn
joke is concerned; and as for that CIR
that heartless coquette--"
1--WE needn't quarrel about her." in
terrupted Brown, 'for she is not wortl
a thought l wonder how a man o
your penetration never saw what sh'
was before"
If so shrewd a man as you were de
ceived," replied White, "what could b
expected OF me? But we both know
her better now, and can whistle her OF
without a pang."
What a sensible fellow you are!
exclaimed Brown; "and what pity
is never made your acquaintance be
forem
The rivals shook hands, and becam
sworn friends on the spot.
Hearing Lydia's father talking yer
loud to her in the parlor, they though
it a good time to make their escaF--
and glided out the house unhear
by either the old gentleman or hi
daughter.
On the following day, as Lydia wa
laughing heartily at her adventure o
the preceding night, a small, neatl
folded billet was brought into her b
the postman. :,
Its Browns handwriting, sh
said to herself, as she broke open tn
letter with a smile of satisfied vanity
Lets see what he says"
"To OUR DEAR LYDIA
"As you are now, in all probability. laborin
under the erroneous impression that you nav
played most admirable trick OFF on u.s. we nav
formed ourselves into o joint committee OF tw'
in order to devise means for setting your min
Mt rest upon the subject The truth Is, dea
Lydia we, the undersigned, understand on
selves and each other perfectly, and see throug
your entire course Of conduct better than 20
imagine. However, we have formed the WIS
resolution TO allow you to retain your natur'
colors through life, before we so far forget OF
self respect. as to think OF inducing you 10 d.
come either Brown or White.
| ing that This OflCial document contain