Waterbury evening Democrat., 1891-05-06
IN THE MIDDLE WEST.
A Story of Life in the Great
 Mississippi Valley.

self with an anxious smile. elf West ern people have larger appetites than the rest of the world. which don't be- lieve, it is because they work harder, guess. Do you. as Mrs. Bower has often mentioned in her letters, and she said it was an American trait, and for that I suppose is to be excused, still give yourself not even time to know. who lives in the town with you, or even the Sabbath Day to rest yourself in?"
 "Oh. I haven't worked at all for several months," he said. looking straight before him with a regretful expression. "It has been a great waste of time; yet. in another sense, it has been a gain. presume I am like many others who seem to feel that time has a kind of unearthly value, though they really don't know why. I suppose it is inherited, or may be it is the attractive principle in the gen. eral rush that we feel always drawing and sucking us forward. Any way, 1 guess most live Americans, when they take time to enjoy themselves, gem erally feel sore over their generosity when it is past. If we could only live two lives at once, fancy the world would be quite a paradiseI" and he finished with deprecating laugh.
 " If you had them you would work them both to death, l believer' she said, looking up at him with chiding smile.
 ''So would the rest" he laughed. Duality would only increase the heat. One after another has quickened his pace. hoping to outreach his fellows, I | suppose, until the whole race seems on the double quick; it would be fatal to try to walkr'
 She gave troubled laugh. .Yes, the walker would only be run over and crushed. It's too sad. see it every day when go down in the city; dol lars are more than hearts, more than lives even; it looks everywhere out of their faces; it's a strange, sad insani- ty."
 He was looking down at the walk now; he had noticed this inclination of her perceptives before, and it touched him pleasantly; he felt the pity in her voice.
 "Yes," he said, ''it is high-class commercial civilization; it's demands are frightful in some directions. All seemingly centers upon the dollar; days, nights, Sabbaths, dreams; surely the beautiful moderation of the old years is lost. It waxes very hot; now it is even by the sweat of your brain shall ye scarcely escape starvation!" and he fetched sort of eager bitter laugh, as if contemptuous of the ob- ject yet restless for the work.
 "Yes, and from it all, and in spite of it all, many do starve in more senses than one," she said, gravely, looking away. Then in a breath: "Mrs. Bower mentioned that you had gone away from Openstone last winter; have you been away ever sinceP"
 "Yes, have been wandering about trying to rest myself little"
 She looked at him gratefully. "This is the place; please walk in," she said.
 And ne bowed and thanked her again, and they went up the short. smooth entrance-way across a little lawn to the house. 1twas a commodi- ous, pleasant structure of stone with bays and verandas, up which the ivy, that ran in green riot over the walls in midsummer, was now stretching its emerald ladders. It stood part way up one of the bluffs, once beautiful with forests and now beautiful with homes, and looked down over a portion of the low-lying city with the shimmering Ohio beyond The late afternoon sun shine was Altering through the trees and yellowing every where along the Earling sat down in the front parlor and with a glance saw music room, library. dining-room, and conservatory, opening about him with silken portierss, and with all their lovely furnishings lit up as in halo bye the sunbeams that fell through the vine-wound window, and looked at Celeste, the incarnate heart of all its beauty, standing before him, slender, palpitant, with rose-leaf cheeks and delicate head held back, tugging at her gloves and talking rapidly, he felt it home-like and exquisite, indeed.
 Nov, you must be very much at home," she was saying, with her little blue bonnet hanging by its chin-rib- bons from her hand like an abnormal violet. ''and will bring aunt to you. l call her aunt because she was my mothers best friend, and has been SO kind to me. 1 am very sure you will like her." and she went out, leaving John Earling thinking, and almost wishing that he had said that he doubt less should find the lady sunshine it.
 
 she had been good to this beautiful orphan girl. Then he allowed himself to lean back in the luxurious chair Ce- leste had given him, and, running his eye again over the almost perfect inte- rior, felt that it delighted him like a lovely picture.
 In a few moments Celeste came in with smile on her lips, followed by Mrs. Brayton, a slightly tall, welf- rounded woman, who carried herself like a queen, but yet with a face the very soul of gentleness and good cheer. She seemed of that American line of women which held Mrs. Bower and John Earrings mother as examples; sweet, temperately dignified, refined, helpful, .mOtherly beings, than which the world with less loss of happiness, perhaps, might lose almost another type. The greeting she gave John Earling was fine and assuring, after gleam had crossed her face when Ce-