Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1891-05-07
A HANDSOME BLONDE.

They boarded in the same house. She
was a sparkling brunette, with plump,
shapely figure, rosebud lips and deep
red cheeks. Her raven locks fell in
pretty clusters over her noble forehead,
and were gathered into a massive coil,
artistically braided, in her neck. Her
deep, glorious eyes were respondent
with warm light, and had in their half
shy expression charm which fascinated
for veal or woe. She was endeavoring
to enjoy her dinner, but was nervous
and restless.
He was blonde. with quantity Of
mustache and whiskers close cut, He
sat at a table opposite the charming
brunette, and, do what he might, he
could not avoid gazing at her. Every
two minutes their eyes met, at which
she regularly blushed, fdgeted and
frowned, and he inwardly blessed tho
good fortune which had placed him op-
posite such revelation of loveliness.
They were, ere long, introduced, but
their acquaintance seemed not to pros
per. One thing and another occurred to
separate them. She had other friends
and needed him not; he was busy and
cared not for her.
Gossips will circulate in a boarding
house-mysteriousl to be sure, but still
it goes. And one day while she was in
her little room-his room was at the op-
posite end of the hall-she overheard
two of the servants discussing certain
photographs. She learned they were in
his room, She also learned that they
were photographs of ladies.
"Can he have another girl?" she asked
herself, and then quickly answered it.:
"Of course he has. But perhaps he is
engaged! Think of it! Is such thing
possible?"
And, fully impressed with the horror
of the thought, she flung her door open,
There was no one in the hall; the door
of his room was open, for it was the day
after Christmas and he was out of town
gone to see that other, perhaps. Her
mother was out-no chance for detection
from that quarter. She remembered
that the occupants of the other room
were also away for Christmas-no one to
discover her there. Surely the coast
was clear.
Yes, she saw it, and with rapid step
walked boldly into his room. All! how
she flushed at her own pretty face in the
mirror-a dainty, hand painted thing
doubtless the gift of that other. But
what other? She looked around and
saw, not one feminine face, as she ex-
pected, but many. But there was one
which seemed to have the most promi-
nence. This stood on the bureau, and
she bent over to examine it closely.
The upper drawer of the bureau was
open a little way-all else was in good
order. She had been studying the photo
graph, perhaps minute. rapidly and
critically, when she was Mortified by
hearing the front door in the hall below
open and shut heavily and rapid step
come hurrying up the stairs.
She turned pale with fright, for she
recognized his quick step, and never had
it seemed so dangerously quick-never
had she experienced such sensation of
perfect dismay. Not pausing longer she
turned abruptly to hazard a run into her
own room, for he had climbed but one
fight of stairs-there was yet time.
At her bosom she wore dainty glove
luttoner of oxidized silver-a pretty
thing, the gift of dear friend. 1t had
become dislodged from its resting place
as she sat reading in her own room, and
when the thought of those photographs
came to her she rose 50 suddenly that
she still further loosened it. While bend
| ing over his picture on the bureau il
hung by just the slightest thread, and,
when she turned quickly to fly, it fell
into the partly open drawer. She heard
the noise as it fell, but could not pause
to find it at SO critical a moment.
When she entered the room-his room
she easily lodged around a chail
which was placed little awkwardly in
the center of the room, but in her eager.
ness to escape she thought not of that
obstruction, but rushed into it, over
turned the chair, which fell with g
crash, and, humbled most piteously, she
sprawled full length upon the floor, 8
dozen hairpins flying in all directions
Alas! for her lordly dignity.
Just at this juncture he, little wear
led with the climb, reached the upper
hall and swiftly approached his room
It would be utterly false to say that hi
uaS not sI1rDrisa1 IF would he eoually
false to say that he was literally thun
derstruck.
He paused abruptly upon the thres
hold as if spellbound His valise and
umbrella fell to the floor, and he swayed
back and forth until he was forced tx
grasp the casing of the doorway lest he
too, might fall,
This weakness of course lasted but 8
moment, and as he realized the situation
as he saw the chair upon its back, the
proud girl motionless upon the floor, hel
aid for hair dressing scattered about il
profusion, faint smile lit his face
surely this was pardonable.
The next moment, however, his expires
sion changed, for she remained SO quiet
that he feared she might be dangerously
hurt. So he bent over her, lifted hel
gently to her feet, and sought to assure
her that no harm was done.
Her hands were bruised, likewise hel
face, arms and many parts of her body
: for she fell heavily; but, alas! her blood
came and went as usual, and her MIND