Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1892-12-29
AN INDENTURE.

than i, and ruled MIN WITH u TOu OI
iron. But one day--the day when ]
became twenty-four years old-the
worm turned. He told me that he loved
me.
"Of course" remarked coolly. "rm
your relation, guess. You've got to-
And then he burst out with q lot OF
stuff about his not loving me as rela-
ton, but as wife.
"Tom Barrett" 1 said sternly, edo
you think l would ever marry man
six months younger than myself have
brought you up, and you know it. If i
ever marry anybody it will be a mature,
ready made man, who will guide and
control and make me respect himl
Don't you ever say another word to me
about this as long as You i've"
And went up stairs and cried because
my old Tom was gone.
One Of my birthday presents had been
q check for twenty-five dollars with
which ito take little trip" my blessed
old uncle said, and I decided just to run
down to Ann Arbor on that excuse and
stay as long as wanted to with my old
friend, Orpha Reynolds. / might join
some classes or do some reading and be
contented there for long time-until
Tom had forgotten. And with tele-
gram to Orpha the next afternoon I was
off.
Orpha was delighted to see me.
~ am so glad you came just now," she
said as we sat together in the half dark
after supper. II shall need You to help
me manage Ed"
"Ed whoT inquired with some sur.
prise, wondering if Orpha had been
adopting an infant. My friend seemed
a trife embarrassed.
"Why, Ed Rice," she answered slowly.
"a guess I haven't told you about him,
have IT. No, guessed she had not.
"He is young boy in the law depart
ment," she went on with conscious air
"who rooms next door. His eyes have
given out temporarily, so that DR.. Car.
row has forbidden all college work, and
have just been trying to amuse him
and keep him out of mischief" All this
was certainly very nice and philanthropie
and quite like Orpha, but what on earth
was she blushing about? waited fol-
her next words. She spoke very fast
and would not look at me.
II wish you would take him off my
hands for awhile-you won't have much
else to do. l hate to be with him much
myself, he has been acting so for weeh
or two. Pm afraid he is beginning tt
think he cares for unexpectedly, yor
know. He doesn't Of course-such 9
kidp with scornful emphasis and an al
together unprecedented lapse into slang
"How oldT' I inquired concisely, with
mental visions Of big headed, owl eyet
infant prodigy bearing law folio undel
each arm.
"Oh, twenty-five, or maybe twenty
three" she returned nonchalantly. "Bu
that for man is mere infancy. Now {
woman"-
But this valuable philosophical disqui
sition was abruptly cut short. A sub
dued stamping and shaking was heart
outside--it had been showing all day
and we sat listening until some ont
banged the street door behind him ant
started up stairs three steps at time
whistling under his breath. "That'
Ed," said Orpha and rose to light tn,
lamp, but she had only just scratched
the match when there was a fain
knock. The sitting room door wa
slowly pushed open, and clear, boyisl
voice exclaimed:
"Just lighting up? You're late, aren'
your
eyes," said Orpha, turning up tn
wick. "Just wait till we have som
light on the subject and I'll introduc
you to an old friend of mine who cam
this afternoon from Grand Rapids. Mis-
Barrett, Mr.. Rice," she concluded.
He bowed stifiy and lnurmured th
conventional happiness; then, with
sudden, frank impulse, walked over an
shook hands heartily, showing as b
smiled two unmistakable dimples in
sensitive, extremely attractive face.
He had been there an hour, though
did not seem half that, when Orpha ser
him home. She had to bohn out
French grammar lesson for an eight an
quarter the next morning, so I went I
bed and left her swearing at Dupy in
pious sort of way.
Really did not mean to relieve Orph
of her young mission, but how could
help it. Under Orpha's orders he chez
: fully pointed out to me the professions
residences, the frathouses and all tf
other inevitables; conducted me ovt
the museum, the library, the art CALLER
and the laboratories; dragged me aroun
the boulevard to Cascade and Schoo
girls glen, to Lovers retreat, and fina
ly even to the sable fortune teller's Q
the Observatory road. In return I in
: parted to him all my little botanici
lore and allowed him to join my dali
constitutionals, SO that every day, w
or dry-generally wet in Ann Arbor, yo
know - we sailed forth together
search of specimens" and exercise.
got acquainted with Ed very fa
these days, and as I came to know hi
, better / grew infinitely disgusted an
, enraged with Orpha for failing so el
tirely to appreciate him, but I dared nj
say word for fear Of running what Ii
, tie chance Ed might still have with he
Before q month had passed Ann A
Dor had laid her spell upon me. ! dete
mined to stay ont the year anyhow d
! ing full college work, and 1t might
that I would even complete q regul
course. So. at the beginning Of tie Sc
Finan cialI alIyEmbarrassed.
! A large manufacturer, whose affairs we
: very much embarrassed. and who was owe
, worked and broken down with nervous Q
, haustion, went to a celebrated specials
! H. 80. Ala khak Nha nuIu &hfno v,aada6 m