Lawrence democrat. (Lawrenceburg, Tenn.) 1884-1925, 1893-12-01
CH0LLY'S SERENADE.
Why the Dear Boys Wooing End
ed Disastrously. TM


Mr. Daniel Blodgett turned from the
transmitter" through which he had
been debating letters to his secretary
ten miles away, lifted his brow to the
refreshing breeze from an electric fan
whir!ing like a crazy chIysauthemum
atop his desk, and, as he lighted cigar
at the little French storage battery
lamp beside him, murmured, content
eddy:
IF science has any new tricks to
make business mans life easier, I'd
just like to know them"
Certainly he had utilized all with
which he was acquainted, feeling that
In so doing he was measurably indem-
nifying himself for the vast amount of
very hard work he had done by old
fashioned methods in his younger days
Some men rich as he had become would
have abandoned even the semblance
of business; while others, not knowing
when they had enough, would have
toiled on, still accommodating, in the
hard, sslow ways they were used to, like
wheels running in ruts.
But Mr.. Blodgett, a typical Ameri-
can, steered middle course. He gave
up hard work, yet, thanks to modern
scientific aid, did more than ever be-
fore, and, at the same time, thoroughly
enjoyed the kindly autumn of his life.
AS president of a company manufacture
ing electrical apparatus, great deal of
hi vat
he was not seen at it's offices or in its
big factory once month. One of the
largest and most enjoyable rooms in his
luxurious Staten Island mansion he
had set apart as his Office. There,
seated before his huge, cylinder-topp
desk-where he could, when he chose,
command d magnificent view of the
bay, listen to the native songbirds in
the grand old elms on the borders OF
the lawn, and enjoy the perfume Of
flowers who had real bust
ness with him could find him at any
time in business hours. But his hours
were short, except when his pretty and
willful daughter Flora took it into her
capricious fancy to pay him pro
tracted visit, during which she would
sit on his knees, pull his whiskers, talk
nonsense, make him laugh, and utterly
set at naught the electric company:
affairs. On such occasions the impa
patient secretary, waiting by the tele-
phone afar off to take dictated letters
did some debating himself to the re
cording angel, and Mr.. Blodgett was
an hour or two later in taking his af
ternoon drive.
Easy life, freedom from care ant
abundant outdoor exercise seemed t.
have stopped Mr.. Blodgett, at forty
five, from growing any older He was
stout, butactive; rather bald, but wha
hair he had left was red and curly as i
ever was; and his whiskers were tinget
with gray, but, instead of making hir
seem old, only gave an air of dignity
to face which, if smoothly shaved
would have been rather too jolly fol-
serious business purposes.
A dozen electric buttons, in the top o
short column fixed by his desk, CAV
him prompt communication with ever,
department of his home establishment
as we'll as connection with his interest
in the city. Touching one of these con
veyed to the stables an order for hi
favorite team of bays to be ready il
half an hour
Mr. Blodgett was just putting on
long cluster" preparatory to his sum
mer evening drive, when his daughte
entered, unannounced by even ra
at the door, exclaiming
AHA, papa! am in luck. hap
pened to think, only minutf ago, tina
wanted you to take me along this at
ternoon. and ! feared you would b
gone"
mo, just going But, my dear Flc
don't know about taking YOU rr
going to drive the bays"
'Well, what Of it? If you are no
afraid of them, I'm sure am not; an
if anything is to happen to you,
might just as well happen to both of u
at the same time. Just wait a minute
till get my hat"
IAN right, run along. I'll wait
minute, but not two"
'One is enough"
When father and daughter wer
seated together in the light wagon an
the bays were clipping lively pac
over the dirt road, Mr.. Blodgett said
with affected seriousness:
~ think, Flo, we will have to max
war, somehow, on the strange cat
that have taken 10 infesting GU
place"
Strange catsr have not seen an
about, papa How do you know Their
are any more than usual?"
"They may not be more numerous
out they are noisier, | have not seel
them, but | hear them nearly ever,
night There was one yowling mos
dolefully among the shrubbery las
night, and thought recognized tn,
voice rs that of the same beast hear
Tuesday night Sometimes it sounde
almost human"
"0h! papa!' protested Flora, laugh
ingly. "You are too hard on him Yo1
know, just as well rs do, that was n
cat. 1t was little Cholly Lytewayte
"Then Cholly initiates a cat wondel
fully well-so well that he deserves (
be suppressed as cat"
But you can't suppress Cholly q
you would cat You would shoot
Gator at least some men woulC
though ] don't think you would d
anything more cruel than throw thing
at it-buv you must not make a large
of Cholly." f
"But why does he make such noises
They sound as il he were in pain, anC
as the boys say, I'm sure it gives me
pain to hear them.
"0h! You dear old papa! I'm afrai