The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1894-11-28
A BREACH OF PROMISE.

"We are going to sue him for breach
of promise, and we want you to come
and take the part of our solicitor.
We've nearly frightened him out of his
wits as it is, and we've got all his love
letters here in packet to expose his
whole perfdy."
The speaker was Elsie Marston, and
she was addressing Johnny Cool, the
comedian. jovial little man of fifty
years of age, and one of the most genial
actors at the head of the dramatic pro-
fession.
"But Idon't understand how you're
going to manage it. Is the young
nobleman ninny, that he can be hum
bugged to any extent?"
Then Elsie Marston and her COM
panion, Dolly Cartwright, explained
how, at the request of Lord Archie's
father, the Duke of Bayswater. Miss
Marston had agreed to disabuse the
young gentleman of an amorous in
fatuation, with which her good looks
and winning presence had inspired
him.
In carrying out this scheme Lord
Archie, or, as he was called by his
friends about town, Lord Tomnoddy,
had been invited that afternoon to the
home of his enslaver and had there
found her disguised as passe middle
aged woman.
Furthermore, little burlesque
comedian known as Quasimodo had
been presented to him as his charmer's
darling son.
Under the sudden shock of these
revelations Lord Tomnoddy had beaten
hasty retreat, and, without waiting
to change their disguises, his torment
ors had followed him in a couple of
hanson cabs, stopping on the road to
enlist the services of Mr.. Cool to act
as legal adviser in the interview with
the absconding lover, which they pro-
posed to obtain at his fathers house.
Tell Lord Archibald I wish to see
him in the library on important busi-
ness, said the duke to a gorgeous
tlunkey who answered his ring when
the party had been shown into the
ducal mansion and had arranged the
general lines of the comedy to be PLAYED
for Lord Tomnoddy's benefit
Il wish, the duke had said, "to make
this a lesson to him that he will not for
get-to thoroughly frighten him so that
he will not again 90 make a fool of
himself with every pretty girl who
chances to strike his passing fancy.
though | must admit that in this case"
and as he spoke the old nobeman
bowed with an I'D world grace-"that in
this particular case tie young rogue has
much excuse, and has certainly shown
hims II to have shrewd eye for a pref
ty face"
"Now, my dear tIook, don't you 90 on
-
tri6ing with a simple girls affections
like your wretched SON" said Elsie
Marston, in tone of mock humility, and
with a smile so bright that his grace
looked down on her and said:
"Egad, if | were a younger man l
fear l should be as much in love as my
lad Archie"
Mr.. Johnny Cool's get-up as family
solicitor was something terrible to look
upon, and he eyes Lord Tomnoddy
through the gold rims of his spectacles
in way which could not but impress
him with a sense of the terrors of the
law.
Next to Mr.. Cool stood the late object
of his affections, from whom he had
flown so precipitately an hour before,
and behind her the little Quasimodo,
as her son, and with him
Dolly Cartwright as the dirty-faced
Archibald, this is very painful af-
fair" said the duke, assuming an air of
funereal gravity. 'Mr. Cool here is
solicitor acting on behalf of Mrs.
Marston, with whom 1 understand you
have been carrying on Irritation, Mr..
Cool tells me-"
Excuse me, your grace. Cooley, sir!
Adolphus Cooley, Esquire, solicitor
and notary public" corrected Johnny
Cool.
"Thank you, Mr. Cooley" bowed his
grace. "As was saying, this gentle
man is acting for Mrs. Marston, who
asserts that you have entered into ar
to marry her, which prom
ise you now by your action this after
noon have in effect refused to carry
out"
"That is certainly the case," chimed |
in the supposed solicitor, not giving
Lord Tomnoddy time to reply, "and in |
support of our contention we have here
a large number of love letters penned |
by the defendant to the plaintiff. l have
here one which commences "My dar-
lingest Elsie, and signed at the end:
Your believing and adoring slave.
"It's all lie!" blurted out the urhap-
py Tomnoddy, for the irrepressible
Johnny Cool was drawing upon his i'm
agination instead Of reading from the