Democratic Northwest and Henry County news. [volume] (Napoleon, O. [Ohio]) 1894-1905, 1895-12-12


Brocus had neglected his duties toward
his assistant shamefully. BE had pro-
vided no daughters, being an old bach
elor, and was even destitute Of nieces-
The few friends, too, that he had
made as yet were all sisterless or living
away from their families, and the wom-
en- that appeared at the boarding house
where he lived were either too old or
not to his taste.
Meanwhile the concert had begun,
Henry obtaining a shilling seat at the
back of the hall, for he had frugal
mind and laid by certain sum each
week with the distant hope that some
day the savings might be laid out in
furnishing the little home at present
floating in London smoke.
Between the numbers of the pro-
gramme Henry looked around at his
neighbors. He would like to have spo-
ken to those next him, but they were
occupied with their own friends and did
not want stranger. He was apparent
ly the only unattached listener. His eye
was caught by coil of light brown
hair under neat black hat few rows
before him. The small bit of neck be-
meath the coil was fair and youthful,
promising a dainty cheek and other
charms that might be visible if only the
head were little more turned to one
side. But evidently the girl was en-
crossed in the music. She looked reso-
lutely before her, or if she did answer
any remark of her companions on either
hand scarcely altered her position. 1t
was very tantalizing for an observer
seated behind, and Henry found him
self longing for the end of the perform
ance, that he might have chance Of
seeing the face belonging to that deli
cately tempting head.
At last the muric stopped. There was
general tramp of feet as the audience
rose, and Henry kept his eyes fixed on
the row before him, so as to catch the
first glimpse of the face that he had al
ready made up his mind must be as
charming as the promise of what was
vouchsafed to his admiration.
But, alas, there were tall people, Ia
dies with extensive cloaks, in the inter
vening rows of seats. Henry's charmer
was short. He could make out no more
than the tip of a black feather on her
hat, and then she walked away between
another girl and young man in the
direction of the tearoom. Henry follow
i'd as soon as he could make his way
out and managed to keep the group IL
sight. They were joined by several 9th
er people, and he saw them all taking
their places at q table together. The
brown coil was b i'll before him, and hi
thought he had never beheld anything
more bewitching than the bend OF thu
graceful head as the girl seated herself
But this was not enough for our hero
He strolled around to the other side O
the table and looked across, as though
searching for some one, with as careles
an air as he could assume. Then CAM
what he sought-a pair of clear, gra.
eyes, fringed all round with dark lash
es, n It his own full, dropping immedi
ately, perhaps from a consciousness o
the admiration they encountered.
But Henry had seen enough. Their
was no disenchantment-quite the con
trary White necks and fluffy brow
hair are pleasant to contemplate, but
pretty face is better. He seated himsel
close by at another table and ordered te
to be brought. Meanwhile he coul
steal frequent glances at the group nea
him. Two elderly ladies, an old gentle
man and boy had joined the origina
party of three.
Henry watched their proceedings wit
the greatest interest. 1t pleased him t
see his particular girl helping the eide
ladies to cream and sugar and laughin
with the boy. Then he observed that til
young man, who was seated betwee
the two girls and had apparently bee
monopolized by the other, who did nc
possess soft coil of hair, bent familiar
ly toward Henry's charmer and sal
, something to her that caused her t
flush, while she threw up her head
little and looked at him coldly, ev;
IDENTIFY with some retort that caused hi1
to shrug his shoulders slightly and tur
back to his former companion, VIII
! beamed upon him radiantly, and the
2 became engrossed as before.
All this byplay was evident to the Of
server. He would like to have shake
that young man, whom he was SUI
, had said something impertinent.' Th
girl, however, was evidently quite alb.
to hold her own. He liked the dignit
! she showed in answering, and perhaps
after all, the young man had right
. he familiar-at any rate, more rigl
, than Henry as perfect stranger had
a resent his behavior.
a The impression made on him first /
that bewitching coil of hair. and the
:. still more by the girls face and who
bearing, gave him feeling Of appr'
priation in her. He envied that boy WI
p sat on her other side, and with who
she was good comrade, as could plail
a ly be seen, and wished he could chang
places with one of the elder ladies, wi
! appeared totally unaware Of their prl
a iIege in her near presence.
= But tea cannot go Oh forever. Eve
4 the boys appetite was at last satisfie
4 The whole party arose, the old gentl
man paid the waiter, and they all fill
C off toward the outlet.
4 Bitterly did Henry regret not havil
a paid his bill before. Every one wants
y to do the same exactly at that momen
Il he could not get hold Of waiter Aft
- fuming for some minutes he could stal
~ it no longer. Flinging 2 shillings dov
. on the table to be left till called for,
% made his escape in pursuit of the lc
II coil of hair and its owner. But t
crowd was great. He could not get alol
~ as quickly as he wished. The people
a was pursuing must have passed the