Democratic Northwest and Henry County news. [volume] (Napoleon, O. [Ohio]) 1894-1905, 1895-01-17
AGENTTNELOVE AFFAIR

most Gisagreeable and forbidding air.
$50 you expect mo to pay your debts,
do you, sir?"
81 thought that perhaps you would be
kind enough to help me-" answered his
nephew Jim humbly.
"Did you? Then you thought wrong,
young man. Do you suppose have
nothing better to do with my money
than to squander it on an idle young
reprobate like YOURSELF"
al admit that i have been-er-what
you say in the past, uncle, but have
given it all up now and taken to steady
ways. / have, upon my honor, and be-
lieve that if / could once get rid Of my
debts / should do very well. "
"That's the old story, T" sneered Uncle
Obed. "Penitence and reformation when
the sinews Of self indulgence fail and
while the discomforts Of debts are press
ing. But once set free, with rehabili-
tated credit, you'd launch out like a
lord know you, Jim. "
Upon my word, uncle" replied Jim
earnestly, "you wrong me, indeed you
do. Ny one aim and object now is to
settle down into quiet, steady fellow. "
"And there's another thing the old
gentleman went on, without noticing
his nephew's protest "What takes You
down to Bigham so often, eh?"
"I go down there to play golf," said
Jim, ooloring, however, under his
uncle's scrutinizing gaze.
"a nice occupation for a struggling
young barrister to be wasting time and
money upon, even if the excuse were
true! But it isn't sir. A girl is at the
bottom of your constant journeys tc
Bigham, and you can't deny it"
"Unclep'
"Don't uncle me, you reprobate, you
silly, philandering young idiot! al
ways knew you were fool, but hard
ly suspected you of such abject folly al
this. To think of running after penni
less girl, pauper, poor relation, de
pendent entirely on her aunt's bounty
and you situated as you are It's wors'
than suicide, sirl'
Uncle Obed by this time had growl
very red and was evidently working
himself up into one of his most violen
RACES
81 do not quite know what you havt
heard or from whom you have heart
it," began Jim, nettled by his uncle
overbearing tone, "but"--
"Never mind the butts, )" the other in
terrupted him rudely. "It's no use, you
trying to throw dust in my eyes. heart
the whole truth only yesterday from
Miss Bailey, the young lady's aunt, AM
with whom she lives as companion
And properly disgusted the aunt is too
Says she shall send the girl away unles
she gives up her insane engagement t.
you. And serves her right. Poor rela
tions have no business to fall in low
with one another"
"Look here, Uncle Obed," exclaime
Jim, firing up, "you may pitch into m
as much as you please. I'm used to j
from you, but not a word agains
Gladys Boyd. She's everything that
good and true and pure and"--
. "Ugly," interposed his uncle, stoI
ping Jim's outbreak. "She has monopc
lized all the plainness of the family" "
"And all their brains" retorted jim
"She has none of their money, 20
idiot"
"And none of their vulgarity"
Uncle Obed was now very red-ir
deed almost purple.
"This is q nice tone to assume to you
uncle" he said, especially when 20
come asking favors from him."
IT can't help it, uncle. It's you
fault for abusing Gladys. She's the be:
and dearest girl in the world. low
! her with all my heart. and I mean
J marry her."
t "How do you propose to marry o
nothing a year?" demanded his uncle
! perhaps you think the girl will g
: some of her aunt's money. But st
i won't-not a penny. That have ascel
tanned.
"No difficult matter, said Jim SCOTT
fully. miss Bailey never ceases to in
, press that fact upon all her acquain
) ances."
"She is quite right, you puppy,
s spite of your sneers," retorted Uncl
Obed. "In these matters little presel
candor saves great future misery. 70
had better be equally candid with thu
silly chit of girl and tell her that yor
prospects as regards my fortune are,
say the least Of it, remote. :"
"She knows it," answered Jim cur
ly, too much annoyed now to think {
diplomacy. II told her that when
asked her to marry me-"
eyes; have no doubt you represen
ed me to her in a pretty light But 20
don't suppose care do you? Your ba
opinion of me is infinitely more flattel
ing than your good, I assure you. :"
Jim acknowledged the complime1
with a sarcastic smile, which mao
Uncle Obed's red face turn distint
shade redder.
r "This is enough of your impudenoe,
he said angrily. II will give you m
ultimatum without further waste {
y y words, Although you're an idle, worti
less fellow who deserves no assistance
n yet for your poor mother sake shoul
be sorry to see you drift into the worl
house. On that account-and on thu
9 account only-I am willing to help 20,
Q But make one condition. You mu
break off your engagement with tn;
e penniless girl, and then I'll pay yor
debts, set you on your legs and perhal
= mention you in my will. If you refus
le you II not get farthing from me, eith'
now or hereafter.
y y II do refuse" answered Jim unhes
tatingly. II had rather starve ths
touch your money on such terms.
: Uncle Obed's face was study.
2. "That is final?" he demanded in 6
e awful voice.
"a "Quitep'
= NsVerv we'll Then clear ont Of th