Democratic Northwest and Henry County news. [volume] (Napoleon, O. [Ohio]) 1894-1905, 1896-01-02
A PRECEDENT


swell. now, here's an example" Isug-
.gested. "Yoa are anxious to sell the
contents of this stall, aren't your" "Oh,
yesl'' responded Miss Hewitt. "And
you would be delighted If some one
were to come and buy it all upi It
would be of such use to the charity"
Certainly" said Miss Hewitt prompt
ly. "And would vex Miss Chudleigh |
over the way?" ] added. Miss Hewitt |
looked at me with suspicion, but I'm |
sure was very demure. "Oh, it would |
be mica, Cof course, to be successful, she |
assented. ''It would mean $50. May |
trouble You for another ice?" said I,
feeling that ] was bound to do some |
thing after that. ''Thank you-straw-
berTyil Well, as / was saying, II You |
couldtfind means Of getting rid Of all
this, and thereby benefting the charity
by so much, you would feel disposed to
take it, even if it wasn't quite-well
quite, you know" II wouldn't do
anything dishonest, " put in Miss Hewitt
quickly. "Oh, / wasn't talking of any
thing dishonest" protested. II was
only thinking that there might be other
means, not dishonest, you know, but
just a little-well, not quite conven
tional, you know"
"What sort of meansr" asked Miss
Hewitt curiously. "Why, now," I said,
lyon have sold very little all the day,
haven't you?" Miss Hewitt bit her lips,
sand a disconsolate look came into her
face while I've been here,' said,
"you have only disposed Of two pairs Of
stockings, one woolen comforter for the
hot weather and sort ola kind of-I
didn't quite see, but / thought it looked
like a." ~ know I haven't sold
much" broke in Miss Hewitt hastily,
and with slight accession of color.
"You have only bought few ices.
/ looked meditative. $50 have"
said, feeling that another call was made
upon me- 81 wonder If / might--no
perhaps bettnr not. suppose you haven't
such thing as baby's perambulator,
Miss Hewitt?'' Miss Hewitt was not
amused. She had only an eye 10 bar
gain. "No, " she said eagerly, "I'm
afraid I haven't, but I've got a very
nicely dressed cradle, and some rattles--
andn- "Ah," said 1, shaking my head,
''I'm afraid it's not old enough for those
things" She sighed and glanced across
the way, where Miss Chudleigh was en-
gagged in aroaring trade. 81 think I
might have one more ice, I said very
bravely. lit was not SO very hard, after
all. The heat was very great. and they
soon melted.
Miss Hewitt was very nice about it.
"Are you snre you ought to?'' she asked
doubtfuliy. ''Miss Hewitt" said ],
"you are much too scrupulous- That is
the reason of your failure. And yet you
would have sold me cradle and rattles
with perfect equanimity, knowing that
am a bachelor The inconsistency of
your sex is puzzle, +" remarked, shak-
ing my head. "Oh, but didn't think
about thatF' she said, with blush. Il
only thought you wanted Come,
them" said, "what would you do to
get rid of all your articles sof COM
mercer" Miss Hewitt's eyes opened.
"Oh, if Icould only do thati'' she ex-
claimed. swell, how far would you be
prepared to go for it?' said insinuat-
ingly. She paused. "I'd-I'd give up
the ball tonight" she exclaimed i'm
pulsively. 1 shook my head. 81 have no
means of gauging the value Of that re-
nunciation," said thoughtfully. '::but
possibly it is greater than the one I
know which would enable yen to sell
your stall. "Oh, do you know ways"
cried she brsathlessly. "Why, certain
ly,'' said /, still refectively. "Mr. Ran
dali, tell me, she pleaded, clasping
her hands and putting her elbows on
the stall. She looked eagerly into my
face. / really had no notion until that
moment, but somehow her action put it
into my head "Have you ever heard Of
the beautiful Duchess of Devonshire,
Miss Hewitt7'' I asked.
Miss Hewitt leaned, staring at me for
moment, and then look of intelli-
gence came into her eyes, her color start
ed. and she moved away. "Idon't think
you should make that kind of jest, "
she remarked disdainfully. "It's mot a
jest, / answered reassuringly. "Then
you're all the horrider," " she returned,
feigning to be busy with her commerce.
But" ] said in perplexity, II DON'T
ssee---I only asked you if you remember
ed the Duchess Of Devonshire-the one
What s-his-name painted, you know. ~
Miss Hewitt was much embarrassed.
Her face took ON many expressions.
But YOU she began and stopped.
'.Do ,you remember her?" I asked "Of
course said Miss Hewitt snappishly.
'sEWell, then, said, "why am I hor-
rids' She paid me mo- attention. but be-
ganshifting the things upon the stall in
a reckless way. "Oh, Il exclaimed sud-
denly. 81 see what You were thinking
of You thought I meant-I see now.
Yop thought that was advising you to
sell''--- Miss Hewitt got redder than
ever. III didn't think anything of the
Sort she exclaimed hurriedly and
busting away at nothing, "and ! wish
you'd 60 away if you're not going to
buy anything" II should like another
ice, please, said |.
Miss Hewitt was somewhat taken
aback and looked as if she would like tc
sneak, but she only frowned and dumped
another ice upon the counter. Bu'
now you have suggested it, " ! went on
considering, ''it'snot at all a bad idea.
Miss Hewitt moved to the farther enc
Of the stall and sold another pair q
stockings s'It's quite worth thinking
Of, (" said when she was within hear
ing again. "I am glad You mentioned
it, ~ never mentioned anything,
she retorted hotly. No, of course yo'
didn't mention it. agreed, 'sbut
don't zee why you should be angry. be
.Y.~ge