Democratic Northwest and Henry County news. [volume] (Napoleon, O. [Ohio]) 1894-1905, 1896-09-03

| DOard OF gunr0lanA NOT 1nOmas
Brown Now, look here, il Is all right.
I did not say q word to Paulina before
dinner about your admiration and your
proposal-lucky, by George, that / did
notl The fact is. thought It would be
embarrassing TO her. so just let matters
alone and left you TO say what you liked
afterward had hinted to my wife to
withdraw, on some pretext or other,
win her friend later on in the evening
50 as to give you an opportunity. Now
will stop that"
THANK you a thousand times. am
overwhelmed with confusion. You must
understand that the only reason / can
see why did not fall in love with Miss
Paulina Smith and did fall in love with
Miss-Miss-what is her Christian
name?"
Jessie"
"Jessie-a lovely-an adored name?
Well, why did fall in love with the
red beauty on my right and not with
the brown beauty on my left was that
the sun was setting behind the latter,
so that could not see her very distinctly.
Her head was between me and the sun,
whereas the sun shone effulgent over
Miss Brown and brought to light her
splendid charms. That was the only
reason, 'pon my soul. "
Il was an immense relief to me when
we went upstairs into the drawing room
to know that Miss Smith was ignorant
of the intention with which had been
invited there that evening. She sup
posed that was in Squabham on some
business with which her brothers were
likewise engaged. So she was lively,
very agreeable and made me lose all my
nervous strains and spend really q
charming evening.
Next dayI awoke after sound sleep,
in which l dreamt that was the ter
restrial globe, about which revolved-
or, no, that itself revolved-no, I mean
both one and the other-I am getting
involved, but it doesn't matter, dreams
are involved things dreamt that l
was the terrestrial globe on which now
rose the solar orb with radiant face
and streaming auburn hair. Then it
set, and above my horizon and occupy
ing my sidereal vault shone the pale
face of Miss Smith, with dark brown
hair and hazel eyes, with very sooth-
ing and gratifying effect to my liver
and my tongue, which was quite clean
next morning when 1 looked at it in
the mirror--a proof, moreover, that Mr.
John Smiths wine was good.
/ inquired the way to the house of
Mr.. Thomas Brown and introduced my
SELF He was stout, little man, with
white hair. Z informed him Of the pas
sions entertained for his daughter. He
nodded his head and called one Of his
clerks. "Mr. Baker, please step into my
parlor and tell my daughter there's a
gentleman here wants to see her on
business
This was rather a blunt way of put
ting 1t, but as Mr.. Brown said, "Busi
ness is business, and should be settled
off hand"
In came Miss Jessie Brown, looking
lovely, no doubt, but in her morning
dress not quite so charming as when
equipped for going to Stoke; nor was
her beauty so radiant in the shade as 1t
had been when blazed on by declining
Phpbus.
II say, JESS" said Mr.. Brown, "this
gentleman, in the broking business, in
come nominally 600, age 35, constitu-
tion--by the way, you did not say what
that was" he turned to me, passed by
any decent life assurance company, ehP"
I nodded. "He wants to know if you'll
be his missua Now then, what do you
say?'
II am much obliged for the honor"
answered Miss Brown, "but must de-
cline. Ill may as we'll tell you, ia
ther, now we are on this topic, that I
got engaged without asking you to Cap
tain McGregor while at Stoke two days
ago. He was sitting on the box seat by
the coachman." she said, turning to
me, Perhaps you did not catch it, but
I was talking with him, through you,
on that pleasant drive"
I returned abashed, confounded, to
my sins.
Then I mused on my situation. I had
wasted two days off from my business,
it has cost me shillings for the outside
seat on the coach from Stoke, besides
shilling as tip to the coachman, and
sixpence to the boy who took my port
manteau, it would cost me seven and
six to return to Stoke, and my inn bill
would not be under e1. Well nigh 60
thrown away, besides the loss of two
days from my business Itwas too vexa-
tious. It was clean ridiculous It shall
not be, said l. I returned to the house
of Mr. John Smith, and desired an in
terview. I told him that had been re-
fused, showed him that I had my hotel
bill to pay, as well as seven and six for
each coach Journey, and I informed him
that my moral nature revolted from
waste. Would he then allow me to see
his sister, Paulina, and propose to her?
He asked me to dinner again that
evening. After dinner Mr.. Smith and
his friend disappeared and was left
alone with Paulina I seized the occa-
sion, discovered my passion, stated my
income and-was accepted
have already said that am a man
beyond my time. Then came in that
absurd craze for even carroty hair.
When that fashion prevailed, / had be-
come an enthusiast for dark brown.
Paulina, my wife, has dark brown hair.
And now I am always, avant tout, a
man beyond my time, I have great
passion for and admiration of silver
hair, and, upon my soul, Paulina is 60
ing to crafty it, for I have found white
streaks in her brown locks. Well now,
really, what do you think of that?
TIE END.
Anefuuffv of Rurned VV0od