The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1902-08-30

Months later Tom Burrows reviewed
his past with no small amount of displeas
ure as he sat in his room smoking his pipe
of reflection In some inexplicable man.
ner the whole course of his life had gone
wrong. He had already passed the age
of %, when, according to his opinion,
every man should have the channel, into
which his talents might be directed, we'll
grooved to the accomplishment. His early
days had been spent in thoughtlessness and
ease; these included three years at college
where he had intended to graduate full
hedged M. D. However, circumstances
often ruin plans for the future When he
suddenly discovered that it was cramping
his father waning income and also seri-
ously hindering the chances of his younger
brothers and sisters, of which he had
goodly number, he determined to utilize
his abilities in more practical and less
expensive sphere. His decision had come
as severe blow to his mother. who held
him, her oldest boy, as cherished ideal,
who should be trife better than the ordi-
nary, no matter what the sacrifice. But
so it was that he accepted the position
under the worthy magnate of Black Rock.
Then to think that this sprig of girl
had well-nigh upset his whole career
Full well his memory pictured that morn
ing four months before when he had driven
the homely family cart to the depot to meet
this daughter of his employer, and how
she had treated him with striking hauteur.
She had even mistaken him for her father
coachman, and yet her very prudishness
seemed but to lend glamour of romance
to her, which had caught him in veri-
table web! How often she had entered
her fathers store, accompanied by some
of the youthful professionals of the place,
and seemed to delight in airing her superb
ority to this common Office man True.
her pettishness and affectations sat well
upon her dainty figure, and a certain in
defnable odor of perfume seemed to per-
wade the dinginess of the Office when she
entered. At times he seemed to see be-
yond her outward nature, and at these
rare intervals he caught momentary
glance of character which, if allowed to
assert itself, might have endeared her to
the coarsest mortal. He often noted how
old Josiah watched her every move, and
how the staid, old fashioned home of the
Jamiesons became tho center of the fash
ionable house parties and afternoon teas.
Then as crowning tribute to the witch
cries, young DIR. Ames, voted by all the
mothers of manageable daughters as the
swellest match in the district, had quite
lost his heart to this coquettish little
heiress
Since the day of their first meeting Tom
had fought down his feelings by applying
himself to his desk with redoubled vigor,
endeavoring to convince himself that his
opinion of her was much the reverse of
favorable On this night in question he
had ceased to wrestle. and upon the eve
of resignation ITO the hand of fate he had
summed the whole matter up and voted
himself one of the greatest fools that ever
lived A square pink envelope lay un
opened upon his dresser, and after arriving
at this fairly satisfactory conclusion he tore
off the head and scanned the contents, al
though he could have guessed what it con-
tanned. 1t was an invitation which the
Youthful mistress of the Jameson house
hold had sent him. to spend the evening,
no doubt prompted by the advice of her
father. The weather had developed into
one of those January blizzards which peri
odically sweep across the Northwest prairie,
almost overwhelming the town which lay
u;.L;,, ;.s o;rola and Tom was loath fo |