The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1909-07-29

ever rose or ting tuoQnslstSnoY of his
religion and 0; bis praetlce. For
Atty Years he had been bersusdlng
himself that he was a righteous man,
and the conviction was nov hrf1iy
impressed upon his very SOUL that
nothing could ever shake It. Ezra
was wrong when be set this down as
deliberate hypocrisy. Blind strength
of will and self-concelt We're at the
bottom of his actionS, but ne would
have been astonished and indignant
had he been accused OF Stimulating
piety, or of using 1t as a tool. To
him the firm of Girdlestone was the
very representation of religion In the
commercial world, and as such must
be upheld by every conceivable
means.
To his son this state of mind was
unintelligible, and he simply gave
his father credit for being a consum.
mate and accomplished hypocrite,
who found a mantle of piety a very
convenient one under which to con-
ceal his real character. He had him
self inherited the old mans dogged
pertinacity and commercial instincts,
and was by nature INSCRIPTIONS and
impatient of any obstacle placed in
his way. He was now keenly alive
to the fact that the existence of the
flrm depended upon the success of his
suit. and he knew also how lucrative
a concern the African business would
gnt &c ~,
He had determined In case he sue
ceeded to put his father aside as a
sleeping partner, and to take the
reins of management entirely in his
own hands flis practical mind had
already devised countless ways in
which the profits might be increased.
The first step of all then was the
gaining possession of the forty thous-
and pounds, and to that he devoted
himself heart and soul. When two
such men work together for one end,
IL is seldom that they fail to achieve
1t.
1t would be a mistake to suppose
that Ezra felt himself in any degree
III tONC at IhiS I1S I6COBHILeu
his companions sweetness and gentle
ness, but these were not qualities
which appealed to his admiration.
Kate's amiable quiet ways seemed in.
sipid to man who was used to female
society of a very different order.
she has no go or snap about her"
he would complain to his father. She's
not like Polly Lucas at the Pavilion,
or Minnie Walker"
God forbid" calculated the mer-
chant. That sort of thing is bad
enough out of doors, but worst of all
in your own house"
at makes courting good deal cas-
ier," Ezra answered. "If a girl will
answer up and give you an opening
now and then, 1t makes all the differ.
ence."
you can't write poetry, can you"
Not much" said Ezra with grin.
That's a pity. l believe It goes
long way with women. You might get
some one to write some and let her
think it is yours. Or you could learn
a little off and repeat 1t.
"Yes, l might do that Pm going
to buy a collar for that beast of a
dog of hers. All the time that was
talking to her yesterday she WIS so
taken up with 1t that l don't belh--9
she heard half that said My fin.
gers itched to catch 1t up and chuck
it through the window"
Don't forget yourself my boy don't
forget YOURSELF" cried the merchant.
"A single false step might ruin ev.
Never fear" Ezra said confidently,
and went off upon the dog collar mis-.
sion. While he was in the shop he
bought a dog whip as we'll which he
locked up in his drawers to use as the
occasion served.
During all this time Kate had been
unconscious of her compan-
ions intentions and designs. She
had been associated with Ezra for so
many years, and met such undertaking |
want of courtesy from him, that the |
dea of his presenting himself as a
suitor never came into her head She |
hailed his change Of demeanor, there |
fore, as being the result of his larger |
experience of the world, and often |
wondered how It was that he had !
prof1ted so much by his short stay at
Lhe Cape. In the cheerless house it
was pleasant to have at least one com.
Danion who seemed to have kindly /
feelings towards her. She was only |
90 glad, therefore, TO encourage his .
advances and to thank him with sweet
smiles and eloquent eyes for what
appeared to her to be his disinterest.
I'd kindness.
After a while however Bzra's at
entions became so marked that It was
impossible for her to misunderstood
hem any longer. Not only did he
neglect his usual work in order to
hang round her from morning to night
Jut he paid her many clumsy oom-
1liments and gave other similar indi-
'ations of the state of his affections.
As soon as this astounding fact had
,een fairly realized by the girl, she
It once changed her manner and be-
,ame formal and distant. Ezra. moth
ng daunted, redoubled his tender
words and glances, and once would
lave kissed her hand had she not rap
dly withdrawn 1t. On this Kate
hut herself up in her room, and rare
y came out save when the other was
way In the City. She was determin-
ID that there should be no possibility
Il any Misunderstanding as to her