Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1864-07-22
Vol. 81: No.3o.

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handsome Little Perkins had another fsult--or.
al least, he exhibited certain traits Of character
which are positive advantage when placed in
competition With physical beauty and dash Per
/ kins was aInIable gentle and unobtrusiye in his
/ manners, kind and generous Of disposition, and,
on all occasions, highly eonsderete ofthe feelings
Of others. And because he wasaf this, and WASH
SIX feet high, and hadn't black whiskers, and
1 didn't bounce and talk loud, the girls called him
molly. 1t is the same in the matrimonial
market as in the shop or the bazaar lis the
T showy article that takes Women see q gaudy
man, all dazzle and bright color and they say at
once, u II take this article please without even
stopping inquire if he wilfwash IL he will wear
and II It's colors are fast believe that ifit were
the custom for women to propose, and If they
were lett 10 make their choice, they would ali
throw the hankerchief to the long-legged black
whislered, handsome fellows, perfectly irrespec-
tive of brains or character Scholars, philoso-
piers, and men Of thought and mind would not
get wives at all.
So the village laughed atthe pretensions Of little
Nlr Perkins, and of conrse Mr.. Berington was in
every respect above seriously regarding so insiq-
nifcant a person as his rival He treated him as
| a big mastiH treats little puppy dog He did
not exhibit any impatieace when Mr. Perkins
! Joined the society Of himself and the widow. but
rather took delight indrawing him ont and encour-
! aging him to go on. Mr. Beyington, in fact was
amused with the little man, and liked to Htrot
| him out, as he expressed it before the widow
1 And the widow seemed TO enjoy the fun and was
forever sending Perkins to fetch and carry for her
Ii, when she sitting by the side of the dashng
/ Mr.. Beyington, she happened to drop her band
kerchef she would call to little Perkins to pick it
mp for her, and Beyington would qnietly keep bis
scat and allow Perkins to perform the Office z Ky
| erybody pItied little Perkins and wondered that
| he could be such fool
| But Mr. Beyingfon was suddenly called away
on business and Mr.. Perkins had the field all to
/ himself He seized the opportunity to make an
offer TO the widow. He fell upon his kuees VOW
ed that beloved her to distraction, and swora that
| he could never be happy without her. Mrs. Hon
/ iton rejected HIM and actually laughed at him..
Poor little Perkins went home and took to his bed
and was Ill for weeks
/ In the mean time the handsome barrister return
ed, and hearing of Perkins declaration, was i'm
mensely amused, and told the story everywhere
with great gusto and delight.
! One day, shortly after this, Bevington called up
on me with an invitation to an evening party at
/ Mrs Honiton house.
We'll, | said, / presume you hayo done it ::
| gone III and won as | advised you
"Well, he said, ! think may safely say
have
s'And it's all settled, " said
'sWell, not exactly, he said she has sone
scruples about giving her consent so soon after
| her-her bereavement, which is quite right and
!
| it but it $ all right. =
''Ahl doesn' ike the idea of serving up the
funeral baked meats at the wedding tables, re-
marked
Precisely, and wants to wear out the black
dress but you Il come to the party, won you p
want you TO be there particularly, for we are go
/ ing to have lark with little Perkins.
what, said, will he be there after what
has occurred n
.There's the lark" he said observe tho
a5e e @ Il Eg- fol b fl Fft Ei6 If April we're going
| / asked how they intended to proceed. He ex-
tOh, tits the simplest thing in the world, he
| said. have written long letter to Perkins, az
| if from Mrs Honiton, inviting him TO the party
and giving him to believe that she relents towards
him and IS anxious that he should renew his ad-
: Does Mrs. Honiton know ofit?'' Iasked
q Oh, yes of course she does, and enters into
the Joke with an anticipation Of rare fun. What
] a lark it 5yill be to see little Perkins hoaked
| 1T viii indeed, / said, and shall certainly
| be there to see
irving rather early found Mr. Bevington and the
widow concoeting an elaboration of the plot Tor
making an April fool of Perkins ltwas arranged
| that Mrs Honiton should give Perkins great en-
couragement, andlead him to a second declaration
and that the guests should all come in at tke mo-
nent and discover him on his knees at her feet.
thought this going rather to fir, and was some
what surprised that Mrs Honiton should be so
eager to Join in SO heartless plot, but as all the
/ guests who were in the secret looked upon 1t as
great piece of fun, said nothing and let matters
! proceed.
| Perkins arrival, was announced, and entered
the drawinC-roonl in q fautlesS evening SUIT, CYL
IDENTIFY ordered for the occasion. Hewent straight
/ IN Mrs Honiton shook her warmly BY the hand,
i and looked his happiness and his thanks with an
expression of honest earnestness when mace mo
feel ashamed ef myself for having IN the relnotest
way entered into the conspiracy against MIN.
| eoIild not have imagined Mrs. Houlton so consum-
mate an actress. She returned his warm grasp In
the most impressive manner, and put on an express
! sion of delight and pleasure which it would haye
beer impossibIe to suspect Bevington was hold
ing on by the mantlepiece, coavulsed with sup
| messed laughter Mrs aonton saw hiIn TOWN
/ grayely. sustaining her part to perfection, hen
l2ay:ington had managed to control his laughter,
/ he went up to Perkins and whispered words OF
announcement in his ear; and all the evening no
/ followed him about muttering such things ah
/ 1'Faint heart never won fair lady, Fortune Ia
yors the brave" go in and win, ono loves
you, Perkins
the FIRST 0uadriIle Mrs. Honiton, who had been
Perkins partner led him away out OF the draw
ing-room into an adjoining apartment DeFihg-
ton rave the initiated the signal and we followed
Mr.. Perkins and Mrs. Honiton were walking up
and down the room, arnl-in- arm, talking soItly.
Every now and then We could hear Perkins max
inc mention Of his heart his devotion. his
! long attachment, I" his .unalterable devotion.
Mrs. Honito1i was silent and looked down modest
", with admirable art Perkins handed her to =
chair He sat down beside her. he whispered
more words of love-he fell down on bis knees ss
her feet.
rushed into the room, and brust into roar or
laughter. Perkins rose in haste and confusion,
Mrs. HGniton rose also, but looked calm and SER
i Gus. She turned coldly on Bevington, and sald :
sAPray, what are you laughing at, sir !,
1 Capital Capitalp cried Bevinston' now
admirably she acts her part
i hMr Beyington," said Mrs Honlton, m the
same cold, earnest manner, the part | an, act
ing is one in which / am prompted BY my heart