The Saline County journal. [volume] (Salina, Kan.) 1871-1893, 1871-09-07

how was Charlie Winter, but 40 very
bashful that In the presence OF gentler
SCI he never could Asve told whether he
was standing on his head or his heels.
Just now his Milling was most immensely
aggravated by the fact he was over head
and earein love with Clarice Wilmer, the
sweetest prettiest most bewildering lit
tie beauty in all the region around about:
80 dear wish knew the way to tell
nv love, and not to be there myself.
Deuce take the girls ! They bother you
on purpose, believe and always man.
age SO Your courage Oczes out OF your
fingers ends before you are quite ready
70 ask the fatal question.
"Why don't you write I"
"Write I shouldn't know Q word to
cay; aud then I'd never dare to look her
n The face .gain."
"Oa, what spconey. Simply say you
love her, and ask her if she will make
ycu happy. Then face the music like y
man. and meet her next time rs IT moth
ing had happened-unless she answers
yes and tkcn, Of course, you'll act az II
something had happened"
Charlie groaned despairingly.
EASY enough for you to talk, he
muttered, obviously. "You who have
been married seven years-with me the
case 10 different. tell you, Tom, you
don't know anything about it"
ayes, do. Didn't Nell act just as
Ciarice does, bewitching me ut one mo-
nent and almost driving me TO suicide
the next? You are lunatic, you are, and
Ihope Clarice will give you the mitten.
=" an afraid she will
"Fsint heart never won fair lady"
quoted Tom Ridxely, indignantly, as ne
arose to take his leave. Seriously,
however, l advise you to put Your heart
on a piece Of paper and forward It to
Clarirc by the post"
Charlie thought about it after he was
gone. The more he thought the better
pleased with it he was. 49,.
"It's terrible but suppose ] must y
he groaned, seating himself at the writ
ing desk. and clutching wildly at paper,
pens, and ink.
An hour OF torture. Charlie began
dozen billet-doux and tore them mp, then
wrote q dozen more and tore them up
also.
"Its utterly useless," he moaned al
last, and then the great BOBBY laid his
head upon the desk and fairly sobbed
"I'fl write and ask her to 90 TO the
opera with me to-morrow night anyway
and then, perhaps" be dared to think
no further.
"sMv dear,-no, that will never do !;
WA ever mortal 80 perplexed as am!
/ wish the girls at the bottom OF the
ocean, and Eve had never been created.
DWELL I'll begin again"
This time he was successful. His
note was short enough, and some young
ladies might take umbrage ut such an
invitation. but Charles knew his BASH
fulness. It reads as follows, and was
not dated at all:
"Will you be kind to honor me by the
exceptance Of my escort to the opera to-
morrow eve :"
And that was al, besides the sigma
snrs.
"Well, there" eaid Charles, as he got
It done. al promised sister Minnie l
would write to her this week, 90 will
do it now while my hand is in. And toss
ing tho note to one side he soon began
his letter.
"Sister Minnie" 1t read0 "Yours OF
the 18th came to hand, rs ! have meant
to answer it before. The fact is I am
deep in love with a young lady, Clarlce
Wilmer, ofwhom you've heard me speak
and I'm afraid she won't return it. You
know am SO COMPOUNDED bashful | dar-
emit write. Sometimes l think I've got
the necessary courage, but when meet
her it vanishes like dew before the sun,
and I'm bigger fool than ever. ! know
she thinks Pm fool, but can't help il
I'D rather face battery Of mitraiile-
uees, or any other engine of destruction
than pretty woman any time. Clarice
10 the fairest, sweetest, and most beauti-
fal young lady l ever saw"
Here followed three whole pages OF
lovers Rhapsody, interspread with vail.
ings Of despair, and then the letter wound
up thus:
GIVE asked her to 60 tothe opera to-
morrow night, and if she goes: us posi-
Die that l may learn my tate.
"Three o'clock-can il be possible!
cried Charlie, CHANGING at the clock, and
stufing his letters into two envelopes,
which he backed in an awful haste. " The
mail goes out in an hour. shall be
late as sure as fate"
And paying no heed to the rhyme, and
little to the letters, he grasped his hat
and started for the post Office.
Clarice smiled her brightest when
Charlie called for her the next night, but
he fancied there was mischieiin her eyes,
which perhaps was quite all fancy. AT
the opera she talked and laughed be-
tween the scenes in such way that he
was quite bewildered. He did not learn
his fate, and after he got home he felt
worse than ever.
Next day he got letter from his sis
ter.
81 am very sorry" wrote she. but
l could not we'll come on hundred
miles, simply to attend the opera. sup
pose, however, the invitation was intend
I'd for another person, and if"
glove, l am undone!" said Charlie,
dropping the missivc to the floor, and
breaking out in cold perspiration, IL
sent the letters wrong and I've done it
brown. What will Ciarice think of the
|etter!"
Driven to desperation at last, he pluck.
u I