Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1871-04-13
Too Bashful.
NJ HARLAN y. WARD.


do:'
A great, handsome, good-naturcd
honest-heartcd fellow was Charley Win
ter, but SO very bashiul, that in the
presence of the geutler sex he never
could have told whether he was stand
ing on his feet or on his head. just now
hl, failing was immensely aggravated
by tine fact that he was over head and
ears in love with Claricc Wilmer, tile
sweetest. pretticst. most bcvIlicring
little beauty in all the region round
about
% dear, | wish knew q WAY to tell
my love, and not be there myself.
Deuce take the girls they bother you
on purpose. | believe, and always
manage 50 Your courage ouzcs out ot
your fingers end, before you are quite
ready t. ask the fatal question :
Why don't you wIlte:
'Wriic shouldn't know a word 10
say: and then I'd never dare in look
her in tue face again.
-, what spoony Simply say you
love her, and ask her if she will make
YOU happy. Then face the music Ike
a man, and meet her next time as il
nothing had happened d-unless she
answers yes. and then, OF course you'll
act IS il something had happened
Charley groaned despairiugly.
Easy enough for you to talk he
muttered, obviously. You who have
been married seven years-with me
the case is different. tell YOU, Tom,
YOU don't know anything about tit.'
Yes do. Didn't | have 10 do my
courting just the way you've got 10 do
yours: Didn't Nell act just as CIaricc
does, bewitching me at one moment,
and driving me almost To suicide the
next You're a lunatic, YOU are. aud
hope Clarice will give you the mitten.'
I'm afraid she will
Faint heart never won fair lady,
quoted Tom Ridgely. Indignantly. a.
he arose 10 take his leave. seriously,
however, Charley, advise you to pat
your heart on paper, and forward it To
Clarice By post.
Charley thought about it after he
WAS gone. The more he thought the
better pleased with it he was
Its terrible. but | suppose | must
he groaned, seating himself ut his
writing desk, and clutching wildly at
pape", pens and ink.
An hour of torture. Charley began
N Il hll NJ -Intx ..Yl
then wrote dozen more, and tore
them up also.
Its utterly useless he moanel. at
last and then the great BOBBY laid his
head upon the desk and fairly sobbcd.
I'll write and ask her to 90 to the
opera with me Tomorrow night anv
way. and then, perhaps ne dared
10 think no further.
My dear-no, that neverll do--was
ever mortal so perlexed as l am,
wish the girls were all at the bottom of
the ocean, and Eve had never been
created. Well, I'll begin again
This time he was successful. His
note was short enough, and some young
ladies might take umbrage at such an
invitation. but Clarice knew his bash
fulness. 1t read As follows, and was
not dated at all:
Will you be kind enough to honor
me by the acceptance of my escort to
the opera tomorrow eve?
And that was all besides the sigma
ture. We'll, there, said Charley. as
he got it done, Il promised sister Min
ME would write TO her this week. 50
| will do it now while nv hand is in.
And tossing the note one side, he soon
began his letter.
SISTER NINE Gt read) Yours OF
the 18th, came TO hand. and | have
meant to answer it before. The
fact is. am deep in love with young
lady-Clarice Wilmer. Of whom you We
heard me speak, and am afraid she
don't return it. You know that 1 am
SO contounded bashful daren't speak
a word to her about it, and neither can
l 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 that Pm a
fool, but can't help it'd rather face
a battery Of mitrailleuses, or any other
engine Of destruction, than a pretty
woman, any time, and Clarice is the
fairest, sweetest, and most beautiful
young lady l ever saw
Here followed three whole pages OF
lovers rhapsody, interspersed with
wailings of despair, and then the letter
wound up thus:
I've asked her to the opera to-lnor
row night, and if she goes, it's possible
that may learn my fate
Three o'clock-can it be possible !!
cried Charley, glancing at the clock