Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1871-09-21
Miss Minnie introduced me to her friend


no denying that, with his broad widcawake
and velvet coat and silky mustache; but
| l should have much preferred to see his
beauty in the distance, say picturesquely
half mile off; but he was SO pleasant
and gcntlcmanly, that couldn't quarrel
with him.
Presently Miss P begged him to 60
on with his work and then she said, as
she looked over his shoulder, that he
ought to put in figure or two; and how
it came about don't know, but l found
myself standing at the edge of the surf
lin imminent peril of wet feet) and pre-
tending to throw bluefish- line into the
breakers.
1t was hardly consolation to think OF
being part of a famous picture, when that
required one to stand with ones back to
all that was of immediate interest. But 1t
was much worse to be reused by shout
from the wretch, anu to see my own horse
walking leisurely away to ward the town
/ know I fastened him securely.
hurried up the beach, and the ruft1an
met me with look Of pretended sympa,
thy on his features.
"This is too bad" he said. II am afraid
you will have to leave Miss P to my
care. will stay with her while you bring
your horse back. If you shouldn't over
take him" added the ogre, II will sec that
she gets home; but really can't leave
just yet, I have got such a splendid chance
which have been waiting for all summer
such a surf and such light on it!'
1t did not occur to me then, though il
did afterward, that the miscreant might
have offered me his team. Instead Of that
he hurried me off. bidding me run, which
I did. So did my horse, just quickening
his pace till he got far enough away to
Craze, and then starting on as | got near
him. l had to foot it the whole way to
town. The beast went safely enough till
he reached the stable; but there he pushed
right into it, and, catching the buggy
against the Intel, smashed the top com
pletely. Twenty dollars would not make
good the damage, the stable folks said. !
told them to send up to the hotel at halt
past nine and get their pay, after the loss
had been properly estimated.
One thing seemed little odd. l had
unbuckled the check rein to use as hitch
ing.strap. 1t was found buckled all right,
but not checked, which makes me think that
the horse had learned to unharness him.
self. They are knowing animals, the
Nantucket horses.
Then I went to the clerk of the hotel.
told him / thought would give q pub,
lie reading that evening. Could have
the use of the dining room? would put
the tickets at twenty. five cents, and at
that rate would probably secure an audi.
ance. had heard that one of the Har.
ward fellows had done the same thing in
one of the rural districts, and nctted one
hundred dollars. The clerk said the di.
ming room could not be we'll spared and
would not mold enough, but the Athena
um Hall was the place where such things
usually were given Would he engage il
for me? He would send right and get it
away, and would send the town-crier to
announce the reading, as there was no
time to print bills, and that was the usual
custom, moreover.
Then | went to my room to prepare a
programme. It did not seem ten minutes
before heard the voice Of the herald pro.
claiming in vocal small caps that There
will be a Ora matte Reading this evening
at Ath-e nae UNI Hall. Doors open at seven.
Pformance 7 c'mence t eight o'clock.
'Dmittance twenty five cents" Then the
ding dong of his bell died away u2 one
street and was heard coming down the
next 1t was evident the town would be
thoroughly canvassed. Could l read
Well, i had tried it In private circles.
1Mi1st0ui non sine glo'Sa, and at the public
Latin School where l graduated bad won
the Hancock medal. The first thing
was to get books. l asked the clerk, but
he was ook-keeper, not book lender.
However, he thought l might obtain the
loan at the Athenpum, ondepositing their
valuation. As only wanted them to 60
from the library-room to the hall upstairs
I ventured on this, deposiing with bold
front but beating heart my twenty dollar
bill, and receiving Shakespeare, a Byron,
and three volumes of Mrs. Browning.
Also copy of Handy Andy. This last,
being doubtful of my skill in rendering the
Irish tongue, took to my room, unluck-
lily. The others l thought could man.
age atsight, especially as | meant to keep
to the pieces kn " by heart, and wanted
the looks more for form than for use. By
this time the tea gong sounded, and went
tothe table with an anxious breast and
snse Of being the observed of all observ-
;rs. Miss P was already there, but in
my scat was the .tend, 1 mean the artist,
in human shape l expected to see Miss
Minnie look embarrassed, but she only
looked radiantly happy, and smiled sweet
ly upon me as l passed by to take my
place at the foot of the table.
could not eat; in fact I had doubt
whether it would be well to attempt it
before public reading; so after bearing in
silent torture the spectacle of the vampire
helping Miss P to blue fish and black
berries, I retired to dress. That operation
was limited to the putting on of cloth
coat in place of tweed, my last clean
chief, and at seven started for the hall.
The streets were not i1conveniently
thronged, but cit is early yet," I said,
mentally. had left Handy Andy in my
room, not feeling quite up to the comic,
but in mood to which wa. sure Othello
would come in great force. l found the
taker and stage manager, atthe door, but
still daylight, it wasn't worth while to
light up vet, to which I ag:eed, and re-
tired to the dressing room With my vol
umes, a solitary candle AMI glass of
water. I shut the door, seas not to he
disturbed by the noise of tie assembling
throngs, and gave myself uI to study. I
had herOically determined not to look at
my watch lest should get nervous, and
when eight o'clock struck firm the South
Church tower, I confess started with
surprise. Seizing my book and giving
myself no time for stage friht, l walked
dignifiedly on to the platoon, found my
first place, and raised my ces to survey
my audience. There were .wo people in
the hall, ghoul and his within, I mean
the artist and Miss P. he crier, that
is, the ticket-t>ker, stood blythe entrance,
his hands in his pockets. Wy audience
preserved a respectful silace, though
there was queer look on te face of the
female portion, while the moster, mean
the male part, made a motto of the hands
suggestive of applause. snk back into
seat. The crier walked a the hall, put
ting out the lights as he wat, and saying
in voice startlingly loud 1.-THE stiffness:
"'S no use waiting any pger t'night,
and the sooner shet up t0 less gas will
be wasted. III jest hand tim folks their
money back and you can sale with me"
Then, as the Company dissrsed, one of
whom, by the way, declineeo receive his
quarters, cay ing soto voct, I've had de-
lightful entertainment, ADJ really feel
conscientious scrut les at tang anything
back" The crier proceede 70 su up,
THE hall, we'll, VIC can't large more'n
halt-price under the cinnlstancxs-
the hall'll be ten; light Well, say
two m half. My cry two n
halt, ought to be fl; s jest
as much work 8 if the wholr
island come. Sta'din' at e door" (he
could not say taking ticke), "dollars;
sixteen dollars jest. The: there's the
books, Miss Coffin said vs. to see 'cm
returned. here they be, no, ere was six,
and here's only five