The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1871-04-22
MisrrlIamp.
TOO BASHFUL
BY HARLAN f. WARD.

I'll aug 1t all, what can poor fellow dor"
y great, handsome, good.natured, honest
hearted fellow was Charlie Winter, bat SO very
bashful. that in the presence of the gentler sex
he never could have told whether he Was stand
ing on his feet or on his head. Just now his
falling was immensely aggravated by the fact
that he was over head and ears in love with
Clarlce Wilmer, the sweetest, prettlest, most
bewlldering little beauty in all the region round
about.
20 dear. / wish knew a way to tell my love-
aud not be there myself. Deuce take the girls !
they bother you on purpose, l believe; always
manage so your courage oozes out of your fin
gers ends before you are quite ready to ask the
fateiul question"
Why don't you wrte?"
Write. l shouldn know a word to say :;
and then I'd never dare to look her in the face
again"
20, what spoony! Simply say you love her,
and ask her If she will make you happy. Then
face the music like man, and meet her next
time as if nothing had happened-u she an
swers yss, and then, of course, you'll act as if
something had happened"
Charlie groaned despairngly.
Easy enough for you to talk" he muttered,
obviously; lyon, who have been married seven
years With me the case is different. l tell
you, Tom, you don't know anything about it,"
"1es, do. Didn't l have to do my counting
u.s. VIC way you nave got 10 40 yours DlQn
Nell act just as Clarice does, bewitching me at
one moment and driving me almost to suicide
the next You're lunatlc, you are, and
hope Clarice will give you the mitten."
I'm afraid she will
Faint heart never won fair lady," quoted
Tom Ridgely, indignantly as he arose to take
his leave seriously, however, Charlie, ad.
wise you to put your heart on paper and for
ward it to Clarice by the post"
har 81. q
The more he thought the better pleased with it
he was.
It's terrible, but l suppose l must" he
groaned, seating himself at his writing desk,
and clutching wildly at paper. pen and ink
An hour OF torture. Charlie began a dozen
billet.doux and tore them up, then wrote a
dozen more and tore them up also.
Its utterly useless" he moaned at last &; and
then the great BOBBY laid his head upon the
desk and fairly sobbed.
IN write and ask her to go to the opera to-
morrow night, any way and then, perhaps"
He darod to think no further
My dear-no, thatll never do-was ever
mortal 30 perplexed as l am? wish the girls
were all at the bottom of the ocean, and Eve
hid 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 Clarlcs
g.
was not dated at all
"Will you be kind enough to honor me by
the acceptance of my escort to the opera to.mor.
eve 7"
And that was all, besides the signature
well, there" said Charlie, as he got it done,
II promised sister Minnie would write to her
this week, so will do it now, while my hand Is
in" And tossing the note one side, he soon be-
gan his letter.
.S
came to hand. and l have meant to answer it be.
fore. The fact is, l am deeply in love with a
young lady, Clarice.i Wilmer of whom you've
heard me speak, and am afraid she don't return
it, 1oa know that SO COMPOUNDED bashful
that daren't speak word to her about it, rel.
Their can l write Sometimes think I've got
the necessary courage, but when meet her it
vanishes like dew before the sun, and I'm big
ser fool than ever. l know she thinks that I'm
a fool, but l can't help it. I'd rather face bat
terry of mitrailleuses, or any other engine of de-
s'ruetion, than pretty woman at any time; and
Clarioe is the fairest, sweetest and most beauti.
full young lady l ever saw
Here followed three whole pages of lovers
rhapsody, iNtersperssd with walings of despair,
and then the letter wound up thus:
I've asked her to the opera tomorrow night
and II she goes, it is possible that may learn
my fate
1hlps OciOCh. CdH III ne possible cried
Gu ,rie, glancing at the clock, and stuiiug his
letters into two envelopes which he backed in
'"tnl haste. The mail goes out in half an
hour; | shall bs late sure as fate ~
And paying no heed to the rhyme. and little
20 the letters, he gr.sped his hat and started for
the post office.
Carce smiled her brightest when Charlie
c.lled for her next night, but he f.ncied there
Vas mischief in her eyes, which perhaps WIS not
quite all fancy. AT the opera she talked and
laughed, between the scenes, in such a way that
lac was quite bewlldered. He did net learn his
fate, and after he got home felt worse than ever.
Next day he got letter from his sister
Il am very sorry" wrote she, "but | could
not well come on two hundred mies, simply to
attend au opera. suppose, however, the invi-
tai an was intouded for another person, and it"
20, Jove, | am un1one" said Charlie, drop
ping the mi.sivG to the floor, AID breaking out
In a cold persprlton. Il sent the letters wrong,
and now I've done it brown. What will Clarice
think of me =
Driven to desperation at last, he pluckcd up
courage and hurried to Clarce's residence.
as Miss Wilmer in ?" he asked the servant
who answered the bell.
Yes and he speedily found himself in the
p,rlor and face Ia face with his inamorata
"l-l-did You receive a-note from me the |
other day, Miss Chricc," he stammered, wishing
the floor would give way and precipitate him |
into the cellar
Il received e7r Mr.. Winter" said Claric.,
Win lsugh like the tinklng of silver bells
An yss; | ask your pardon. Miss Wilmer,
for the inadv"rtency--l meant"
oh you do not need to apologize, Mr. Win. |
ter. | rather liked it, assure you. You did |
not try your tate at the opera, though. Why |