Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1872-04-23

plS-tdil topaCcoi VI INV PS"SN'l 80
cream, after month of 'corn bones
and bacon. As if longings were to be
fulfilled by special Providence it at
length came to my ears that Miss Ella
Bryan was soon to return to C,
after year at fashionable boarding
school in New York. Her father was
Judge Bryan of the Circuit Court,
and her mother, as a matter of course,
was Judge Bryan's wife. =. aa97r
From all the, information was able
to gather from various sources, | came
to the conclusion that Miss Bryan
must be quite beauty The young
men said she was mighty smart" the
girls, looked troubled whenever, her
name was mentioned, and the old folks
were not slow to praise her many good
qualities. - Ir'.r9muoo % va.a's. %
set about at once preparing for
the advent of this star, whose rays
were to enlighted the darkness of
C. / got my best clothes and my
diamond pin. / died my whiskers,
and studied my book of Sentimental
Quotations" assiduously. l.r-r 1.ma
l tell you Miss Bryan was as lovely
as an angel, pretty as the pictures of
Undine (as the German artists make
thom) looking at cataract. In spite
of myself | contracted bad case of
love at first sight. To my great de-
light / soon began to SEQ evidence of
reciprocity. 1 felt surcof Ella Bryan's
love in fact, and scarcely day passed
that L did not 60 to see her. She had
brought home guitar with her, which
was a circumstance greatly in my fa-
vor, for in those days sang in way
which tended to make folks think me
gifted and then with Ella Bryan's
soft, sweet soprano, to contrast with
my rich baritone, and Ella Bryan's
eyes beaming on me, l caught high
inspiration and sang-oh, / sang =
You ought to have heard me, but you
didn't. i-o .,it brr f.o-,. 81
Curious how things sometimes get
topsyturvy "out Vest y / have often
thought so anyhow. "a ,su
Well, 1 at length found that 1 had
a rival whose, namo was Jymkins-
Peter Jymkins, a young lawyer. This
fellow was good looking and pretty
smart. He had way, too, that took
the Western folks. He could make a
roaring speech, chew lots of tobacco,
and play the fiddle. Pete, they called
him, just as they called me Tim, though
he didn't mind it. ol tarr
You know how these rivalries used
to work. When / went anywhere with
Ella Bryan, Jymkins always went
with Rose Piper, pretty little chit,
just as full of life and fun as a pet
squirrel. If Jymkins got the start
of me, and went with Ella, why of
course l went with Rose, which didn't
seem to hurt Jymkins at all, but then
I could see it piqued Ella, which sat
isfed me you know. ,.sd s,,e,
This sort of thing went on for some
time but, somehow, l wanted it
ended. To tell the truth [ was afraid
to bring the matter up and push Ella
to choose between me and Jymkins,
for you know she might choose Jym-
kins.
At last a great picnic and shooting
match was gotten up in in the village
of c., and of course everybody
went. l wasn't fast enough and lynn
kins engaged Elias company, so of
course l had to take Rose. I.,s.
Somehow didn't enjoy the ride to
to the picnic grounds. Little Rosa
talked all the time; until she spoke
of the prize offered for the best shot,
a powder horn, to be received from the
hands of Ella Byyan.
We got to the grounds late. Jym.
kins was just taking his place, rife in
hand, for shot. He raised his gun
deliberately and fred
1.-TWO best out of three" shouted
the marker.
II claim tire prize" said Jymkins,
proudly. @
zone moro name on the list yet,
Pctc," remarked Judge Bryan, who
held piece of paper in his hand.
Whose s'' inquired Jymkins
"Tim Stephigh's," was the answer.
"Let him shoot, then," said Jym-
kins, wagging his head contcmptous-
ly. "No doubt he's a crack shot"
took my place, glanced at Ella
Bryan, then raised my rife and fred.
"Centcrl" roarcd the marker.
l shot again.
"Center p'