The Andrew County Republican. [volume] (Savannah, Mo.) 1871-1876, 1872-03-13

poor fellow-yet why ''poer fellow" II
was rich and happy, and If he had vague
uneasy semi-consciousness at tunes tns
people were laughing at him. it did not s.
riously damage his self c0mplacency or hi
digestion. But one always says "poor fe
low, of a good natured man who is belo'
the average in wits, and Freshetis certain
ly that. Three men besides myself agree
to be Freshet's guests, and was someWhs
annoyed to find that they were all admlref
of the girl had calculated on monopoli1
ing. The reas On was simple: Freshet ma
gone about asking all the men he knew, an
only those who were attracted by the know
edge that the fair Sarah was in the neigh
borhood accepted the invitation. Itwas noN
case ct natural selection. 1t did not prom
Use to be a very cordial group; however.
fiat-ered myself that my presence was muc
more injurious to their chances than their
was to mine, and as each of them had prob
ably arrived at similar conclusion In hi
own favor, and as moreover we were all me-
Of the world and not Arcadians, we rubbed
along very we'll together. We never alluded
TO the secret attraction which had drawn
individually to the castle, but pretended in
tense interest in the place and neighborilOod
Were those cottages Freshet't tenants? Wa
there really once ditch and drawbridge
Was that pigstye part Of the old keep!
Chorus "By JOve!''
On the morning after our arrival SOM
one proposed stroll over to Ventnor; SOM
one else said, by -the.by, were not tn
Hervys at home?' 1t was then averred tina
Hervy was '.rattling good fellow" (which
l take to mean one who has iingling mate
rials in his pocket and that it was mora
duty to leok him up. So we called, and I
queer game of courtship was started. Foul
competitors and only one prize, and NJ
younger or elder sisters, or other spinsters
to divide our attention and make things les
awkward. What pretty tournament w
might have got up, il such things had moi
gone out of fashion.
And as il four lovers were not enough fol
one glrl, our host took the Sarah fever very
badly, to our great amusement-for wheI
we were at home, and not occupied with
whist or pool, we amused ourselves by mys
tifyiDg Freshet-and his present passion,
which seemed to us outrageous, formed q
new subject for the exercise of our wits.
The fact was that fouEd myself great
deal less alone with Miss Hervy than l had
been in London even, and my weekly cram
of Athen9en was, for the most part, lost Ia
Dor. Indeed, two of my old rivals, showed
country accomplishments which threw me
somewhat in the background; one rode, and
the other croqueted in a very superior man.
ner, and though / did not fear lest such friv.
Olities should make any real impression on
so lofty an intelligence as Sarah's, did not
quite like the opportunities thus afforded to
men whe were undeniably amongst the fops
who dapgled about her. Prudence suggest
ed that it would be well to spoil their little
games when possible, even if could not at
the moment profit directly by the maneu-
yer; for of course could not Interrupt q RI
val's tete-a-tete personally without row.
So whenever MartiDgale's riding lesson, or
Mallet's instruction In crOquet appeared to
be growing dangerously confidential, set
Freshet at them. The honest fellow had no
notion that his guess were his rivals, and
took each of us in turn into the confidence
Of his passion. So he had no compunction
in filling in with my views when-
ever suggested tba. he should constitute
himself an odious third. SIT was nothing
to Martirg ile or NJ illet, but he was spoons
IN that quarter" he reasoned.
The others did not Otperceive my maucuvers
or make reprisals. and as Frt shet never
took the initi alive, was le # in peace when
I managed in my turn to secure the ear OF
the fair Sarah.
"Why do you all laugh at Mr.. Freshet ?"
she inquired on one of these occasions.
81 don't know. People always have"
answered. 4" He was the only child | ever
heard of who practically attempted to catch
birds by sprinkling salt on their tails"
" Did you see him?'
" No; the first time ever witnessed his
sairete was when we were schOolboys to-
yether, and watching the sale of horse.
The purchaser, after having strOked his
egs down. ETC., Secundnna artsm, went to his
mouth. 'Rieing seven, said the would-be
,eller.
"'Ay, all that replied the other.
How did he know the horses age?'
Freshet asked me, and l, being a country
)rcd lad, was so amused by his grcenness
hat replied, 'Did you not see the gray
hairs about his nOse?'
"Oh!' said Freshet, quite contented.
Presently afterward we met a gray.
"'What an old horse that must be' cried
Fieshet. p"
50 1t was a perfectly natural deduction
rom the information you had given him, -
said Sarah, smiling.
Perfectly his biunders always are.
That is what gives them their piquancy. "
/" sce." said she: &" his nature is so trust
ng that no smOunt of experience can bresk
him Of placing his confidence in his fellow
creatures. Well, perhaps he deserves to be
laughed at"
1t was evident that Sarah's kind heart did
not approve of the flippant manner in which
we were in the habit Of treating the man
whose hospitality we enjoyed, and re-
ente. And indeed, when 1 thought about
it, was ashamed of mixing butt of him
ut all, and determined to discontinue the
practice. And yet SO powerful is the Gus
tom, put the most cruel hoax possible
upon him the very next day, for, bored by
his praise of an object coGld appreciate so
much better, and irritated by professions of
3 love which seemed to burlesque my own,
told him that it was wonderful he was so
blind as not TO see his passion was returned.
AS usual, he put putimpllcitcopfiience in my
words; the idea of irony or ''chaff' never
ta him. ~ should never have
dreamed OF i'll" he cried, grasping my
hand. what thing it Is to have q friend!"
He hurried off to the stables, and in five
minutes l heard him cantering along the
road. Ny heart smote me l had no idea
he would be so prompt. 1t was eleven
o'clock in the morning, and presently Mar
Cingale and Mallet, who were always late,
came down to breakfast. "Where's Fresh
IT? asked Mallet.n
stGOne to propose to Miss Harry" said |,
and they roared. Freshet, Of all block.
heads to rush in nwhere-hum-ba! really
Intellectual beings feared to offar! We
awaited his temperance as q gourmand
watches the twisting of the champagne
wire. at lunch he arrived; his horse in a
ioam his necktie twisted. He grasped my
nsnd felt very gpiity. ~,
Don't be excited old fellow" stam-
msred | had no idea that you would rush
on nke that. Ill was mistaken--'
~, TN your debtor for life. Congratulate
Her,yyv , YOU Others; l. have offered to Miss