Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1873-03-08
A Narrow Escape.

TIE COCSE OF TRUE LOVE NEVER RUNS SMOOTH.
That the course of true love does not
always run smooth is sometimes verified,
even in St. Louis. For some reason
(probably the action of atmospherical
frigidity upon the cuticle) the winter
season has been set apart as the favorite
time of yearfor the happy consummation
of " Loves young dream" and the ad-
vent OF Jack Frost usually inausurates
the forming of matrimonial alliances
both offensive and defensive, for the dis
comfture of ice sheets and cold pedal
extremities. Married men always ap-
pear to the best advantage during the
cold weather, they look SO warm and
comfortable, and single ones probably
take note, and are anxious to profit by
their example. Some such thoughts
must recently have entered the head of
little Charley g., who valiantly wields
yardstick in behalf of prominent Fourth
street dry goods establishment and
whose seductive smile is supposed (by
himsel) to have quite a cannibal effect
upon the hearts of his fair customers.
Charley who is Beau Brummel in
dress and thinks himself Don Juan No.
2, recently fell in love, over the coun
ter, with beautiful blonde, who, to
add to her other attractions, was an
heiress Ito be) and single.
Not a thousand miles from Lucas
street resides widow lady, unencum-
bered with children, and quite COM
fortably situated in regard to this worlds
goods. She moves in the very best So
ciety in that wealthy and aristocratic
neighborhood, and with her neice Clara,
the beautiful blonde, with whom our
friend Charley became enamored.
But the old lady having higher aspi-
rations than a" Clark's best spoolthread
500 yards" artilleryman for her neice,
peremptorily forbade that young lady's
holding intercourse with Charley.
As Clara is dependent upon her aunt,
she, of course, appeared to acquiesce in
these ambitious designs, but at the same
time registering VOW to her looking
glass that no man in the world should
ever supplant the dapper yard stick
man in her heart. As it would not an
swer to offend her wealthy relative, how
ever, the young couple indulgedi in clan
destine meetings, sometimes at the house
of mutual friend on Pine street, and
even sometimes (when the old lady was
attending prayer meeting) at Clara's
home. They swore eternal love on
these occasions; vowed that persecution
should never separate them, and thus,
should the worst come to the worst, q
crust Of bread, brown stone pitcher
with two handles) filed with crystal
fluid from the bubbling spring, and q
dry goods box on end somewhere in the
NACluICy Va AAAhWOOu, WOulu Uc -tltuh.
mogrified into palace Of peace and
plenty, sacred forever to their undying
love. .. ........p ........y. ...
One afternoon, recently. Charley re.
ceived note from his Clara, stating
that her relative would that evening at
tend prayer meeting. s .......o ,..A
The intimation was enough, and 8
o'clock saw the young couple seated
upon the sofa in her aunt's library,
billing and cooling in the regular ortho-
dox, turtle dove style Little Charley,
lured by the witcheries OF love, became
"immense. He wound an arm about
her waist and vowed her form was sylpb-
like. He toyed with her long golden
ringlets, and ikened them to "truant
sunbeams," with few other remarks to
the effect that heavens dearest gift to
! her sex was ga wealth Of golden hair p