The weekly Shasta courier., 1873-01-11

the summer of his love. Nothing but
warmth, and artificial warmth at that, could
save him after the fever of his heart had
once cooled. Columbine would have saved
herself. and Pantaloon also, had he not per-
mitted her more useful members to be taken
from her; in truth, Pantaloon objected to
her coming down from the beautiful pedestal
where he had instated her, and the conse-
quences were direful enough for genuine
tragedy.
The prophetic Harlequin again cast his
sorrowful eyes into the future, and saw pov-
erty staring that unlucky pair in the face.
Unfed, unclad. unloved, the little household
died a spiritual death and before the corpse
was decently inferred, Pantaloon deserted,
and was seen no more. There were few
flashes of red fire in the wings at the side of
the stage. and several small devils played
leap-frog for some moments in the direction
of the departed Pantaloon /; but the end of
that domestic episode was come, in very
truth.
Then Harlequin arose in his wrath, and
burst his chains. Again and again he i'm
plored Solomon to come down out OF his
cloud, and mend the idol of his choice but
Solomon was too wise man to undo any
thing be had done-albeit, the result of his
action was scarcely what he had anticipated
for he would have lost his reputation for
wisdom had he sought to mend the matter.
Harlequin, no longer able to endure his
anguish, annihilated his offenders; and,
seizing the fragments of his loved one, he
bore them up rOse-cOlored mountain, and
entered the realms of bliss quite out OF
breath. There was an azure armament fret
ted with golden stars, and every conceivable
delight in the shape of large gauze flowers
with no perceptible perfume, lime lights
shining forever with binding brilliancy. and
a great multitude of stuffed fairies with un-
enviable dispositions-for they, too, were
underfed and sat up very late O. nights, on
shockingly small salaries.
At that moment came dreadful crash,
which proved to be the Christmas landlady,
who was announcing, with some concern, the
lateness of the hour. Tom, Dick, and Harry
arose, and went forth to the duties of the
day. They felt not over-well Hal looked
dark-browed and suspicious-for him Tom
and Dick seemed to have something upon
their minds. A crisis was approaching, and
each was anxious to confde in the other,
but didn't know exactly where to begin.
Well. Tom told Dick he was quite misera-
Bile, and had an important something on his
mind. Dick advised Tom to seek Harry
to relieve himself, because Hal was best able
to advise in serious matters. Tom, having
poured into Halls ear the story of his love
for Rosebud withdrew to the sideboard for
consolation then followed Dick, who re-
peated the tale, but altered to suit his case.
Thereafter, Dick Joined Tom in his convivial
misery, and Hal was left to himself.
Halls case was dreadful. He not only
had his own passion to conquer, but he
must needs have heaped upon him the COM
bined emotions of his two frends-dearer
to him than brothers. The dream haunted
him. he needed no Joseph to interpret its
awful significance. Were his own happiness
alone in question, he felt that he would will
ingy sacrifice it for the sake of either of the
dear fellows who had appealed to him for
advice; he would yield to them, and go his
way with dead heart and free conscience
But Rosebud should not be sacrificed, eth
er;to the sefishness of the one, or the improvi-
dence of the other; he would save her this
martyrdom, if he had to marry her himself !!
After ALL why not save her, in spite of every
thing including his sense of honor? or, bet
ter still. why not argue the case before her,
and leave the verdict to the victim?
This plan was no sooner suggested than
accepted Tom, Dick, and Harry arranged
themselves on three chairs, facing the sofa
in Halls room Enter Rosebud, the incar-
nation of living blush enter the Christ
mas landlady, looking good enough to eat.
Dick opened the argument. He loved
Rosebud because she had done so much for
him; felt that he was but half man with
out her for his sake, thought she would be
his. Rosebud glanced tenderly and plying
ly on poor Dick, as he sat down with look
ofconfdence, that, properly speaking, should
have been misplaced.
Tom worshiped her for herself alone He
would make a queen of his Rosebud-sug-
gested carriage; servants livery, in course
of time artistic receptions, also likewise,
watering places, Europe, etc. ! Tom subsi-
ded, and Rosebuds eyes were half-iled
with tears.
Then Harry stepped forward, and began
his thesis. His face was marvellous stu
dy +; for once in his life he was inclined to
be savage toward his friends Tom and
Dick changed color; they had expected
nothing of this sort from the lips of him
whom they had grown to look upon as the
most lovable of created Harries.
To save himself from reproaches, he rela-
ted his dream "' We are such stuff as
dreams are made of" said Hal; and the
young fellows felt hurt and hopeless. Rose
bud blossomed, and almost withered vet
blossOmed again-so variable were her emo
tons as she listened to the eloquent Hal,
who was surprising himself every moment,
and growing as bold as criminal lawyer
1t was evident that he was almost irresisti-
Bile, and therefore he spoke much longer
than he had intended-as irresistible folk
are fond of doing.
"A this while the Christmas landlady was
cleaning and glowing as though her burst
ing cheeks had just been inundated with the
richest of sauces; while those pum-like
eyes of hers seemed likely to pop out of her
pudding face, at the very first opportunity.
Then the meeting adjourned, and the
matter was dropped for day. After that
Tom entered into conspiracy with the
landlady, and at moment when least ex-
pected, he proposed to Rosebud. When he
returned to his chamber, with a cheerful
and benevolent face. Dick and Harry felt
little bit like companions in misery; but
Tom whispered word in Dicks ear that
sent him flying to Rosebud, who was tatting
like good little woman by the window in
the laudlaiy's parior. Tom looked ominous.
and Hal looked puzzled, until Dick return
ed with face almost as complacent and
satisfied at Toms own. Dick winked at
Tom. and thereupon both boys seized hand
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