The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1875-02-18
dered him hearty thanks for his most in
feIliqenf and int resfinc conversation

dered him hearty thanks for his most in |
telligent and interesting conversation
It's very kind of you to say SO, sir,
but the British public has quite made up
their minds that we giants are dull lot
and that settles the matter-for it's
never any good whatever arguing against
the British public II one can't agree
with it one must shut up, and that comes
TO much the same sort of thing. I'm
dull to begin with, and now I'm duller
than I'd any right to be, owing to-owing
to peculiar circumstances"
Here, much to my surprise, he burst
into a sudden food of tears.
| had noticed previously that his ar
ticulation had thickened. Something
no doubt the brandy and water-had had
to do with this, inducing perhaps in
addition certain disposition to senti-
mental emotion and expression. Still
the giant could not be said to be intox-
icated. He was excited as much, ]
think, by the unusual amount of nara
tive he had delivered himself of and by
the sound of his own voice as by any
other cause.
weep not" said to him, scarcely
knowing what said.
"Pleasc let me-" he answered, feebly.
at does me so much good. I'm very
unhappy. I'm one of the most misera-
BILE of men. I'm in love"
Well, and why not? Surely man
of your magnificent proportions need
not despair of success. Surely any
q 1t is plain that you do not know Miss
fiddler" he interrupted.
i confessed that, to my sincere regret
/ did not enjoy that privilege.
And of course you don't know jock
er's Vans"
said thought not
"If ever you come across Jecker's Van
ask 10 see Miss fiddler. In point of
fact, you'll see her without asking if you
pay your admission at the door. And
you'll see me. But that's nothing. I'm
nobody. Besides, you hare seen Inc. But
Miss fiddler will surprise you. You'll
find her real treat. You see in her, sir,
perfect woman. They call her the Pc
ruvian Pearl or the Princess of Lilliput
But that's only Jecker's way. She's
English and speaks no language but her
| own, but she speaks that very freely,
| especially when she's reused. It's non
sense about Peruvian; as a matter of
| fact, she was born in Pimlico; and she's
never grown an inch since she was four
and half years old. Amazing, isn't it?
and delightful call it."
| a dwarfl'
"Well, what people call dwarf. Per-
| fiction in small compass, that's my
view of her There's nothing of the
dwarf really about her when you've once
| overlooked her small size. And then
how charming she is! But you must see
her to appreciate her. For my part |
love her to distraction. l can't call it by
any other name"
1t was plain that he loved, as giant
might be expected to love, in large way.
AS he spoke he trembled, swayed to and
| fro, indeed, and turned up his eyes in a
| languishing fashion that had something
almost of craziness about it. This giant
in love was rather grotesque sort of
creature it must be confessed.
'And Miss Tiddler.is obdurate?" | in
CURED.
Miss fiddler is adamant Miss It'd
| dler will not listen to me, or listens to
me only to mock me. In plain words she
chaffs me"
"What is her objection to you as
suitor?" @
"Well, her objections are of a very
| general kind, but chiefly she finds fault
with my size. The fun she makes of me
on that account! It's wonderful to hear
her. | laugh in spite of myself. laugh
at myself, in fact. She's SO clever and
| says such sharp things. Still it's hard,
you know. I've difficulty in believing
that it's really so ridiculous to be so tall
as she makes it out to be. But she thinks
it's very ridiculous indeed. Perhaps it
appears so to her, you know, she being
so little. And then she calls me stu
pid."
but that may not be such a bad sign
I've heard of many lovers who like to be
called stupid by their mistresses. Very
likely it's mere playfulness on her part,
that conceals some measure of true affec-
ton for you"
I'D think so if could, hut | can't
No, she thinks me tall and stupid, and |
feel that she's right. | am tall and stupid,
and that's the fact. I'd alter it if could.
but can't. I'm sure I'd be very glad to
change places with brighter and a
shorter man. But can't grow brighter,
try hard as ] may; and can't grow
shorter, though I've tried that too"
You've tried to grow shorter?"
Eyes, over and over again. I'm for
ever trying to grow shorter | carry
heavy weights ON my head, lift that box,
for instance" As he spoke he drew from
beneath his chair a substantial looking
| black box with iron handles. | tried to
| raise it, but | failed completely. 1t
seemed to be of enormous weight. 1--WE
walked miles and miles with that box on
my head. 1t contains pigiron. thought
that it might compress me. But it hasn't
/ as yet, SO far as | can see. I've tried all
manner of ways indeed of packing my
self into a smaller space, but all in vain
Miss fiddler only laughs at me. Come
to me when you're shorter, Doddy' (she
always calls me Doddy-it's not my real
name, which is something very different
but somehow it seems to please her to
call me that-and don't object; how
can ~. Come TO me when you're shorter,
| Doddy,' she says tc me, and then, per
haps, we'll see about it, She only says
perhaps, you observe. No, she never
means it to be; it never will be-" He
sighed heavily and noisily. 1.-THE plain
truth is, that I'm too long and she's too
! short"
| Yes, l suppose that's the long and
the short of it, said abruptly
For moment he seemed hurt at what
he might reasonably have thought to be
| levity on MY part. Still his look was
| meek and diffident.
II must CO." he said, rising. GIVE
many miles to walk tonight, with my
box on my head Thank you for listen
ing to me, for your sympathy, and-good-
| by"
"But you won't really resign all hope
| of winning Miss Tiddler?"
He looked at ME despondently, shook
his head, but said nothing.
Don't despair. Miss fiddler may yet
be yours Remember, after all, extremes
meet"
"She's not short enough for thai, even
film tall enough. Although I'm gian.,
can't think Of her as dwarf She's
really very pretty size. And l love her,
How / love heri'' ~
SO saying, he grasped my hand tightly
and painfully. My fingers seemed quite
crunched in his. They cracked like dry
twigs as he compressed them / had
never shaken hands with giant before
never will again. -
My last glimpse Of him revealed sur
prisingly-tall, gaunt figure striding across
the open country. The rising moon
elongated his shadow with an effect that
was suggestive of caricature. He car
ried his box on his head. He proceeded
rapidly, yet not. | think, very regularly |
Once it seemed to me that he was stag |
gering, like one intoxicated; and once |
thought he called out to me. But ii oc- |
CURED to me afterward that the sound l |
had heard was, in truth, rather hiccup |
than an articulate cry.
II l..