Middletown transcript., 1875-01-09
Select STORY.
SLIGHTLY AWKWARD.

|. Fl Ft&8 n u it, EsAsA
$50 you want to know Why I'v'
never been married. Charley 2" sait
my handsome cousin Larry. removing
his half.smoked cigar from between BIZ
lips. and looking at me quiszically
"Confound You twenty-year-olders
You think because / am thirty -eigh'
life must be all has been to me Per.
haps I will marry yet. and then you'd
better look sharp. young fellow. You
won't get that silver punch bowl and
the family portraits I've put you dowu
for in my will. I'll be family man,
and shall want them for some boy o.
my own. perhaps" . ssF =
e. My cousin threw his cigar into the
CRATE, and turned bis whole gracefal
length on the lounge on which hs was
lying. and. running his fingers through
the soft rings Of bis hair, began laugh
ing quietly to hipself I did not urge
my claims just then, for was absorbed
in studying the perfect outlines Of his
figure, falling With every movement in
the same position Of even more enchant-
ing grace, for my cousin Larry's beauty
had perfection and finish to which
uoraw yoongster like myself could ever
lay claim. In a minute. however. he
looked up, and, still smiling to himself.
answered his unspoken objections.
We'll. Charley, don't mind if
tell you the tale Of my own love affair.
It's rather good story, I think, and
as the lsdy's married and settled far
away from here, won't do any harm.
Il happened when l was about twenty
eight-ten years ago. you see-and al.
though ! had many good rousing fir
tation befors / made Louise's acquain-
tance, I'd never seen the woman I
really wanted to marry. You zee, !
vas very fussy-as that age l called it
fastidious, esthetic, to-, and / found
fault with one thing and another in al
my lady friends, but there was just one
thing which l could not abide. and that
vas awkwardDess. / didn't mind good,
honest ugliness half AZ much. for I al
ways remember the poor things couldn't
help that but I never could see Why
people should sit As if they were al
elbows. or walk Is though made Of
corn-stalks Or bean-poles; and the
stareby way in which people climb 4
fence Or get into : wagon always sets
my teeth on edge.
'sWell. the young lady who finally
look my fancy was Miss Louise Max
veil. one Of the prettiest girls I ever
,av. She Was very intelligent. and
took an interest 10 everything that in
'erestsd me !; and the way in which
he first attracted my attention was BY
her graceful waltsing 1t Newport hop.
soon found that she was not an in
graceful person. only that
That she had been thoroughly taught
he did we'll. Waltzing. riding. walk
those things in which her
chool mattresses had drilled her she |
lid tolperfsetion |; but set her topper
orm some gymnastic for the drst time
md she was entirely At sea. as dis
covered when ! undertook to gallant
Ter over the rocks Of 'gpeuting Horn.
r down to the beach below the "Forty
steps,
"You know I have always kept my
lorses. and At that time l had regular
'eauty, and the frst dog-cart ever seen
o this country. Louise liked the locks I
+ it very much, but seemed rather
fraid to try riding in it; however, /
Iually coaxed her to 60 opt With me
ne day. intending to stop At half
ray house not very far from the town
nd get some ice cream before ws came
sck The fact was, wanted an op-
ortunity to propose to her-ws we're
9th staying at the Ocean Honss. and
course / could never get vord With
or alone. especially a. she was quite .
ellie, and always had crovd around