The Tiffin tribune. (Tiffin, Ohio) 1868-1887, 1876-11-30


Something about the bowl" says
Mr.. Merlbone, ''for which you cOm-
posed the air."
81 wonder" says Henriette, Lam
guishingIy, "if the poets who write
such songs really feel them, and are
such despairIng souls ?'
81 presume so," says Mr.. Merl-
bone, allowing the eye-glass to slip
from its place and to depend grace
fully from its Watered ribbon, 81
know that there are hearts which re-
spond tn the emotion Of those songs.
1ennyson says:
sOur sweetest songs are those that tell of
saddeSt thoughts
This is delivered in such foe just
got-bsck-from-s-funersl tone of voice,
that Hepriette looks up amazed.
"Surely, Mr.. MelbOne" she asks
teaderly, 'you cannot feel thus ?'
Mr.. Msrlpone sighs like the night
wind among eypresses-like several
light winds in fact, all blowing at
once.
al know L seem gay" he says at
length, "but there are those who
school themselves to hide desolated
bosOms beneath garlands OF flowers"
The young lady did not question
the prOpriety of a gentleman wearing
tgarlNnds upon his bosom-she only
/; thought how prettily Mr.. Merlbone
could talk, and how black and fine his
Whiskers were.
"What-what have you" asks she,
"to-to-sadden you ?"
Mr.. Merlbone makes pass TO take
her hand, but she withdrew it, and
he, signing again, puts both of his
behind him, draws himself up, locks
straight into Henriette's eyes with
sort of q sentimental knOck-dOwn
and drag-out expression of energy,
and bending down little, whispers
'sThe terrible yearnings OF an unloved soulI"
Quick as thought Henriette answers
'Only those who love are loved in return"
And as soon as the words are out,
she regrets them.
Lazy little LeonOre, sitting, with
one foot under her, upon the sofa, with
her chin resting upon her white
diaphanOus hand, is buried in her
novel. She is reading "HOW Col.
NeWeome said 'Adsum' for the last
time" and nothing short OF an earth
quake could arouse her. Mr.. Merl-
bone sees her abstraction at glance,
knees In front OF Heuriette, who has
swung the piano around-ah who
knows whether to give him an OppOr-
tuuity or not ?
81 do love-" gasps Merlbone, ia a
splendid agony of stage sentiment
81 love you, my angel Henriette-
madly, widely, despsirIngly Will
yOu-Will you be mine? Only smile
4 II "
heart is consecrated to you fOreTer-I
will be your slave J"
She has turned her head away from
him, and the pale gold ringlets con-
ceal her face /; but, as he seiZes one of
her hands to cover 1t with kisses, she
gives faint sigh, and presses the
hand which holds hers.
Mr.. MerlbOne, in very excellent and
well done raptures, kisses her knuck-
les q number of times, and says that
she has endowed him with new life.
It was q good thing If she had, for his
old life had not been very eminently
profitable.
Then Henriette just remembers
that Leonore Is in the room, for the
indoIent maiden, having finished the
chapter, wipes little moisture from
handkerchief, and says audibly, in
reference to the books, "Good %
Heprlette and Mr.. Merlbone both |
think, at first, that she is eulOglZlng
their little performance, but seeing
that she is still deep in the brief con-
elusiOn which follows that charming
chapter in that wonderful work, they
merely resume their old positions fac
ing the piano, and Henriette sings |
something abont her heart being very |
gay, but her voice is q little tremu-
lous, aud she Is relieved when Mr.. |
Merlbone proposes to drive her over |
to see the country seat he has decided |
to buy.
The next morning, after Mr.. Merl- |
bone mad taken his matutinal "bran- |
dy neat" (he was long past the age |
for cocktails), he sat down before |
breakfast and wrote the following |
note
DAIsYVILLE, July Is, 1876.
DEAR JACK Our little speculation |
Is perfectly successful. have nailed |
her, and, as the old lady caunot last |
three weeks, you may soon count on
receiving back your $1,000, with the
cent per cent. interest, as agreed.
Yours, ETC.,
MERLBONE.
Colonel j. FdunHeroy.
Read this note, my gentle, young
lady reader, and take my advice.
Never listen to "the yesrnings OF an
unloved sour thirty-five years old
AS Mr.. Merlbone sat broodlng over
his omelet and coffee that morning, |
he betook himself to thinking Of the
best method of undeceiving poor
Henriette regarding his fortune. SIT
will all be well enough" thought he,
"for shall marry her just as soon as
possible, before the old lady dies. 1
have still some 500 and that'll last
during the short while before Henriet-
te comes into her money. II not
JACK will advance another thousand
dev'lish high rate of interest that,
cent per cent.-when he hears how
sure I've got things fixed"
"I'll tell her-let me see-yes, that's
it-TIl tell her that Pm speculating in
Arkansas swamp lands, and when 1
hear of the old lady's death, I'll re-
ceITe news that the company has
burst up; then, il l play my cards
right, she will fall on my bosom, by
JOve, and say that she has enough for
both. That won't be such bad go
no, demme, rather think not"
And Mr.. Merlbone laughed q dry,
cacklIng laugh, showing his white
teeth as he did so, and looking un-
commonly like Mephistophiles in the
play.
Two weeks after that day a bridal
party set out from Daisyville. Mr..
Merlbone had promised to endow
Henriette with all his worldly goods
consisting principally OF q goodly
outfit of wearing apparel, q large
number OF unreceipted bills, and
tooth-brush), and she had promised to
love, honor and cherish him. These
promises were witnessed and ratified
by the Rev. John Bidlebanger, whose
pious and eminently respectable heart
was gladdened by q twenty dollar
gold piece, privately slipped into his
hand by Mr.. Merlbone.
The happy pair were off for flying
visit to the brides distant relatives in
different parts OF the country, aud it is
fair TO presume they had q very pleas
ant time OF il, until, one morning,
shortly after they had arrived at a
town in ore of the Middle States,
where one OF Henriette's forty-secoDd
cousins lived, Mr.. Merlbone received
him and his bride to return imme-
sinking rapidly, and might not live
till they arrived.
Mr.. MerI0one quietly p0eketed the
dispatch, and, going to the hotel,
wrote himself q letter, in q disguised
-