, 1877-11-23
Browns Sweetheart.

Brown was OaCDeiOr--h san, siieue
man, who, instead of having passed
throuoh the frivolities Of youth, had
passed them By, and was now safely
landed on the other side. His age was
an undetermined problem, not to be set
tied like that of horse, by his teeth,
for they were artificial, nor by his locks,
for they were dyed, while, by brushing
forward his back hair SO as to form a
false crown several inches below the nat
ural one, certain incipient badness Yves
dexterously concealed.
"He will never see 6ve-and-forty," "
darkly limited Tabitha Skimply, who,
after setting her cap at Brown for many
years, at last, like Esop's fox, found con-
ISOLATION for bafled hopes in undervalu-
ing their object.
Though at most times sad and silent,
Brown Was not unsocial. He enjoyed
the company of friends, in circle of
whom, with bottle of wine to help, be
would often thaw out perceptibly.
''It's a wonder Brown never married" "
remarked Peleg Rifle, on one Of these
occasions.
Brown sighed.
"What model head of family he'd
have made" added Jotham Trunnel.
Another sigh from Brown.
"a perfect pattern of the domestic vir-
tues" returned Peleg Rifle. upon my
word, Brown, you've sinned against So
ciety and yourself in hiding your light
under bushel."
"You," put in Jotham Trunnel, "who
should now be setting bright example
of connubial bliss to the rising genera
tionw
"Alas |" said Brown, ''it was not to be-"
''Can it be true" inquired Peleg, 'that
you once proposed to Tabitha Skimpley,
and were rejected, as she says, on the
score of sges"
"As for my age" muttered Brown,
"she's old enough to remember it, at any
rate. But" he continued, ~ don't mind
telling, once for all, the story of my heart,
just to prove how little Tabitha Skimpley
had to do with it."
lothian and Peleg set themselves to
listen, and thus Brown began:
at was case oflove at first sight"
"Wouldn't it be more methodical,"
suggested lothian, "ifyou first told us
how you came to see the ladyW
"But / didn't see her"
"Come, that's paradox"
"a truth, none the less; l found her
picture"
Sand fell in love with thatG All! l
see," replied Jotham.
81 picked it up from where it had been
dropped in the street. 1t was minia-
ture, done on ivory, and set in hand
some locket-none Of your trumpery
photographs, which give to all the same
eyes, hair aud complexion, but a match
less painting representing a face of
exquisite beauty, whose white rivalled
the lily, and its red the erose. Ringlets of
shredded gold fell on shoulders of ala
baster, and"
"Hold on, Brown p interrupted Peleg
isn't that going it rather strongS"
Strong! tell youit was an angels
likeness, improved by leaving out the
wings.
ITO find the original of that celestial
shadow, vowed thenceforth forward to
devote my days. l bought an opera
glass of extra power, and visited in sue
cession the most frequented places of
amusement. l promenaded the fashion
able thOroughlares, went the round of
the highest-toned churches, sauntered in
the parks, and louDged in the picture
galleries. If saw before me cataract
Of golden curls flowing from beneath
jaunty hat, l would hurry forward and
look back to find, alas that the face
was anOther's.
II began to despair at last. Ifelt that
my fate, like that of the Wandering Jew,
was to march march!' for evermOre.
II resolved to accept my destiny. If
could do nothing else, could at least
manifest my devotion by marching on
One day, however, was brought to a
halt.n
"By what" asked lothian Trunnell.
by the yelp of dog.
Il know not what mysterious influence
there was in that yelp. At any rate, it
startled me from my reYeIy, and turning
about, l saw"
"Fhe angel Of your dreams" eagerly
anticipated lothian.