The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1877-01-04
TIE MIsrAKEImAnE.

line upward pains tne sleeper.
THE MISTAKE L MADE.
Lei me see-where was it that l first
met herf Oh, yes, it was boating by
moonlight. A globe of reddish pearl
slowly ascending out of the east-the
shadows Of egreat bridge resting softly
on the mirror-like surface of the river;
1.-THE sound ofa flute played softly afar off,
ssand all of a sudden the keel of my boat
toming sharply in contact with somebody
else's oars.
"Hullo, youp cried out clear, in
cisiye voice. "Where are you going to?
Why don't you look which way you are
Aeering?"
"Charley Dresdenl" cried out 1, little
needing the torrents of obloquy he was
beginning to heap upon me.
cold Mattimore," he responded, joy
ously. "Who on earth would have
thought of finding you herea Come into
my boat. Hitch on your old craft be-
hindl Let me introduce you to Miss
Sophy Adriance.n
looked as sharply at Miss Sophy as
the moonlight and my own modesty
would, let me, fer knew that she was
the especial admiration of my friend,
Oharly Dresden. 1 had heard her blue
eyes and peach blossom cheeks raved
about until even my much-enduring
patience had failed; 1 had listened to
rhapsodies about her sweet voice and
pretty ways. I had been called upon to
criticise original poems composed in her
honor until the subject had long since
palled upon me-and here 1 had stum-
-hled IS it#eFe, upae her just IS slharley
was ON the threshold of a declaration.
She was pretty, slight, and round and
rosy, with china-blue eyes, dimple in
either cheek, and golden-brown hair
worn in long, loose curls, with none of
the fashionable abomination of crimps,
frizzes, and artificial braids about her.
There was something fower-like and
delicate in her something
unconsciously imploring in her way of
lifting her eyes up to your face. Hard:
euei old bachelor though 1 was, I felt as
ifI could have fallen in love with her on
the spot if I hadn't known as well that
Charley had the first innings.
We rode home together-or, at least, as
far on our way home as the river would
take us. Sophy sang little boat ballads;
Charley roared> out tender barcaroles;
even essayed az German student song
yhicb I had learned in Heidelberg no
naws how long ago. and we parted
- best ofsriends.
A week afterwerd, Dresden and 1 met
face to face in the street.
"Hullo, Mottimore! said Charley, his
honest yisage lighting up. "What do
you think of herp
81 think she is pearl-a jewelAa
princess among womenp I answered,
with perfectly sincerity.
Congratulate me, thenp cried
Charley, beaming all over, for am en-
gagged to her. Only last nightl Look
herep opening mysterious silver case
which he took from his inner vest pocket.
What do you think of that for an en-
gagement ring ?''
A fine diamond" said ], putting my
head critically on one side; I" and fanci-
fully SET"
"We're to be married in October"
said Charley, lowering his voice in the
most confidential tones. 1t might have
been sooner if hadn't undertaken that
business in France for our firm. But ]
shall be sureto be back by October, and
the money Ishall make will be accepta.
bic toward fitting up and furnishing our
new home. Because you.know, Motif.
more, Pm not rich.n
We parted with a reciprocatinp
squeeze of the hand, and Charley's bright
face haunted me all day with a sort Of
rem,niscence of what might have hap.
pened also to me if l hadn't been
ive-and-forty, and with a bald spot on
the back of my head. 1 spent an even
ing with her afterward at the genteeI
house where she and her mother-a nice
bright-eyed little woman, the full-blowr
rose to correspond with Sophy's budding
loyeliness-dwelt in the coziest of apart
ments furnished in dark blue reps, with
aturn-up bedstead ingeniously designed
as high backed sofa, and canaries anc
geraniums in the windows. 1t was .
pleasant evening, and would have beer
still pleasanter if Charley and Miss Adri
anee had not both agreed by mutua
consent to put me and the expectan
mother-in-law on the same platform o
old fogyism, and expect us to talk poll
tics, religion, and the last new opera b,
the shaded gas-light, while they did tn
Romeo and Juliet business on the bal
eony. dare say they enjoyed it, but i
was rather embarrassing, you see, t.
Mamma Adriance and me.
It's SO kind of you to come" sal,
Sophy, with a gentle pressure of tn
hand when went away. "I am so gla,
to welcome Charley's friends" -Esza-
l felt that | could cheerfully 81
through another eyening of common
place chit chat az photograph album
for such . reward that.