The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1877-11-01
OUR STORY TELLER.
HOW TOM BLACK FOOLED HIMSELF.
By @. HORN.


My friend Tom Black was and is still
tall, handsome, good natured jovial
fellow, but notwithstanding his good |
nature, somewhat cynical in his opinions |
of men and women, though too courteous
to often display it. With vivid i'm
agination and quick perceptions he was
brilliant in conversation when inter-
ested, but in general he was too lazy to |
exercise his Imagination, or to allow
himself to become interested in anything.
Ills cynicism led him to treat lightly
anything concerning the affections, and
to doubt the existence even of such a
quality, especially in young women.
But single little circumstance changed
his opinions in that regard very ma
terially.
He and / started from Cincinnati last
summer on our annual vacation, and,
halted at Mackinaw. The old Mission
House was full of guests, the majority
of whom appeared to be young ladies.
They were probably accompanied by the
usual proportion of papas or mamas,
but old folks at such places are not
counted.
Toms natural gallantry soon rendered
him popular with all, while I, his sedate
companion, figured modestly as but little
more than mere tender to the brilliant
fellow. Instinctively and naturally
enough he gravitated toward the pret-
tiest and most attractive young lady at
the hotel, Miss Lettie Chace, of Chi
cago. Whenever she played, Tom
turned over the leaves; at every hop
Tom led her in the waltz; they took
moonlight strolls on the lawn and beach
together, and his big hand led her up
and down the steep cliffs in their
rambles.
One evening, in the parlor, they be-
came 80 intently engaged in converse
ton on the consciousness of plants Gan
assumed hobby of Tom's), that all other
conversation. became hushed, and the
entire party was interested for the time
in Toms eloquent plea for the existence
of a natural intelligent sympathy be.
tween man and vegetation, and nearly
all began to hesitate in their own minds
whether the scraggy old sycamores Of
their acquaintance, while reach
ing out over river banks for mois
ture, do not experience and
seek to satisfy just the same feelings o
thirst or heat that we do ourselves
whether flowers are not subject to thi
same emotions by atmospheric condition
as we are, and do not seek to expires
them, and whether the trees Of thei
boyhood did not know them and appreci
ate as fully their companionship as the,
did that of the trees. The silence inter
rupted him, for he was talking conf
dentially, and he led Miss Chace to tn
piano where she sang "Robin Adair
in a rich, tender, sympathetic soprano
which ELECTED compliments of a mos
enthusiastic character. When we re
tired that night Tom admitted that h
had become interested in a woman a
last, but he spoiled Immediately after
ward the admiration / had formed fo
his sincerity by the mannish self-sati.
faction with which he alluded to tn
capital impression he had made upo
her. And taking my male acquain
ances together, believe that that is th
only mean trait common to all. Tor
sneered at woman's vanity, but almos
lived on the food furnished him by hi
own.
On the next afternoon Tom and Mis-
Chace took stroll together, hating o
the beach at the foot of the caves, wher
they sat on log and rested.
Said Tom, in a subdued, quiet tone
after the conversation had dwindle
NO"h w n buCCCSSlOh VI IOHK pduS6s
"That interview we had last night i
which you showed so much sympath
for my theory, made quite an impressio
upon me-"
Indeed, am surprised to know ths
man of your originality of though
would have room for SUCH"
"Pray don't talk that way, Mi
Chace. There is so little sympathy i
the world for people, hobbies, that whe
any is expressed by such a young lad
rs yourself, it is so well worth apprecia
ing that it can not fail to make a dee
impression. DO you know that had
very singular dream after retiring? No
i seldom take any note of dreams The
crowd each other in such disconnecte
shape that / seldom remember any
them for a moment. But l awoke tn
morning with a most vivid recollectio
Of this one and it haunts me all day."
"I should like to hear it."
"You seemed to have been carrie
back to your home in Chicago, and
mine in Cincinnati, when a telegra
reached me to the effect that you ha
been snatched away somewhere by deaf
1t came 80 very Unexpectedly that
startled me, and Immediately went
Chicago, where / found your family
mourning and utterly disconsolate.
tried toconsole them with the assuran,
that there must be mistake somewher
would at once go in search of whoev
had charge of the department of deaf
and convince him of the blunder.
would show him that here you were
perfect health; had never been sick
day in your life; were happy, and su
rounded by appreciative friends; tn
they didn't want you to die, and "
didn't want to go; that the messeng
had evidently taken the wrong person
and was ready to bring you back.
] at once bought balloon and start
in search Of you.
1t singular indeed how vividly n