The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1877-07-14

slant use by MS euesls. oahlC 10 Pi.ii'J !"
he b,jls about there-deer and quail the
crock i, full Of speckled trout, ana the hotel
i inst far enough from The sea 70 render the
, Iclimate delightful The San Marine House
was flied 70 its utmost capacity that season.
II was curious kind of crowd gathered
there CIy spoytsmea, with dogs, guns, fish
Il lrg tackle, etc, and superanuated old women,
for the benefit OF the sea breeze; young boys
fourteen or fifteen years old, making their
tlrsttyip from home alone, two or three grass
widows, somewhat fast cler2yman-rode
dO"n from the city on his Ve.ocipede-three
or four young ladies and dozen risky
schoolgirls On the whole, it was as Jolly a
crew a: ever gathered together. With horse.
back riding, boating, fishing, and hunting,
The time passed rapidly enough. said there
were three or four young ladies, but 50 far as
was concerned, there was only one-Miss
. Tootie Tusby. Excuse me, Pills, but | can.
no. speak that maize without emotion" and
Bangs drew forth his handkerchief and wiped
his eyes vigorously.
81 cannot describe all Of her charms; but,
Pills, If ever there was an angel in this world,
she was one devoted myself to her from
, the verv first. When Miss Tootie rode, rode,
If she walked, walked; when she went fish.
ing, Bangs went fishing; If she sailed on the
lake, Beings was there also. Pills l loved
ated us, you'll excuse NE, but"
There the handkerchief again came into re-
lquisiton, and Bangs voice LETT him com
pletely.
did you PROPOSE" | asked.
"No, Pills-no. All II | Only had-if /
only had!'
"What prevented
"We!l, nothing but ray own folly. l was
faint hearted when 1t came TO that. had It
in my mouth a dozen times, but my tongue
failed me- There was another fellow there,
too, that made me terribly jealous She didn't
show him any particular favUrs, but that he
was great admirer Of her any one could see
and really wasn't certain,in my mind which
she preferred She might in time perhaps,
have shown some preference, and my doubts
been dispelled, had II not been for the affair
that happened which | am about to relate,
and which bllghted all my future life"
bad rs that" | said.
| "PlIs YOU never was in love-you never
los; the one heaven assigned tor you-youI
don't know : .:n- at all about it,"
There VEG rar.y at the San MarinoI
| House one ,y.rilg--a sOirce dansae or
something like tat, they called it. Thcyi
sent up to the city for music, and went IN for
a gay time. was counted out somewhat
you know | don't dance. The other fellow
nearly all the time. Pills, you don't know
anything at all about it. You never Lad the
girl you love dancing with your rival all the
evening, right before your eyes, while you
sat in a corner like knot on log; see him
in all the quadrllles, when all the rest Of the
couples simply take each others hands and
promenade--see that fellow put his arm
around that girl, and then 60 wal'zing or
polkaing nil about the room every time right
in front of you, and that cusSed fellow tread.
ing on your corns every chance he can get
You don't know anything about it,
] admitted my ignorance,
"Well, couldn't stand il: It was too much
rushed out and started off toward the sea-
I don't know as / had any intention Of SUI
eide, but | was in a desperate mood. The
path to the beach led along by the side of a
lagoon, and by the time | had gone hun.
bred yards | had changed my mind, and
thought | would take a swim in the lake.
That is about al! the accomplishment pos
sess, and one can't show that off before the la
dies, you know--not in the way you can dane.
ing. dsrobed under the branches o. huge
alder, or sycamore, or some such tree, aud
struck out for the other side Of the lake. The
moon was SHINING brightly, and the water
warm and delightful Having crossed to the
other side, | swan along in the dark shadow
l.
Then | noticed that the moon was getting /
low. must return soon, before was missed t
at the party. After short rest, plunged in '
again, and struck out for the place where /
lett my clothes | could find 1t easily by the I
large tree growing there. In fifteen minutes G
! was there; and, Pills, | toll you, the situa q
ton Of things about that time was precar f
GUS a
IIow's that?' v
4" couldn't find ny clothes! Gone, sir S
every article, except my plug hat! Irushed S
around among the brush and netles and pois r
on oak like setter after quail. jerusalem c
Whew! tell you got dose that lasted me II
q month Not q rag OF clothing could find a
At length happened to look up the path to. h
ward the hotel, What do you suppose saw v
4 cursed greyhound that belonged to my RI. o
va! with my white vest tossing 1t upon his f
nose aud dragging it about among the dust j
and tarweed as though II had been an old n
iish-clo,h. The situation flashed upon me n
in an instant. The dog had stolen my clothes s.
in sport, and there | was-out there in the
night air-with no possible show Of getting !:
INTO the house without discovery. Pleasant, )
wasn't it," e
Decidedly" n
You don't know anything about il, sir h
That was nothing TO what followed. Just as r,
was wondering how in the dickens was 5
o get out Of the scrape, looked up toward p
he hotel again, and saw something that fair il
y made my blood freeze in my veins. | saw f
hree persons coming down the path, and e
II once recognized them as my rival Wat a
klns, Miss Tootie and another young lady II
They met the dog when about half way be W
ween the lake and the hotel. saw By their a
actions the discovery Of the vest had alarmed Ii
hem. They all came Lurredly down the Is
path toward the very spo; where stood v
Pills, ,hat was a situation hope never 10 be Il
placed In again Il
Undonb;edy, Did you take 10 the wat. n
er~ Il
dared not do IL; but il would have been c
better If | had. You see, I had been in The
water too long already. was IN an awful.
all over me- There wasn't .
time To deliberate long. Ny first thought was {
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