The Toledo chronicle. [volume] (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1873-1924, 1877-06-07
NIB. WMDER's WATCH.

n - g. ~ .S ,sezSs :,
Thirty years ago was in the midst of
my hrst grand passion. Its object, Bessie
Beagle, with whose aunt, old Mrs. Beagle,
/ then boarded She was no beauty, but
a trim, tidy dumpling of girl, with soft
brown eyes and an olive skin, and way
of wearing her plain dresses that made
them prettier than other girlss finery 4
had been there six months, and we had
grown very intimate. She had not much
time, poor child, to spare from household
duties, for Mrs. Beagle kept her at work
all day and sometimes half the evening,
but contrived to see . good deal of her
notwithstanding. Sometimes sat oppo-
site her, watching her plump fingers as
she knitted some womanly uitie in Berlin
wool or cotton, and sometimes contriyed
to take moonlight walk with her. At
such times, confess, had held her hand
or stolen my arm about her waist, and on
two or three occasions I had kissed her.
She knew how well / liked her, and /
knew she knew it; though, save few
sentimental nothings, I had never said
much to Der, and there was no absolute
engagement between us.
She liked me, too. Nobody knew bet
ter than / through whose agency was
made so extremely comfortable.
No matter how late Winder s. Co. kept
me at the office, dinner was always warm
for me, and the pudding never quite gone.
In fact Ishsd, q lions share of goodies,
and double allowance Of clean towels.
] wasjust nineteen. My salary exactly
paid my board but had beside quarter
ly allowance of five-and-twenty dollars
wherewith to -clothe myself, and now and
then scontrived to purchase tickets for
some play oriconcert, whittier escorted.
Bessie. She enjoyed euch things Sol In
fact she enjoyed life thoroughly, and I
used to thirk would make any man . life
happy who should win her. Such rosy,
cozy, orderly little housewife of eighteen
was never seen. Janson Cloak, who sat
next me at the table, and who was at that
time studying medicine, was as much in
iove as was, and hated me desperately !;
but / laughed at him, for he came in late
to cold vegetables and small allowance OF
dessert, and rang twice some mornings for
clean towels. Bridget and old Mrs. Beagle
attended to hisinterest, not Bessie. Good
little Bessie, who. when l had an infu-
had headache left camphor bottle on
my table where found it at night-who
was sort of mother to me, young as she
was, for those first six months. thought
myself unchangeably in love with her
until the day when, with band boxes and
bundles, shopping bags and trunks, cab
brought to our door new boarder Miss
Selma Maydew-who, in the temporary
absence of her parents, was intrusted to
the care Of Mrs. Beagle. She was a
blonde, with the most glorious color in
the world. A few years ago / saw a
picture by Louis Lang, l belisye. christ.
ened Dayy1 (which put me In mind OF
her. Living woman never saw just like
her. She had stylish, dashing manner
and dressed extravagantly. l think she
was past twenty, and she looked five
years older than little Bessie.
1t was strange how plain the latter grew
by contrast with her. How the little
round face, Win its olive Bkin, lost its
charms beside that of the brilliant blonde,
And then, toe, Bessie's brown rnerin0 had
various darns in it, and though trim and
neat, was a little dulled by age; while
Miss Selma came to dinner every day in
some new thing. Now she wore white,
now pink, now blue, even trying purples
and lavenders, without losing a charm
for no contrast could hurt her complexion
She could chatter, too, about q thousand
things, and sing with trills and quaver;
which Bessie knew nothing of. She tool
me by storm, and l only knew that had
changed toward Bessie when | saw hel
looking hurt and offended, behind ths
green pease, one DAY al dinner. At first
felt conscience stricken, but in little
while plucked up spirit. No man had
been so to speak, HGriised for changing
his mind at that date, and believed tina
had right to change mine. Bessie wa.
we'll enough in her way-a sweet little
darling, but Miss Selma was y being o.
another stamp. 1t was not my fault tina
adored her. / couldn't help il. Bessie
had no business to l9ok sowglumsl hat
not pledged myself to her COnscienct
brought before me sundry tender glance.
and whispers, thoughts more tender still
but turned my back upon them.
What had been was not; had admired
Bessie; but then had not seen Selma
Therefore / leaned toward her, and asked
her if should pass the butter, in man
ner which must have betrayed my devo
ton. When l turned my head agaiI
Bessie was conYersipg with Janson Cloak
I1wss content; i did mot desire to breal
| the child's heart.
After that devoted myself to Selma
who condescended to flirt with me, ani
allowed me such trifling fayors as th,
turning Of her music when She played
or the putting on Of her shawl-who die
not utterly refuse melting giances, ant
was always willing to eat ice cream in MI
company. .ahd quite forgot Bee1tA Sh!
wls, 10 said iss MaydeW, QUIZ 4 com
n,on-place little soul, whose sphefe was II
the kitchen. wondered a. myself fo
my former infatuati0n. Spring glidet
| into summer, summer faded into autumn
and winter Gang bringing with It its Pc
cnliar gayetieS, aud BY that time hardl,
ever met Bessie except at table. Although
still, on my late nights, somebody KEEP
lpxaaise; %S aIsRss ia 80 ssB IA 1els
Fiddy brought hot lemonade to N,
room, with 8 Mrs Beagle's compliments.
Ms. Beagle, hahl knew Bessie sent i
i tlf46methD9fa the slGh6 6h146 because
helped to cure cold l particularly Niehe'
| to get rid Of in order 70 tako Selma Aay
dew out sleighing. had como 70 de-
4 pe1ptqgesslxe. MYVqpCsrs4IM<lD2sl
\ az e Following III re eok II
\ might, I should ding Il Ht16 ieek a a
goddess In the form q eleigh-ride. y
! stockines were growing sizy, 80 nes'le
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