Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1878-11-20

At such times, as we know--if, that
is to say, we are not born takers, like
our friends of the Emerald IsIe-there
comes the moment when everything Is
used up. Neither Joke, nor pun, nor
lively anacdote will visit the distressed
brain. Nothing remains but to choose
between naked commonplace and dole
full silence 10 me, one evening at din
ner. such a moment came. Up to that
time (for our host was silent MANI
had done all the talking, and Miss
Eleanor's eyes had often mutely thank
ed me. | could help her no longer. In
the silence that followed on this dreary
conception she raised her gentle voice.
What plaintive look there was in her
face! How hard she was trying to be
animated; and how [ felt for her
Happy thought Had [ been alone, |
should nave cut a caper. 1t struck
me all at once that had not told them
about our new conner, and the tricks
we had played upon him. This, if only
properly managed, would afford food
for laughter and amusement for
days.
"Oh, by the by" l began, 81 have
not told you about the new fellow who
arrived at our place the other day"
Certainly Miss Eleanor's eyes were
fixed on me with an interest such as
she had not hitherto accorded to any of
my stories, and, thus encouraged, /
proceeded boldly, telling them, only
with much more gusto, what / had Just
told you, about the letters and adver-
tisements, the dead mems cards and
the false suicide. | was so much taken
up by my own cleverness that did not
notice the way in which my story was
being received by my hostess. Judge
then of my establishment and dismay
when, as | ended with an innate little
| chuckle, she suddenly burst OUT
"And do you call yourselves men.
Do you know what [ call your"
MY dear Nellie" said her father.
[ was speechless. She fixed her eyes
on my face, and the position. assure
you, was a singularly uncomfortable
one.
II call you cowards," she went on,
"and-and-" Evidently she was at a
loss for an expressive word
Miss Hartley" | said, deeply peni-
tent, eff"
Pray, say no more" she answered,
coldly. "Papa, will leave you to your
wine"
/ did not see her again during my
stay, which, as you may guess, was not
prolonged beyond the time absolutely
necessary. This abrupt and mysterious
interruption of an acquaintanceship
that had promised to prove interesting,
cut me up more than can we'll express.
| tried to cast the whole matter out of
my mind. / could not In every quiet
moment | would find myself running
over the unfortunate occurrence. and
trying to account for it. Had she
known him before? Was she in love
with him? The idea first made me turn
hot, then cold. But no, impossible. Not
the most extravagant fancy could make
these two images, of Eleanor Hartley
and of our simple little newcomer
stand side by side. Looked at from
another point Of view, the thing was
absolutely absurd A score of men ad-
mired Eleanor Hartley-tine, stalwart
fellows, the pick of our community, for
none other would have ventureG to lift
their eyes SO high-men broad-chested
and deep-voiced, and we'll versed in
every kind Of world love- Was it not
preposterous to imagine that this pull
ing boy could be her tchoice? How
then was | to explain her displeasure?
did explain it. 1t would be hard for
you to guess how. But at certain times,
you know, our thoughts are peculiarly
obedlent to impulse communicated to
them by will with which our
desires have tempered. [ SAID to
myself that Eleanor Hartley was dis
appointed in me. Yes, this was the
meaning Of it all. That [ should have
joined in inhicting annoyance on a
helpless fellow-creature vexed her.
And really, when / looked back calmly,
the whole thing began to wear an ugly
aspect. Well, it was annoying. But
time plays havoc with impressions.
Eleanor would be sorry, doubtless, for
her hastiness. | could cas- y, put the
matter in different light. Ali would
be well.
Meanwhile I returned to my own
quarters, where, as | presently found,
events Of an exciting character were
uuuCI OlSCllSSlOIl. MISS I1drJlGY, WAS
told, had come to pay visit to her mar
ried sister, who lived in our settlement.
AS we were not cheered by the presence
of any unmarried ladies, this was of
course an occurrence of the first magni-
tude. But further, large dinner was
to be given at our club, to which all the
| ladies and our newcomer were invited.
He had been persuaded that the dinner
was givon in his honor, and was beguil-
ed into making a speech. from which
much fun was expected. [ threw cold
water on this scheme [ was afraid,
you see, that Miss Hartley might see in
it another malicious trick and be furth-
er incensed against me. But once a
ball Of such sort is set rolling, it requires
a hand Of peculiar force to stop it.
Mine was not able for the feat, and my
friends arranged their plan of action
without me. After all. I think I was
not sorry that he should make fool of
himself publicly before Miss Eleanor.
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