The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1878-10-19

i Mr. Blee had no idea that all was not wei
until coming home from u meeting OF officer
Zone night, he opened the door too suddcnl
with his latch-kcy, and surpriseda young ma
with very new and glossy hat IN his hand j
the act of bestowlng II farewell kiss on the re-
lips OF Miss Belinda Blce
The vision vanished on the instant, Mis-
IBlce stood AT least two yards farther from III
young man, looking formally polite. Tn
lyoung man, with his glossy hatrin agains
Ibis breast, bowed low to Miss Blee, and TO he
furious parent ar6Separtd.
ITS some Of the young swells, suppose
said Mr.. Blec to hlnsclf "bu I'm going Il
know all about it, anyway" Then he stalke'
into the parlor and beckOncd his daughter I,
follow him; and Belinda, with very rcd cheeks
obeyed She stood before her father as prett.
Il fashion.platc rs one could desire to see, ant
waited to be questioned bE.
where's your map asked Mr.. Blec.
leone up stairs" said Belinda.
Then you've been sparkling said Mr.. Blee
"Oh. pa, how vulgar" said Belinda. Spark
ing"
Its not words but facts rs I'm after" sait
Mr. Blec. you can't draw wool over ms
eyes. see him kiss you. Now who is her
ooh, pa" cried Belinda, don't be cross
"YOu expect me to marry some day, don
your" ~ VT @
"Why, YES, Bell" said Mr. Blce. II sup
pose | do. And it has gone that far, has It
And I've never seen the fellow before. Now
who Is he?"
"He is Mr.. Chrp,' sand Belinda.
swell, and who is MIR. Chirp, and who in
troduced him to YOU" asked Mr.. Blce
| al forget" said Belinda. at was one Of
the girls at school, ! think"
and what is hc?" asked Mr.. Blec. 81
knew the young swells would be after you
but | don't remember that name. There's
Chippcrs-th they're in the cotton trade. And
Chatters--tlley are silk people. And Chunks
is in Wall stect But Chirp--"
Mr. Cllirp is not in trade" said Belinda.
"Well, some of these rich mems sons has
enough without it," said Mr.. Blec, Lives on
his money, Ell? Well now, give me an idea
about him. His looks please me. I'd hey
kicked him down the steps, if they hadn't"
Mr. Chlrp is not rich, pa" said Belinda
"Ic-- Oh, am so glad you like his looks,
pa. He has the greatest respect tor you Mr.
Chirp isis Tatent"
as which 2" asked Mr.. Blee ....
"He belongs to Accompany" fatereu
Belinda.
Fire Insurance or Life 2" asked Mr. Blec
"Oh. pa-nothng Of that sort. He sings
and takes parts, and his talent IS very versatile.
He dances sometimes, and he can make you
think IL canary bird is down his throat"
swell, but Mm aint business" said Mr..
Blee .f..E.f ....E If|
at is his" said Belinda.
"Play-aCtlngr' rOared the old man
There was an awful silence. Then Mr.. Bles
arose.
Belinda" he said solemnly, bringing host
of negatives to his aid, rs ungrammatical per
sons always do when they wish to be emphatic
Belinda, don't you never let that young man
come into my house mo more, nor speak to
him nor nothing, nor write no letters to him,
nor nothing of that sort This Is the end of
that business, and if catch this here Mister
Chrp here again, I'll make him think there
is something worse than II canary bird down
his throat, can tell you. Now I'm gong to
talk to your ma" And he stalked out of the
room.
Belinda sank back in her chair in tears but
finally recovered, turned the gas out and went
up stairs to write note to Mr.. Chirp it was
rather romantic note, in which Mr.. Blee was
spoken of as her cruel parent, and she men
toned her heart as broken. The reply was
less sentimental. II ended thus:
Keep up your heart Bell. I'll come round
/ the old man yet If he found fault with me as a
man, why, should consider myselfinsulted; but
if what he objects to is falepi, why, that is his
Ignorance, ana any one who can dance, the dou-
be-shuillc clog -dancc can afford to despise it,"
But, alas. Mr.. Blec stood firm. The prayers
OF Bell and the remonstrances of her lover,
who called on Mr.. Blee to convince him OF his
Iprejudices, were all IN VAN. a
Belinda moped and wcpt and even took to
her bed, and tried to die of consumption but
gained twenty pounds from lack of exercise
instead. Yet Mr. Blee STOOD firm, and he was
still firm when committee of the ladies of
his congregation called upon him to ask his
aid IN getting up an entertainment for the
church, which again owed Il debt Of many
thousand dollars, II condition of things of
which 1t Is amazing that Christian churches
are not more ashamed.
Mr. Blec responded generously, as usual
The entertainment should be gotten up. II
should be at the best hall in the city. He
would engage speakers and singers. The mon
cy should be raised. The affair should he a
credit to the congregation.
And having decided that this should be so,
he entered heart and soul into the business.
For weeks his carriage might have been seen
flying about the city, his bald head, red with
excitement, bobbng out of the window to give
directions to the driver. And, finally, the
venerable Socrates Slow was engaged to deliv-
er the address, and the sopranos tenor, bari
tones, and bass singers of several popular
churches, induced to make night meodlous
with their voices. The piano solos were To be
| given by wondrous being whose fingers
seemed moved by electricity, and delicate cir
culars with gilt edges and creamcolored tickets
were in great demand. Mr. Blee reiolced.
The congregation applauded him. And the
night of the performance arrived
The stare where prima donnas had sung
was ready. Miss Blcc was in the audience in
a dress with diamond buttons and an orna.
ment IN her bonnet to match. Mrs Blee was
Il mountain Of jet black velvet and point lace
The seats were filled; but behind the scenes
Mr.. Blee strobe about on the verge of insanity
trembling before the first failure of his life
| He had had his bills made out to loOk iceN
| He did know something about bills, for he had
advertised soaps all his life; but he knew
nothing of musicians. Elecould not have trans
lated the word "prma DONNA He vaguely
knew that soprano was, as he expressed it,
| 1.-THE one that shruck shrilcsi in the CHOIR