The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1878-05-02
OUR STORY TELLER.
CATERPILLAR CLOTKS
by HARRIET IRVING.

"That dear, sweet, lovely old Good
yearm said the widow Melrose, applying
n square Of cambria to her eloquent eyes
as she laid down the pamphlet she had
been reading. "How could adore such
a manW
"The India-rubber man T asked John
Lean, with gasp.
The widow, who had dawned upon his
mothers boarding-house like star,
taking all hearts by storm, had been at
great pains to enlighten him as to the
various objects Of her alteration, but
this new phase of idolatry was beyond
his comprehension.
"The India-rubber man, if you like"
answered the lady, with lifting of the
brows which brought the blood to the
cheeks Of John Lean, printer by trade;
"and don't see how commonplace men
can consent to go ON in be same old
grooves with such an example before
them"
Silence ensued. 1t was summer time,
and on shoot of grapevine just with
out the window stood a great brown
caterpillar, rearing itself in frantic
efforts to reach the fair enthusiasts
silken sleeve. The young man watched
IL with fascinated interest. Presently
he murmured, deprecatingly:
"Perhaps / don't know so much about
him as I ought. He wore dreadful
old coat, didn't hep
"a miracle Of genius" explained
the widow, icily.
The caterpillar had now lifted itself
TO its full height. John Lean saw too
clearly the impending danger, but didn't
like TO hazard chance of regaining the
lady's good graces by a sudden Interrupt
ton of their conversation.
He was awfully poor, wasn't he?'
asked John.
Destitute" assented Mrs. .Melrose,
with gusto.
"And his wife and children starved
to deathT'
Nothing daunted him."
The caterpillar dropped, and John
Lean gave an uneasy start, but went on
with his questions.
"And ne couldn't bury themT'
"La mew remarked Johns mother,
who had come in for last view of the
tea-table, and who righted cake b1Dket
to hide a defective spot in the plating
ms she spoke; "seems to me / should
like to be buried decent, if my husband
was ever such genius"
John looked troubled, as he always
did when his mother ventured remark
in the presence of Mrs. Melrose; bu
whatever termination the little tete-a
tete might have had was cut short OF
by a scream from the lady of john
o delight.
"A worml a wor-ruml" shrieked tn,
fair creature, and fell straightway int
Mysteries, out of which she was assisted
by Mrs. Leans masculine boarders, VIII
had Just entered in a body to answe
the summons of the gong. There wa
one, however, who took no part in tn
resuscitation-a newcomer, like tn
fair Melrose, a star Of secondary magni
tude, n charming and agreeable youn
man, known to the feminine inmates @
Mrs. Leans house as "Apollo," but VIII
was baptismally designated Richar
Lowe. This youth, taking advantage G
the general confusion, elected horr
fed exclamation from modest little Mr.
Lean by slyiy s@heezing her hand; br
the good lady, though shocked, was pc
haps not entirely indignant, as it cam
TO general observation soon after ths
the handsome Richard was the recipieI
of especial tit-bits at meals, and that
had taken to monopolizing the conve
sation of the hostess. AS for discomfite
John Lean, having satisfied himself thi
the hysterical fit was not fatal, he wit
drew to a distance, his eyes riveted {
the caterpillar, still within the handke
chief in which he had captured it.
"a miracle of genfusP he murmure
"I wonder IL could make miracle
genius, and i wonder if she wou
adore me-"
So, wondering, he walked away met
tative and supperless.
Observant boarders vowed that MI
Lean looked ten years younger the ne
day. She beamed like a young MI
mE% moon until she discovered that her s,
had not taken himself to his printin
Office at the usual early hour, but W
immured in his upper attic and deaf
his mothers voice. Then indeed 8
sighed, and watched Mrs. Melrose wi
suspicion but that lady was also i
INJURED in her own apartment, and 81
picion had nothing to feed upon. On
In the dusk, when tea was over and
gas not lighted in the rooms above, M
Lean, ON the arm Of "Apollo" Loy
lifting the parlor window-curtains, Cal
unexpectedly upon John Lean and M
Melrose taking an observation of
street lAmps.
Mrs. Lean found it expedient to &
nothing that night, but her son impos
no check on his virtuous indignatit
His mother was making fool of h
self, and before everybody. The n
ternal lecture was quenched, The mo
tress put to fight by her own blushes
After this little incident there was
more encounters. When Mrs. Melr
was out of her room, Mr.. Lowe clune
his, and vice versa; but it was not hi
10 see how things were going. G'
little Mrs. Lean, who had been vaun
by her deceased husband as a won
with no nonsense about her, emula
the arts of the younger and fairer wild
She took TO using powder and pomat
and dressing in Juvenile style. She
out a long-disused guitar, recalled "
painful industry rhythmic demons
tion, and accompanied the music v
@an exceedingly thread-like vocal ell
while Apollo listened entranced.
Happily John was not present.
Il. - x&&so Hsa o+<s< GaI AGAR