The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1879-09-04
THE WAY JENNIE WAS WON.

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p yms " wHFrsocx. 4. !
Jennie and ! have recently purchased
4 neat little cottage in the pleasant town
in Minnesota, on a green-clad eminence
overlooking the Mississippi. We are
Just emerging from the latter end Of the
honeymoon-do married folks ever
emerge from the former end?-and we
are beginning TO realize that there is
moro solidity than ethereal lightness to
the married state. Still, we find it hap
pier and more comfortable than single
blessedness; at least do.
But I began with the intention of tell
ing you how came into possession of the
little female who is now sewing buttons
on my shirt. Deeply do I regret that ]
have no bachelor friend to whom could
present this history over good cigar.
That seems TO be the orthodox way of
telling these stories. But | do not
smoke, and Jennie does not like my
bachelor friends. She says they litter
up everything and she is apt to find
their muddy boot-marks on her freshly
blackened stove. / am gradually learn
ing to defer to my wife's judgment in
these little matters of late, so my bach
elor friends are not frequent visitors at
our house.
"Our house" | can say that now
with considerable equanimity, but eight
months ago these two words would set
my heart into futter and my face into
fame just as casual mention of twins
or baby carriages does now. 1t is singu-
lar how calmly a modest man like Inc
can look back upon past experiences,
and yet how nervous he becomes over
those in the future!
II continue much longer on this track
the story am trying to tell will never
see light, so / will pull up short, and, if
you will wait until / have passed judg-
ment upon the proper position Of that
last shirt button, will begin upon the
narration Immediately.
A year ago was sadly in love. / say
sadly, because there was no apparent
hope for me. A fellow by the name of
Lee-Tom Lee-occupied the place that
felt, after the fashion of all lovers, be-
longtd TO me. He was in the livery line,
and was dfeadfully illiterate. Y used to
insinuate that he conld not write his
own name. When I tell you that ! oc-
cupicd that position Of all Others re-
quiring culture and intelligence-local
reporter OF a small daily newspaper
you can Judge how immeasurabfy supe-
rior 70 Lee felt myself, and from what
q lofty height of contempt / looked
down upon him. But he had an unlim-
tied command of top-buggies and pranc-
ing bay teams. TO the hiring of which
my slender purse refused to accommo-
date itself. Can anybody imagine an
average young woman who is above the
temptation OF sitting behind n lively
pair OF horses and dasbing through the
streets of a small city, especially if a
freshly-purchased hat crowns the femi.
nine head with new beautiese At any
rate, the young lady in question was not
above this temptation. Many a time
my heart has smote against my ribs with
tremendous force, and my hand uncon
seiously clenched itself as the bay:
trotted past, covering me with dust
while l caught glimpse of smiling
petite woman's face in the carriage be
hind. Many a time i consoled myself
with the profound thought that thost
smiles were for the sake OF appearance
that there was no real enjoyment ir
riding, for every look and happy smile
was employed for its effect upon outside
gazers merely. Then / would retire L
my little room in a second-class board
ing-house, and shake my fist at imaginar,
Tom Lees, and-in short, act as ever,
love-sick youth does under similar cir
cumstances. These sufferings seem rathe
lsughable now, but they were dreadful,
real at the time, can assure you.
In one thing, however, 1 had the ad
vantage of my more fortunate rival.
am the possessor of an unusually hand
some skiff, and, having graduated at al
Eastern college, understand its use b
perfection. Miss Jennie delighted il
boat rides. !, of course, delighted i
gratifying her taste. Occasionally ha
the felicity of tucking her snugly int
the stern of the boat, rowing up tn
Mississippi a few miles with her, an
floating indolently back again an hou
or two later.
i conjecture that those boat rides c
ours we're a source of as much anxiet
and chagrin to Lee as his horses an
shiny buggies were to me, and, althoug
he was TO all appearances the favore
suitor, he determined TO secure TO hin
self even the feeting happiness whic
these hours brought to my heart. A.
cordingly one morning was treated I
long account by our Office devil of Ii
wonderful row-boat which Messrs. o.
were building for Lee, Of the City Lii
cry. The dismay which I felt at tn
news was only alleviated by my know
edge that he knew nothing about Il
mysteries of rowing as fine art, ar
that the outrigger and spoon-oar we
unsolved problems to him; he woul
surely make some awful blunder whiC
would again transfer his fair charge
my care, at least upon the water.
For a week or two after the devil
communication i was very busy in Il
Office. There was a fall election,
Presidential visit and a number
"events Of the season" crowded into
most unseemly short space of time.
almost entirely lost sight of Jennie n
her familiar demon, while danced Z
tendance upon candidates, interview
cabinet officers and entangled myself
the mazes of toilet description. az.
One evening after the paper was OF
and comparatively At leisure, 1 wa
dered down by the river bank TO thil
over a somewhat advantageous propo
tion ] had received from the Democrat