Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1880-01-22
T'Other Dear Charmer." "

was in n quandary, as l think you
will admit when have stated my case,
and it was exceedingly provoking to be
conscious that / was looked upon by all
my acquaintances as the luckiest man in
town, while 1 bore in my bosom the in
ward conviction that | was the most
involved and bothered being in exist
ence. Up to a month back, / suppose l
might with some show of reasonable
ness, have been called lucky, for Miss
Clara Alden, the recognized belle of the
season, smiled upon me. and the current
impression prevailed that If would go
In I'd win.
Well, did go in. That's the mischief
of it. I was in just far enough to com.
NIT myself to the contest, but before /
had sighted the winning post something
happened TO make me pause.
We were at the skating rink one
night, large party of us, Miss Alden
was a young foreigner, who was being a
good deal lionized in society just then,
and Clara seemed to take a marked in
terest in him. 1t did not concern me in
the least TO observe this, for since had
fancied myself to be in love with Clara
Alden / had had reason to congratulate
myself upon the assurance that / was
not of n jealous temperament. / in
tended pretty soon to tender to Miss
Alden a good sized heart and a good
sized hand and n fairly good-sized for
tune, and / sincerely hoped she would
accept them. Until then, and indeed
after then, always within the limits of
good taste, she was free to receive the
attentions of any man or woman whose
society gave her pleasure. / think Miss
Alden and understood each other per-
fectly. We were very old friends, and
the suitability of an alliance between us
had been frequently suggested to each
ever since we could remember. l was
quite contented with this condition of
affairs. and even supposed myself to be
very happy.
Well, this night at the rink l had seen
Clara skate off with her Englishman,
and with an unperturbed spirit / was
skimming around the rink alone when,
and little scramble and somebody fell.
The next instant, as I turned. met a
pair of imploring and beautiful eyes, and
an imploring and beautiful voice cried
out:l
"Oh, won't you please pick me up7"
eagerly clasped the little hands and
drew the PROSTATE young lady to her
feet. was just in time, for half dozen
other men had hurried to the spot,
among whom she recognized an ac-
quaintance. She made her bow to me
and said her "thank you" very pref
tily. and then she accepted the proffered
hand of her friend and glided away from
me. And do you know / did not like
itP felt distinctly vexed, for you Sc
she was bewitchingly lovely, and tn
glimpse / had had of her was merely
tantalizing.
met her after that many times, al
ways with the same man, whom / was
rather provoked 10 recognize rs a
stranger. / now found myself always
watching for thst one little figure. and
following IL through all the labyrinthine
mazes OF the surging crowd upon the
rink. forgot to speak TO my acquaint-
ances as they passed. and although
there were half y score of young ladies
who had - right TO expect me 10 join
them and convoy them around the rink
I skated on alone, in utter disregard OF
every social and moral obligation 10 that
effect. Every now and thea I chanced
upon Miss Alden. but felt too pre-
occupied 10 join or even 10 observe her
especially. when suddenly something oc-
cured that invested her with a lively In
ierest. She had been stopping 10 speak
. some friends who sat without the
railing looking on. and ~ she and her
escort were about starting out again.
she suddenly came face 10 faee with my
little beauty. There wms n CLEAN OF
recognition on both faces, and then Miss
Alden exclaimed:
why, DAISY, where have you drop
ped fromP Who could have thought
of seeing you. Of all people. berepn
There was rather n WARN greeting be-
tween the two before Daisy explained:
81 have come Tor the winter, and
have been wanting 90 look you up, but
only arrived vesserday- ! am so glad
tohave met you hers.S