Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1880-09-23
How Shocks Got Out Of It


III you Will take my advice, said Mr.
Wilding, making Il last noble but futile
effort to balance the ivory paper-knife
on the top of his first finger" you won't
go to the BrOwnrigs ball"
And why mott" asked his companion
irritably.
well, really wouldn't, you know,
said Mr.. Wilding, giving up his strug-
gle with the impossible, and laying the
refractory paper-knife upon the table,
''fOr variety of reasons. Girls play
the very mischief with you, and you
know what trouble it gave to me to get
you out of Your last scrape. There are
four Browning girls, aren't there ?" and
they are all pretty?"
Il don't see what that's got to do with
it" said SnOOks Sulkily. "There's safety
in multitude. can't marry 'em all,
can ?"
Happily, nOl Though, if the laws of
your land did not forbid it, l am in
clined to think you might try to accom-
plish even that. Still, be advised, ,Snooks,
and be conspicuous by your absence at
the Brownrigs' small and early Papa
Browning when encensed is not nice,
and you know you are decidedly epris
with Miss Kate
mo, am not" said Snooks with de-
cision. Not bit or it. Though l al
low she is a handsome girl, and has love
ly eyes. Hasn't she, now?"
81 don't know. As a rule | never look
into woman's eyes. l consider it a
rudeneSS as well as a 6etise," said Wild
ing, earnestly, telling his lie with a
blush. Never mind her eyes. If"
warningly, you must go to this ball, at
least try to forget that she has any eyes
at all. If you don't, you'll propose to
her, to a moral"
"One would think l was raw school
boy" said young Snooks wrathfully.
do you think l can't look at woman
without committing myselfs Do look
like fool?"
Whatever Mr.. Wilding thought at that
moment, he kept it to himself, Before
he spoke next, he and his conscience
had agreed to dissemble.
MY. dear fellow, do not let us even
hint at such a thing. he said amiably.
81 only meant you were slightly-very
slightly and that Miss Kate
has a certain amount of pleasing power,
and that positively would give up
this ball if +
Are you going?" broke in Snooks i'm
patiently.
"Well, yes, daresay 1 shall look in
about twelve"
"Then 1 shall look in with you," said
SnOoks defiantly.
| Fact is, the fellow wants to spoon
her himself, and don't see the force of
being cut out" said he to himself COM
placently, as he ran down the steps of
Wilding's stairs.
Beyond all question the Brownrigs'
ball was a decided success. The rooms
were filled to OverfiOwing, the staircase
was choked, the heat was intolerable.
Sir Thomas and Lady Higgins had actu-
ally put in an appearance after all, and
| the supper, if uneatable, was, | assure
you, very expensive. No pains of mon
ey had been spared; everything was
what the mistress of the house called
rug regal and all the Miss BrownrigS
looked as charming as any ono could de-
sire.
There were four of them. There
was Katie, the second daughter
Snookss friend, and the preseason of
the lovely eyes, And they were lovely;
large, and dark, and true, and tender,
| llhO OllC 4NOlUll StOCOIulu5 w OllO ALhS'AO
ate; black as slOes, said her fond and
oppressive mother, and of the languid
melting order.
Then there was Hetty, the eldest girl,
who, if her eyes were not dark as mid
night, had at least the dearest little nose
in-the world. A pure Greek feature.
perfect in every respect, ignorant of
colds in the head, that made one long to
tell her (only she would have blushed,
they were all nicely brought up about
Dudu, and here Phidian appondage.
Then came Georgie-'George the Third
as she was playfully termed in the bo-
som of her family-who, if she had nei-
ther nose nor eyes like her sisters, had
certainly prettier mouth than either.
A sweet little kissable rosebud of
mouth, that pOuted and laughed alter
nately, and did considerable execution.
And finally, there was Lily. A tall,
pale girl, with blue eyes, a finely cut
chin, and a good deal of determination
all round.
Katie's eyes were larger, darker, and
(when she looked at Snooks and thought
of his thousands) more melting than
ever that night. Her dress, if slightly
bizarre, was intensely becoming. Snooks,
for the first half hour, kept himself
bravely alOof from her fascinations, de-
termined to notice her reprOachful
glances and languishing giuaoes, and for
reward was wretched. Finally, being
driven into corner during fatal set
of Lancers, ne met her eyes, saw, and
was conquered. She would dance the
next with him? Yes (coldly). And the
next? Yes (more gently. And the
ninth-he can see she is disengaged for
it? Yes (this time quite warmly.
An hour later the deed was done.
Some capital champagne, dark avenue
q believe there were some Chinese Ian
terms there originally, but kind wind
had blown them OUT, and foft little
hand slipped into his, did the work; and
Miss Katie had promised bashfully, but
with unmistakable willingness, to be the
future Mrs. Snooks. Whether it was
Snooks or the property pertaining to
Snooks she most affected, deponent say
eth not.
When, however, her betrOthed found
what he had done, and remembered his
former words, and all the awfulness of
parental wrath, his heart failed him.
He went, as he usually did when in sor
ry case, in search of Wilding; and hav-
ing discovered him, took him into side
room, and shutting the door, confronted
him with rather pale face.
$50 the eyes were too many for you,
said Mr.. Wildlpg calmly, after deliber-
ate examination of the disturbed face
before him. Il told you how it would
be-"
"That's the sort of thing any fellow
might say" returned Snooks pathetical-
ly. 81 didn't think you would have been
so aggravating. And just when you
see I'm down on my luck, too. Yes, I've
been and gone and done it
'"Mother will be pleased" quoted
his friend and law adviser with shrug
$50, by the bye, will be your father.
They both regard nothing so highly as
birth. | suppose Miss Browning can