Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1880-09-01
HOW SHOCKS GOT OUT OF IT
BY THE AUTHOR OF "PHYLL1s,' ETC.
(Frcm London Society.l


If you will take my ADVICE sal
Mr.. Wildlng. making last noble bu
futile effort to balance the ivory paper
knife on the tip of his first finger, "yo7
won't go to the Brownrigs' ball."
Aud why not % asked his compan
ion irritably.
well, | really wouldn't, you know,
said Mr.. Wilding, giving up his struggle
with the impossible, and laying the re
fractory paper-knife upon the table
for variety of reasons. Girls pla,
the very mischief with you, and vol
know what trouble it gave me to get vol
out Of your last scrape. There are foul
Browning girls, aren't there? And the,
are all pretty?
81 don't see what that's got to do with
it, said Shocks sulkily. "There's safe.
t,v in multitude. 1 can't marry EN- all
can I ?"
Happily, no! Though if the laws
of your land did not forbid it, am in
clined to think you might try to accom-
pllsh even that Still, be advised
Shocks, and be conspicuous by your alb
sence atthe BrOwnrigs' small and early.
Papa Browning when incensed is not
nice, and you know you are decidedly
epris with Miss Katie"
No, am not,' said Shocks, with
decision, not bit of it. Though I allow
she is a. handsome girl, and has lovely
eyes. Hasn't she now %
81 don't know. AS arule I never look
into woman's eyes. / consider it a
rudeness as we'll as betise," said Wild
ing earnestly, telling his lie without !,
blush. "Never mind her ewes 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 moral
zone would think I was raw school
boy said young Shocks wrathfully.
"Do you think can't look at a woman
without committing myself? Do look
like fool g.
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 amiahly.
" | only meant you were slghtly-very
slightly - susceptible, and that Miss
Katie has a certain amount of pleasing
power, and !, that =! t positively would give
care you going?" broke in Shocks i'm
patiently.
"Well, yes, I daresay I shall look in
about twelve"
'Then shall look in with you.' said
Shocks defantly.
'Fact is, the fellow wants to spoon her
himself, and don't see the force of being
cut out said he to himself complacent-
ly, as he ran down the steps of Wilding's
stairs.
Beyond all question the Brownrigs
ball was decided success, The rooms
were filled to overlooking, the staircases
were choked. The heat was intolerable.
Sir Thomas and Lady Higgins had ac-
tually put in an appearance after all,
and the supper, if UNBEATABLE, was, I as
sure you, very expensive. No pains or
money had been spared; everything was
what the mistress of the house called
rug regal, and all the Miss Brownies
looked as comfortable as any one could
desire.
There were four of them. There was
Katie, the second ughter-Shook' s
friend, and the possessor of the lovely
eyes. And they were lovely; large, land
dark, and true, and TENDER" like the
north, according to the Laureate; black
as sloes,' said her fond if>SsEg Chilly op-
pressive mother, and of the languid
melting order.
Then there was Hetty, the eldest girl,
who if her eyes we're 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
TIL her (only she would have blushed,
they were all nicely brought up) about
Dudu, and her Phidian appendage.
Then came Georgie-' George the
third, as she was playfully termed in
the bosom of her family -who, if she had
neither nose nor eyes like her sisters, had
certainly prettier mouth than either.
A sweet little kissable rosebud of a mouth
that pouted and laughed alternately, and
did considerable execution. "=--~
And finally there was Lilv. A tall.
pale girl, with blue eyes, finely cut
chin, and a good deal of determination all
around.
Katie's we're larger, darker, and
when she looked at Shocks and thou eht
of his thousands) more melting than ever
that night. Her dress, if slightly bi.
zarre, was intensely becoming. Shocks
for the first half hour kept himself brave.
~ aloof from her destinations, declined
to notice her reproaohful chances and Ian.
gushing oeiliades, and for reward was
wretched. Finally, being driven into a
corner during fatal set of lancers, he
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,
Il believe there were some Chinese Ian.
terms there originally, but kind wind
had blown them out, and soft little
hand slipped into his did the work; and
Miss Katie had promised bashful]y, but
with unmistakable Willingness to be the
future Mrs 6nooks.s Whether It war
Snooks or the property pertaining tc
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 in a sorrow
case, IN search of Wilding; and having
discovered him, took him into a side
room, and shutting the door, confronted
HIM with rather pale face.
80 theeyes were two many for you o.
said MIR: Wilding calmly, after a de-
lberate examination of the disturbed
face before him. 81 told you how #
Thst;s the sort. d thing any lei fellow
might say, " returned Shocks spathetnal.
~. I'll didn't think you would have