Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1880-11-18
?aE DISGUISE. LOVER


natural desire for Tom. 1t isto him
what gold was to Midas; whatever
he touches turns to dirt. No matter
how white the cravat, how immacu-
late the vest, the moment that 1t
comes within the sphere ofTom 8 in
fiuence it's whiteness is gone; it is
immaculate no longer. Dogs,
sweeps and lamp-lighters never pass
him without leaving upon his dress
unequivocal marks of their pres
ence. Once, and only once, I saw
him cross the street without encOun-
tering tho wheels of a carriage. l
opened my mouth to congratulate
him, and before I could utter one
word, it was filled with m ID The
careless blockhead lay at my feet,
full length, in the gutter. At my
earnest solicitation he once pur-
chased suit of precisely mud color.
It was a capital idea. He crossed
the streets three times; he walked
half a mile and returned, in appear
ance, at least, unscathed. The thing
was unprecedented. True, he was
welcomed by the affectionate caress-
es of ofa dog who had been enjoy
ing the GOODNESS of a ne;ghboring
horse pond; true, he received a
shower-bath from the wheels of an
omnibus. But to plaster mud on
Toms new coat was "to gid refined
gold, to paint the lily. ''Tom will be
a neat man YETI 1 said, as l wit
messed the success of my plan.
In about half an hour it was my
fate to meet gentleman with sew
en- stripes of green paint on his back.
1t was my friend Tom; he had been
leaning against some newly ypainted
window blinds
Having no other amusement, one
morning I strolled over to Toms
rooms. AS ascended the stairs, |
heard his voice in very decided
tone. "But it must be done, and
there is an end to it,
Really was the reply, anything
within the limits of possibility; but
to make a coat in ten houIs--I will
promise anything in the world, but
/ really fear l shall be unable to per
FORM
';f double your price would be any
Certainly, sir, ifycu insist upon
it; certain y. l will put every man
in my shop upon it; it shall be done
in time. Good morning. SIR
The door opened, and a fellow
with shears and measures passed
out. What could Tom be doing with
tailorf
Just the man 1 wanted to see,' he
exclaimed. Il require your advice
on very important affair. Which
of these cravats do you think most
becomingP and he spread before me
some half-dozen Of every hue and
fashion.
'NOw, what in the name Of all that
is wonderful does this mean, Tom
A fancy ball, is itg You have cho-
sen an excellent disguise; your near
est friends will never know You. But
you cannot support the character,
Ifyou had taken that of a chimney,
sweep, now; but that would have
been too natural. Tell me truly,
Tom, what does all this meani'
'Why, the fact is, Frank (pass
ing hand through his hair, redo
lenu of macassar), q have conclu
ded-l think I shall be little more
neat in the future. You, doubtless,
remember the good advice you gave
me some time since; it has had an
excellent effect, I assure you.
Now, it SO happened that, Of all
the good advice I had ever given
Tom, this was the very first instance
in which he had seen fit to follow it
So | could not attribute the meta
morphosis Of my friend to my elo-
quence. Who but a woman eyei
changed sloven to fop?
Pray, where are you going this
evening" I continued, that you must
have new coat so suddenly"
"Golng? no where in particular.
had, indeed, some idea Of calling or
my old friend, Mr.. Murray; no harm
in that, l hope"
"Your old friend, Mr.. Murray. and
his young niece, Miss Julia, has nc
share in your visit, I suppose? !
heard that she arrived in town las
night"
"Now; upon my word, Frank yol
mistake me entirely. | did not ksnd
that she was in town last night-
when THAT is, when II did no
know anything about it.
"And so you were there last night
too! Really, this is. getting alons
bravely."
why, the fact is, FraDR, yo7
| must know everything. | called las
exenll G to see Murray on some busi
ness about that real estate, you know
/ had no more idea Of meeting a we
man than boa coLstrictor-nfJ
beard was three days old. my COLA
ditto--and the rest Of my dress in ex-
cellent keeping. / became engaged
in conversation, and somehow or or
ther forgot all about the real es