Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1882-03-15


lived for month, exchanging constant
missiles Of warfare. Icould cheerfally
have given up that miserable French
fat and gone back to boarding, only
luckily l had engaged it for year.
The fourth floor elocutionized, and had
friends to select private readings,
whose voices were deeper than Ham
let's and more sonorous than that of
Charlotte Cushman. She was Chart
able and had classes Of heavy booted
girls twice week, to sing hymns and
learn to sew. A single lady. indeed !
If she had been quadruple lady she
could not have made more noise, nor
enjoyed the making Of it more.
At the close Of the month, however,
an incident happened which turned the
current Of my whole life. l went ON a
picnic. I don't often go to anything
Of that kind; but this was an especial.
ly select affair gotten up by my friend
Harold Webster. / went and there ]
met Barbara Willis, and fell straight
away in love with her.
She wasn't exactly young, but neith-
err am l, and to my taste q full-blown
rose is sweeter than a bud wherever
you find it growing. She was dark
eyed, with full cherry lips, satin brown
hair, and complexion as fresh as roses
and ivory. We walked; our ideas
conceded exactly. It seemed as if our
souls were two looking-glasses, to
mirror each others.
"Miss Willis" cried /, why is it
Chat we have never met before? l feel
a. if we were old, old friends. "
As ! spoke l gently pressed her
hand, and she smiled back unutterable
thing. went to my friend Webster,
who was making up quadriIcs on the
upper deck. We were accompanied by
an excellent brass band.
"Oh, Harold" exclaimed /, II can
never thank you enough for introduce
ing me to that ANGEL"
do you mean Barbara Willis"
he said "Well, do think she is
rather fine girl"
We grew confidential as we sat to-
gether on the promenade deck and
watched the moonlight ripple over the
surface Of the tides.
"a bachelors life is but half life,
Miss Willis" said I.
II can readily imagine that" she said
softly.
81 live in fat" confessed !.
do you ?" said Barbara (the sweet
old English name was just like herr.
"Why, how strange So do l."
"Isn't it dreadful ?" said I.
"Horridw said she. closing her lips
as though she meant it.
"And there's female dragon occu.
pies the floor above me, and torments
me out Of my life."
"Well, if this isn't q remarkable
coincidence !" replied Barbara. There's
a detestable old .crab Of a bachelor
under me, who takes all the pleasure
out of my life"
SHOULD two lives be thus blighted ?"
said !.
IL don't think so" said Barbara,
looking intently at the boquet of
pansies she held in her hand.
1t was past midnight when the boat
landed. Harold Webster came up.
II promised to zee you home, Miss
Willis" said he, rubbing his hands
briskly.
"You need not trouble yourself,
Webster" said I. II shall be most
happy"
! called hack, helped the divine
Babara in, feeling more and more as
if I were walking in cloudland.
"Wherc shall / drive to?" said the
man.
mo. SO Ravenal street," said she.
Fourth floor"
"What p cried mot the Fernan-
dine flats p
Exactly" said she.
"Why that's where / live"
Are you OH the third hoorf' she
cried out, breathless.
care you on the fourth? ?" / counter
questioned.
"But you're not crab at all! !"
"Nor are you dragon. On the
contrary"
But what matters it what was said.
Things were altered from the very be-
ginning. ! took my violin up stairs
the next day, and helped Barbara out
with sonata Of Beethoven's. | sug-
gested new educational theory for the
hob-nailed classes. / listened enchant-
ed to her recitation Of Tennyson's
Brook and at the end Of the quarter