Charlotte messenger. [volume] (Charlotte, Mecklenburg Co., N.C.) 1882-18??, 1882-08-12
TOMS EXPERIENCE.

Ono OF bnCBe aua1rS, you Know,
tilted over the face just sufficiently to
throw most becoming shadow
over the eyes, making them look like
violet, on shady bank; and golden
brown hair, sir, streaming on the wind ;
and such an innocent baby-face, like
one of Raphael's cherubs Jove girl
worth looking after, assure you'll"
The weather was too warm to do more
than stare languidly at Toms excited
countenance but, fortunately he was
too much interested in his theme to be
as exigeant as he generally is, so he
accepted the stare as sufficient token of
interest on the part of his attached
friend-myself-and straightway pro-
ceeded:
"She's with an old lady in brown
front and spectacles, and set of teeth
false, you knov-and no one knows
who they are and she walks on the
sands every morning quite early, with
out the lady with the front, and as sure
as my names Tom Latimer, I'll manage
an introduction"
"What about Godine ?" in tone replete
with that elegant sarcasm for which l
am noted, but which, curiously enough,
Tom never appreciates as it deserves,
He now obliged the company-myself
and lemon. colcred setter-with one or
two forcible, though inelegant, express
sions, bearing reference firstly to me,
and secondly to Godine. Godine was
the last damsel to whom he had whis-
pered VOWS If love.
The weather, as have said, was ex.
cessively warm, and Tom is extremely
tall, with well-developed biceps. SO the
resentment which, under the circum-
stances, might have cherished was
wanting and with the eye of an injured
yet forgiving friend, watched him as
ne stalked to the mirror and commenced
a critical examination of his Greciau
features and elaborate necktie, ah oper-
alton he spent fully ten minutes in.
Then, whistling to the lemon-colored
and gloves, and without so much as
deiening glance toward my loun ging-
chair, he made his exit from the apart.
ment, leaving me to the enjoyment Of
my dolce far niente, disturbed by no
visions of violet eyes and golden hair,
or, in fact, anything but pleasing
yet melancholy remembrance of the
canvas backed ducks and chablis had
partaken of that day at my dinner /;
melancholy, for do we not feel regret
for the good that is passed?
I am not of an active habit of body,
but / am the fortunate possessor Of
that jewel, rare at my time of life-a
coed appetite-to retain which / court
the morning breezes before breakfast /;
and it was during my constitutional the
following day that next caught sight
of Tom, the lemon-colored setter and
the necktie, and at the same time of q
shepherdess hat. q floating cloud of
golden hair, pair Of blue eyes, and the
whitest, fattest and wooliest poodle it
has ever been n fate to see.
The shepherdess hat was leading the
poodle by blue ribbon with one hand,
while the other held q book, on the
pages Of which the blue eyes were down.
cast, of course utterly unconscious Of
Tom, who was walking some twenty
yards behind. diligently sucking the
handle of his cane. and as diligently
staring at back view of the shepherd
ess hat black, trimmed with crimson
roses-the golden hair and the daintiest
little waist, round which blue moire
belt was ever fastened, and the neatest
foot ever buttoned up In kid bottine.
with mother.of-pearl buttons.
1t is needless to say that, as the hat
was absorbed in her book, and Tom In
the contemplation Of the fair student,
neither Of them observed me; and,
knowing from experience how condu-
rive 10 n hearty anr,akika little mild ex-