Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1882-06-02

elleOA " oAu, my AAoe 'A'Ae "e
bearing.
hurried to the market. He was not
there. Another person presided st his
stall, who could tell me nothing about
him I went back wondering, and
looking around for some friend to IN
terrogate. l saw nobody, but in pass
ing Tom Bearings former lodgings l
heard the notes of flute.
/ stopped and looked up. The win
dows were open and the rooms were
plainly inhabited. Was it Tom. | ran
up the steps and knocked, half expect
ing that strange voice would demand
my business.
"Come in" said the familiar voice
Of my friend, and Fastening forward |
saw him in a lowered dressing gown
and velvet slippers, leaning back in
luxurious armchair.
"Tom :"
The proper thing would be to ex-
claim, Good heavens can trust my
eyes ?" he replied.
"You are not to be a marKet-garden-
er any longer, them
"No | have resigned. 1t was not
entirely favorable TO my pet ambition
matrirnony-so [ thought | would dis
pose of my entire stock, and do ike
all the rest of the world-marry for
money"
Marry? Are you to be married !"
81 have the pleasure of replying to
that question in the affirmative, my
dear friend; and to say that shall ex
pect you to be my first groomsm2n on
the happy occasion. positively won't
call you my best man-that Is too
English"
Istared-acknowledged that the fact
was not surprising.
''Tell me what you mean" | said.
with pleasure, if you will sit down
and not continue to gaze at me as if l
were menagerie or an aquarium
monster"
Tom smiled, laid aside his flute, lit a
cigar, and said;
"You gave me the idea which has
led to the present denoument-to test
the friendship, let u: call it, OF those
two charming Dung persons-M Made
moisellt Edith and Emma. You sug-
gested railroad accident, and a note
to each with view to reply. But
that was impractical and did not prom
Use decisive results. Unfortunately the
convention of modern society interfer-
Is with romance. The maidens could
not even rush to my bedside, or even
express in gushing terms their emotions
by mail, since others would peruse the
notes. gave that up, and thought Of
y more convenient plan"
Il see-you mean the market gar
den business-but--"
'Iot me flow on uninterrupted, my
lriel.,. | shall reach the conclusion
sooner. | said to myself, There is one
paramount question. Which of these
fair ones is sincerely attached TO me,
and likes me best for MYSELF"
Il begin to understand"
"And the test was perfectly easy. |
disappeared from society, and became
market gardener, saying to myself as
! took my place, in 4 White apron, be-
mind my stall: The one who does not
loose affection and respect for me now
Is tine real angel Well you were pres
ent that morning, but not on other
mornings. The angels actually came
on the sly-one after the olher-to see
if the terrible report we're true. They
did not speak to the poor market gard
cner, formerly their friead. They lurk-
behind the crowd with wells down, but
recognized them"
"Yes- yell?"
81 see you are impatient, my friend,
to proceed after his own fashion. Let
me proceed. First came my beautiful
friend Miss Emma Her mamma had
doubtless informed her Of the mon-
strous fact that | WAS reduced to utter
poverty, and was compelled to sell
cabbaged. She came to see with her
own eyes. and as she passed me, upper
ceived rs she no no doubt supposed, |
swear heard low laugh under her
green yell"
"rha, wa not sympathetic, TO say
the least"
at was not. but | waited sure that
some one else would come sooner or
later There was another youthful
angel who had professed friendship fer
the unfortunate market glrdner. |
saw her pass on the very next morning,
and"
she Laughed, too ?'
"On the contrary she-well, she
sobbed
Really n
Actually"
And that very evening you went
and knelt down aud confessed every
thing, and gushed, and asked darling
Edith To marry you and share your
market gardener n
"No. went and asked the other
one
The fair Emma?
Even so. You see | was anx-
ious 10 know everything ascertain
precisely how | stood in the regards of
both.
Yes; and you went in your white
anron?''
Not precisely, but in my course
gardeners suit"
and your friend, Miss Emma-"
Discarded me with a emptiness
that really made me dizzy But the
most interesting part is to come. With
mild SORROW, but earnest persistence, |
requested the grounds upon which she
refused me SO fatty. You will not be
lieve me, but in the end | made her &C.
knowledge that she did not think it
honorable i'll gentleman to urge
lady to occupy an almost mental sta
ton, and then she really tossed her
head. and | thought had better bow
and retire"
'Brokeu-hearted T.
Not entirely. There was another
visit to pay on the same day. You know
to whom it was-and the market gar
deners reception there was very diff
ferent in fact-but you are not so
unreasonable as to expect me to COM
municate the incidents of that inter
view! There is, however, no obiec-
ton 70 telling You the result. | anu
engaged t. be married, and the inter
esting cerem ny will take place in Just
three months.
you are Imuch too concise in your
denouements. Was the market gar
dener no objection
None in the word. SOMEBODY told
me, with n laugh through tears, that il
was very respectable cuisines; that
she was no: at all ashamed to marry
market gardener, and after all, need
not continue on, as my wife would
have plenty of money, Then my in
most heart smote me, and | acknowl-
edged my deceit"
And she forgsve it - l said, laugh
inc.