Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1882-04-14

The Professor received his invitation
as he sat in his room with watery eyes
and nose made very red by constant APP
plication of his handkerchief He knew
he should probably be the lion of the
evening, and resolved to order a new
suit OF clothes for the occasion. He
drew his desk close TO the fire, and wrote
n telegram TO his tailor in R., n city
distant ten miles, telling him TO send by
express samples of the most fashionable
cloth for gentlemen evening wear. A
boy was dispatched with the message.
BY the five o'clock train the samples ar
rived, and the boy who was at the eX-
press Office waiting for them, took them
Mt once to the Professor. He examined
them very carefully, indeed, before
making choice He had heard Mrs.
Alexander say that nothing disguised
her more than to see II person dressed
out of taste, and he was wise enough to
understand that to please the mother of
the girl he hoped to win was no small
thing, especially as he must depend on
that mother to help him win the daugh-
ter. After long deliberation, he made a
choice.
Pearl-gray is always genteel," he
said. "That is a color, or rather shade,
that must, think, please every one"
He sent the sample he had selected
to his tailor, directing that knight of the
shears and goose to make him q suit of
the same cloth, having it cut in the way
that would be the most becoming to
one of his figure and position. The
tailor had his measure. Il Is (
"H'mn' said the tailor when he re-
ceived the sample. "I wonder how
this got in among the pieces ! sent
Appleton? believe piece was lying on
the desk when | put up the samples.
Guess young Durfec sent it in when he
ordered that masquerade suit. Wonder
why the Professor sends that back?h
He had held the Professors note in
his hand unread while he looked at the
sample. Now he turned his attention
to the letter, and gave long, low
whistle.
1.-The Professor must be getting
boyish," he said. "Of course he must
be going to Il masquerade to order a
suit like that. l don't see why he has
it made in the latest style. But obey.
orders if you break owners is my
motto" And he went away to give his
cutter minute directions about the suit.
Tom Nelson went about his work
with rather u heavy heart in those days.
Rene's parents did not fail to show him
that they no longer looked upon his at
tentions to their daughter with favor.
He did not believe Rene would give
him up. but doubts would creep into
his mind and fears haunt him in spite of
himself. All girls loved wealth and
position. Rene might be persuaded in
time, and what would life be worth
without her?
These thoughts made him uncomfort-
able in the extreme. He did not see
Rene rs often rs he used to. He dis
liked going to her home, for he met
with but chilly reception from the
Doctor and his wife. But Rene under
stood why his visits were so rare, and
loved him in those days more than ever.
The evening of the party was bright
and clear, and nearly every one who
had been hidden to the entertainment
was present. Several aristocratic
friends of the Doctors came from the
city, and all the notables of the village
graced the occasion by their presence.
When it was growing rather late for
arrivals, and all but three or four of the
expected guests had come, the servant
opened the parlor door and announced
in a loud voice, Professor Appleton. !"
Doctor Alexander. proud that his
daughter had chance to make so
brilliant a match, had informed his city
friends of the Professors wish to adj
dress Rene, and all the village knew
how deeply smitten was the man Of
Greek and Latin with the Doctor S
daughter 1t was therefore with un-
usual interest that every one in the
room turned to look at the Professor as
he entered. And every one continued
for some seconds to look at him. An
expression of supreme astonishm ent
was upon all their countenances,
and when they turned their eyes
away from him to the faces of their
friends, the expression of astonishment
was changed to one of merriment.
From corner where some young peo-
pie were gathered came half-sup-
pressed but unmistakeable laugh. Be-
fore them all stood the Professor, who,
in some way, all understood was to be
the hero of the evening, dressed in a
suit of bright scarlet! For moment
CONSERVATION held host and hostess
rooted to the spot where they stood.
Then they moved forward, and greeted
their latest guest, but in so embarrassed
and constrained manner that the poor
man began to think he must have done
something to offend them, and tried in
vain all the rest of the evening to think
of anything he had said or done which
| could L. Il, I,
before one o clock were Cotton through
with somehow. The Alexanders and
every one present tried to act rs we'll
bred people should, but with the Pro-
fessor in his bright-hued garments mov-
ing among them rather listlessly-for he
| felt that some unfortunate circumstance
had turned the Alexanders against him
it was not easy to keep decorous faces
and lalk on the subjects usually dis
cussed at dignitied and pretentious par
ties. The time when the guests could
say goodnight and go away, was vel
coined both by them and by their enter.
tainers,
The next morning, Doctor Alexander,
looking rs fierce as u hornet-for the
little man was as fiery as red pepper
when his temper was aroused called on
Prof. Appleton at his room.
"What do you mean, sir" he cried,
without any greeting or preliminary
speech, "by coming to my house when
we have company in such an outrageous
looking suit as you wore last night, and
disgracing us9 / insist upon an immedi'
ate explanation"
IAN immediate explanation? l dc
not understand you at ALL" said the
Professor, politely. 81 ordered tbs
suit wore last night expressly for YOU
party. | thought pearl-gray was al
ways fitting for gentleman's evening
costume ~
You don't mean to say" cried the
doctor, somewhat Modified, "that you
thought the suit you wore last night was
pearl-grayP'
Indeed, sir, / did," said the Pro
fessor, beginning to grow pale.
"Well, sir, then you are very mucl
mistaken said the Doctor, eyidentl,