Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1882-02-23
Select Story.
ROMANCE SPOILED.
by GLoSFORD.

L always did have an enormous ap
petite when | was young, and tina
once came very near spelling my ro
nance, But | succeeded, very adroitly
as | thought, in saving myself only tC
have it spoiled in different way
And this is how it happened:
Fred--was my college chum. We
had been together four years, and oul
friendship was as strong and sincere
as it is given to mortals to enjoy
Fred had sister more beautiful thar
the Venus of Milo, for her limbs were
all perfect, and she was intelligent, edu.
Gated and good. Fred said SO himself
and believed him, although
| had never seen her, for
every body else confirmed his
assertion. ] had seen her letters to
him, and somehow knew that he had
described me TO her in his letter in a
way to excite her curiosity, to say
the least; and | also knew that he was
determined to make match of it if
possible. 10 tell the truth, | was as
anxious as he was, for the roman IN
my nature was very strong and l felt
that | was already deeply in love.
The family were spending the sea-
son at Long Branch, and it was all ar
ranged that Fred and ] should meet
them there as soon as vacation COM
menced, At length the day, big
with my fate, arrived, and travel
stained and hungry, we arrived at the
hotel and went at once to our room,
before seeing any of the family who
did not expect us until the night train.
We had just fairly got into our room
when tea was announced. The pangs
of hunger seized me with their usual
violence as | heard the summons, and
suddenly formed desperate resolu-
ton.
"Fred," said |, 81 am going to tea
before | dress 4"
"You'll be tabooed if you do" said
Fred. as he began to prepare for
bath.
~ don't care cuss if | AMI am
fearfully-desperately-madly hnn-
cry"
"Better make your first appearance
like christain-take my advice, said
Fred, who was very punctilious as to
dress, and all other social proprieties.
"It will take me two hours to dress,
and if 60 now, | will be through be-
fote you arrive in the dining room with
your family
BY this time l had got some of the
dust off my face and rushed to the
dining room.
The hall was full, but l soon found
a quiet place and gave my order. 1t
seemed an age before the waiter got
around, and it seemed another before
l could satisfy my appetite. was
just putting on the finishing touches,
however, AMI was congratulating my
self, when | looked up and saw Fred
and his magnificent sister sitting
down at a distant table, but directly
facing me.
| was nearly staring my eyes out in
astonishment at her amazing beauty,
when she suddenly looked up and our
eyes met. She as suddenly withdrew
them and turned ard spoke to Fred,
who looked over towards me and re-
piled.
| felt that my doom was sealed; for
l knew that she bad noticed me and
asked Fred who | was. | involun-
tarily shrank' within myself and felt
that my face was purple-I knew it
was dirty-and | instinctlvely tried to
sink through the floor. Failing in
this, tried to look indifferantly, but
found could not raise nv eyes from
my plate. knew they were looking
at me and felt my face swelling with
premouitory SYMPTOMS of appoplexy.
l edged out of the hall in some way
how | knew not-and rushed up
stairs debating in my mind whether
to take the next train out of town or
drown myself in the bath tub.
l had not decided that question when
Fred came in with
"What in the name of heaven did
you 60 down to tea looking so like the
devil for?"
"What deeply, darkly, double
dyed damned dolt you were for telling
your sister who | was," I replied, and
then sat down on the side of the bed
and cursed my stars till the atmos-
phere was sulphurous and l was tired
out. l felt somewhat relieved then,
and bathed and dressed.
If | ever dressed with care 1t was
hen. I simply "got myself up re-
yardless. so to speak, hoping to wear
IF some Of the bad impression which
Fred admitted had produced.
"When l had finished, Fred gazed
It me in astonishment and said:
"Well, this is metamorphosis!
'he will never recognize you"
Then some of the romance of nv ma.
are cropped out.