River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1882-06-08

and after a few words of common
place sympathy bowed slightly anC
disappeared in the the crowd, her facs
indicating, / thought, relief at thu
terminating the singular interview
For, confess that it is embarrassing K
meet the guest with whom you have
spent the evening before behind &
market stalll"
"You see," said Tom, mournfully
"this excellent lady is terribly shocked
But | ought not to be surprised. Come
back in an hour or two, my old friend
and | shall be able to explain every.
thing. You at least are not ashamed
of your former comrade."
went away In a maze of wonder
was the scene real or was there some
thing under il? could not determine.
Either might be the truth. If Tom
bearing had experienced a sudden
loss of fortune, man of his real pride
and horror of dependence might have
resorted to this honest occupation. 1t
was certain that there he was, with an
apron selling vegetables-and the
writer of this narrative assures the
reader that the incident is strictly true.
When | returned in an hour Tom
bearing was gone, and on the same
evening | left town in haste to see a
member of my family who had been
taken i'll. When | returned three weeks
afterward, my first visit was for Tom
bearing.
| hurried to the market. He was not
there. Another person presided at his
stall, who could tell me nothing about
him. | went back wondering, and
looking around for some friend to in
terrogate. | saw nobody, but in pass
ing Tom Bearings former lodgings /
heard the notes of flute.
/ stopped and looked up. The win
dows were open and the rooms were
plainly inhabited. Was it Tom. l 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 q lowered dressing gown
aud velvet slippers, leaning back in a
luxurious armchair.
"Tom !"
"The proper thing would be to ex-
claim, Good heavens can / trust my
eyes ?" he replied.
"You are not to be market garden
er any longer, them"
"No. | have resigned. 1t was not
entirely favorable to my pet ambition
matrimony-so thought would dis
pose of my entire stock, and do like
all the rest of the world-marry for
money!"
MARY? Are you to be married p
81 have the pleasure of replying to
that question in the affirmative, my
dear friend; and to say that | shall ex-
peet you to be my first groomsman on
the happy occasion. | positively won't
call you my best man'-that is too
English"
/ stared-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 /
were a 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 ug call it, of those
two charming young persons-Made-
moiselle Edith and Emma. You sug-
gested a railroad accident, and note
to each with view to a reply. But
that was impractical and did not prom
Use decisive results. Unfortunately the
convention of modern society interfer-
es 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
a more convenient PLAN"
81 see--you mean the market gar
den business-but-"
"Let me flow on uninterrupted, my
friend. l shall reach the conclusion
sooner. 1 said to myself, There is one
paramount question. Which of these
fair ones is sincerely attached to me,
and likes me best for myself~
81 begin to understand"
"And the test was perfectly easy. |
disappeared from society, and became
a market gardener, saying to myself as
l took my place, in white apron, be-
hind my stall: The one who does not
loose affection and respect for me now
is the real angel Well you were pres
ent that morning, but not on other
mornings. The angels actually came
on the sly-one after the other-to see
if the terrible report we're true. They
did not speak to the poor market gard
ener, formerly their friend. They lurk-
behind the crowd with wells down, but
recognized them"
"Yes-well?"
~ see you are impatient, my friend,
but it is necessary to permit rGconte1tr
to proceed after his own fashion. Let
meproceed. 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
cabbages. She came to see with her
own eyes, and as she passed me, upper
ceived as she no no doubt supposed, |
swear heard low laugh under her
green veil.
"That was not sympathetic, to say
the least
at was not, but waited-sure that
some one else would come sooner OF
later. There was another youthful
angel who had protested friendship fol
the unfortunate market gardner.
saw her pass on the very next morning
and"
"She laughed, too?"
"On the contrary she-well, she
sobbed."
"Really p
Actually"
"And that very evening you wen
and knelt down and confessed every
thing, and gushed, and asked darling
Edith to marry you and share YOU
market-gardener p
"No. l went and asked the othe
one"
"The fair Emma?
Gwen so. You see / was anx
ious to know everything ascertain
precisely how l stood in the regards o
both"
eyes; and you went in your whit
arron?"
Not precisely, but in my coarse
gardeners suit"
Il