The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1882-09-02

IeStHOIllCHI NulSlly NA4ANtCA NNtA0t -
stances, | might have cherished was
wanting; and with the eye of an injured
yet fOrgiving friend, watched him as he
stalked to the mirror and commenced a
critical examination of his Grecian feat
ures and elaborate necktie, an operation
he spent fully ten minutes in.
Then, whistling to the lemon -colored
setter and arming himself with his cane
and gloves, and without so much as deign-
| ing a glance toward my lounging-chair,
he made his exit from the apartment,
leaving me to the enjoyment OF my dolce
TAR ntente, disturbed by no visions OF
violet eyes and golden hair, or, in fact,
anything but pleasing yet melancholy
Renaissance 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 past?
| am not of an active habit of body,
but am the fortunate possessor of that
Jewel, rare at my time of life-a good
appetite to retain which | court the
morning breezes before breakfast; and
it was during my constitutional the fol-
lowing day that | next caught sight of
Tom, the lemon-colored setter and the
necktie, and at the same time of a shep-
herdess hat, a floating cloud of golden
hair pair of blue eyes, and the whitest,
fattest and wooliest poodle it has ever
been my fate to see.
The shepherdess hat was leading the
poodle by a blue ribbon with one hand,
while the other held a 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 a back view of the shepherdess
hat-black, trimmed with crimson roses
the golden hair aud the daintiest little
waist, round which a blue MORE belt was
ever fastened, and the neatest foot ever
buttoned up in kid J0ttjne, 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 conducive
to hearty appetite 2 little mild excite
ment is, Islipped behind u convenient
IOCh, Ill uCl W NiGCll IOIlI plOCCCu-
ings at my leisure.
They sauntercd quietly on for q few
PAGES further and this little tale might
never have been indited by my graceful
pen had it not been for Toms lemon
colored setter.
This sagacious animal had been for
some time cycling the apoplectic poodle
waddling on in front with divers siglss
of canine ill-will, unobserved by his
spell-bound owner, and Just as its fair
mistress turned fresh leaf of her book,
with a bloodthirsty snarl, the setter
dashed at the unoifending poodle, whose
white curls were soon flying in every
direction, as, with yelps of defiance and
anguish, they rolled over and over in the
soft sand in deadly combat.
The young lady screamed frantically,
and endeavored to rescue her favOrite
from the fangs of the setter by shower
ing blows of her white nd-gold dante"
on his yellow back; and at this crisis
Tom sprang to the rescue with uplifted
cane and excited mien, and managed to
convey to the setter, per cane and boot
toe, his desire that hoStilities should
cease; and, with fervent apologies for
the unpublished behavior Of his canine
follower, he placed the gasping poodle
in the little gauntleted hands stretched
eagerly to receive him. And what COM
miseration the abominable hypocrte
showered on the brute, and didn't they
eventually walk off together to her hotel,
he carrying the animal, and she chatting
to him gayly and looking up into his face
with such pretty gratitude, while the
lemon colored setter, with dropping ears
and tail, followed slowly in the rear.
Well, Tom came home to mock at the
idea of breakfast and rave of Bertha
Seldon-for such proved to be the lady's
name-and against the charming Godine
Haughton, who sat opposite him at table,
and whose black eyes darted reproach-
full fires at him across the table-cloth; for
had he not neglected to ask her for one
dance even on the previous night?
Friendship should never blind us to the
failings of our friends, and / set down
with melancholy regret that Tom was a
notorious hirt. Really, felt uneasy
when saw the way he went on with that
little girl; and if it had not been for a
habit he had of resenting what he pleased
to term impertincnt intrusion,n I'd
have given him piece of my mind.
But it was not long before he awoke
to discovery which astonished himself
as much as it did me-viz.. that he had
a heart, and that it was in the possession
of the pretty Bertha-a fact he deter
mined to let her know as speedily as
possible.
You see,' he said to me, Though
my father is fool enough to contemplate
marrying again at his time of life, I'm
quite independent; and, as I'm tolerably
sure she likes me, why, old boy, you may
expect an invitation to my wedding be-
fore long"
And he staggered off, looking like a
handsome, confident puppy, as he was.
There the fellow provoked me, though
l tOas glad he really intended marrying
the pretty. blue-eyed child, and not tilt
ing her, as he had half score of others.
The very same day who should arrive
at our hotel but Latimer pere, hale,
handsome man of middle age, and an
old acquaintance of mine.
We dined together in private, and
while Tom slipped his wine in silence,
we elders gossiped of the place, the
people and the cooking, though more
than once | fancied that cheerful Mr..
i 4