Charlotte messenger. [volume] (Charlotte, Mecklenburg Co., N.C.) 1882-18??, 1882-08-12

citement is, slipped behind conven-
lent rock, in order to watch Toms pro-
ceedings at my leisure.
They sauntered quietly on for a 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
sometime cycling the apoplectic poodle
waddling on in front with divers signs
OF canine ill-will, unobserved by his
spellbound owner, and just as its fair
mistress turned fresh leaf of ner book,
With bloodthirsty snarl the setter
dashed at the unoffending 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 and 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
coe, his desire that hostilities should
tease; 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the unpublished behavior of his canine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 hypocrite
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
reproachful fires at him across the
tablecloth; for had he not neglected to
ask her for one dance even on the pre-
vious night?
Friendship should never blind us to
the failings of our friends, and / set
down with melancholy regret that Tom
was notorious firt. Really, I fell un-
easy 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 was pleased to term "imperti-
nent intrusion" I'd have given him a
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 posses
sion of the pretty Bertha-a fact he
determined to let her know as speedily
as possible.
"You see," he said to me, "though
my father is unwise unough to contem-
plate 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 before long"
And he staggered of, looking like a
handsome, confident puppy as he was.
There the fellow provoked me,
though was glad he really intended
marrying the pretty, t.1e.eyed child,
and not jilting her, as - had half a
score of others.
The very same day who should arrive
at our hotel but LAtimer pere, a hale,
handsome man of middle age, and an
old acquaintance OF mine.
We dined together in private. and we
elders gossiped Of the place, the people
and the cooking, though more than once
| fancied that cheerful Mr.. Latimer was
more distrait than usual, and several
times noticed that he cast anxious
glances at Toms thoughtful counte-
nance.
"By-the-way," he said, after the
waiter had placed the dessert aud finally
Withdrawn, ''neither Of you has inquired
my business here"
He looked at Tom, and Tom, rousing
himself, looked at him.
"Well, SIR said that young gentle
man, ''people don't come to Newport
on business-at least, not generally-so
it didn't strike me to inquire"
"Well, my boy" said the elder gen.
tleman, Laughing, "rll give you the
information gratuitously. I have come
down here for day to see the lady ]
am about to marry-Miss Seldom. You
have probably met her."
Tom and / stared at his father in un-
mitigated surprise, and Tom eJacu-
lated
II say father, you're not in earnest,
you know"
"Of course 1 am," replied Mr..
Latimer, rising and laughing; ''and I'm
off now to pay my respects. Come
over in the course Of the evening, both