The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1883-06-21
ALIC'S FIRST COURTSHIP.

NY nIoe CouItSulp. llke bllitt VI Inuuy
others, seemed to me to be great sue
cess in its incipiency, but did not event
nate as we'll as it began, as l had reason
to expect. 1t occurred in southern Ken
lucky, and the finale precipitated itself
upon me in midsummer.
Some months previous 1 had met a
blooming young lady at the wedding of
friend. Whether weddings promote
courtship as much as kissing does, affec
tion is a thing that have never philoso-
phized upon very much, but in this par
ticular instance this wedding worked to
that end.
/ returned to my room after the cere-
mony d cidedly under the impression
that was in love. At that time I had
but little experience in love symptoms,
and consequently didn't know much
about them. became fond of music and
poetry, l became absent minded and
dreamy, was constantly building castles
in the air. Whether had the too;hache
or stomach or headache, / concluded
shat they were natural concomitants and
all sprung from common cause. Well,
this ran on for several months, and in
the meantime was loading the young
lady down with books and music and
other little reminders of thoughtfulness.
At last could stand it no longer, so
packed a few things in travelling sack
and started down the river to meet the
object of my affections.
If anv one has ever been in southern
Kentucky in midsummer it will rot be
necessary TO state that it is with great
difficulty they find thermometers long
enough to register; an ordinary short one
has no show at all. The heat down there
melts affection until yo1 weep it from
every pore in your body. The fact is,
believe that 1 had not been there but u
few days when it appeared to me that
every drop had oozed out.
Still 1 was encouraged to keep up a
bold front and told to pay no attention
to the weather. did the best 1 could
and worked so hard at it that, when 1
opened my mouth to speak, love drops
would actually drip from the end of my
tongue. ! concluded to go home and
come down at a more propitious season !;
but friend, bearing of my intention,
advise to contrary course, telling me
that the lady and her friends. knowing
the object Of my visit, would be greatly
disappointed unless I made a square
declaration.
Warm as it was I determined to make
the effort. capsrisoned myself in my
best and sailed forth.
reached the house, bung nv SOM
brero on the rack and was shown into
she back parlor, whore my expected soon
joined me. sat beside her and talked
ut q great rate as q bashful Young man
will do about everything else in the
world except the subject which he came
to breach. Hours OF absolute misery
hoated away so slowly on the wings of
time that it appeared to me Is though /
had all of sudden struck eternity.
At last 1 rallied and commenced to tie
my burden. had scarcely flushed the
prologue when she struck q vociferous
diapason and made Of me the shortest
distance between two points; she COM
pletely Strengthened me out by saying
that che would be "glad to have me as a
friend but nothing more" SPECIFICS
was nothing, dizzy was but faint ex-
preston of my condition. l bounded
from nv seat and without word started
for the front parlor. An uniIcky rug
which mad stationed itself between the
two rooms caught my foot and SPRAYING
I went on the floor. I picked up what
WAS left of me as quickly as possible and
made for the door at two forty gate. I
found had too much steam on and
rang nv slow bells just as bad placed
my foot on mat near the door. Tie
ma. slipped and the seat of my pants
shook the entire house when I sat down
on them.
] arose with as much dignity rs my
jolted condition would allow OF, and then
marched out to filters in the back parlor
which reminded me Of the long roll at
night when fellow is about half asleep.
The front door closed behind me and I
found myself about q mile from my
lodging house and in . driving storm.
The night was black, with intervals Of
fash lightning, as usual, every fash
making darkness tangible, Is it we're, i'm
medistely afterward. CROPPED and stag
gered through mud-holes end rain until
reached my quarters.
There l was alone, except with mud,
vet, filth and feeling-no, not alone
either with these, for the rain had driven
myriads OF mosquitoes in for protec-
ton AMI comfort. had to strip, though,
and use the brisk mosquito rs . counter
irritaut for lacerated feelings and NOR
tihcation within.
Neither sleep nor any other twin
brother of death came along that night.
fretted and fumed. revolving all the
while some disbolical plan OF vengeance.
The morning dawned, was weary and
my clothes looked about as detected as l
II - thor oh khav bo.1 haou ~ashoA ir,