The Northern Pacific farmer. [volume] (Wadena, Minn.) 1878-1885, 1883-05-31
! A ROMANCE SPOILED.

very near spelling my romance. But
succeeded very adroitly, as thought, in
saving myself, only to have it spoiled in q
different way. And this is how it all
happened:
Fred-was my college chum. We had
oeen together four years, and our friend
snip was as strong and sincere as it is
gwen to mortals to enjoy. Fred had a
sister more beautiful than the Venus oil
d MILO, for her limbs were all perfect, and
she was Intelligent, educated and good,
Erred said SO himself, and I believed
thm, and somehow knew that he de.
scribed her to me in his letters in way
TO excite my curiosity, to say the least;
and also knew thai he was determined
to make match of it if possible. To tell
the truth, was as anxious as he was, for
the romantic in my nature was very
strong, and felt that l was already
deeply in love.
The family were spending the season
at Long Branch, and it was arranged that
Fred and l shoull meet them there az
soon as the vacation commenced. AT
length the day, big with my fate arrived,
and travel-stained and hungry, we ar
rived at the hotel and went at once to
our room, before seein. any Of our fam
lily, who did not expectus 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 vio-
lence as heard the summons, and I
suddenly formed! IL desperate resolution.
Fred" said |, II am going to tea be-
fore l dress"
"You'll be tabooed if You d." said
Fred, and ne began to prepare for =
bath.
II don't care q cuss if AMIN fear
fnlly, desperately, maaly hungry"
''Betrer make Your first appearance
like Chrstian-ake my ADVICE" said
Fred, who was very punct,llious as to
dress, and all other social prophecies.
It will take me two hours to Dire S.,
and if 20 now, will he through before
You arrive Ill til" dininsroom with your
family"
BY this time l had got some of the
thickest Of the dust off my face and
rushed to the dining room.
The hall was full, Tut l soon found n
quiet place and gave my order. 1t SEEM
ed an age before the waiter got around,
and it seemed another before | cold sat-
isfy my appetite. WAS putting on the
,EongratuIatiny myself, when looked UP
and saw Fred and his magnificent sister
sitting down at q distant table, but d.
rectly facing ME.
was nearly staring my eyes out in
establishment at her amazing beauty,
when she suddenly looked up and our
eyes met. She as suddenly withdrew
them and turned and spoke to Fred,
who looked over towards me and re-
piled.
| felt that my doom was sealed; for
knew that she noticed me and asked
Fred who was. I involuntary shrank
within myself and felt that my face was
PURPLE knew it WAS dirty and in
the floor. Failing in this, | tried to
look Indifferent, but found l could not
raise my eyes from my plate. | knew
they were looking at me and felt my
lace swelling. with prenlonitory symp-
IONS Of apoplexv.
edged ont OF the nan IN some way
how know not-and rushing up stairs,
debut!ng in my mind whether to take
Vie next train out Of town or to drown
myself in the bath tub,
had not decided that question when
Fred came in with
"Wli,t III the name Of heaven did you
60 down to tea looking 50 like the devil
for"
"Whata ,lceplv, ,l;,rkly, doub!e-dyed
damned dnt You were for telling your
sister who ! was,' replied, and then
sat down on the side Of the bed and
cursed my stars I'LL the atmosphere was
sulplurpu: and | wa, tirul out. 1 felt
somewhat relieved then, and bathed and
dressed.
III ever dressed with care it was then.
/ simply ''got myself up regardless" so
to spe k, hoping to wear off some of the
bad impression which Fred admitted I
had produced.
When had finished, Fred gazed at
me in a punishment and said:
''Well, this is q netanorpfosis! She
will never recognize YOU"
Then some of the romance Of my ma
turc cropped out.
Erred" said l, "intro,lucc me by some
other me toni ght Tell her that am
sick, or Acknowledgment give me a
chance to wear off the disagreeable i'm
preston have produced"
This was agreed to, and we desce nded
to the dancing hall, where a, brilliant
company was already assembled. I was
moved through the room with my usual
dignity and grace. Fred left me as soon
as we entered AMI sought his sister, and
when an oppOrtune moment arrived l
was presented under the name of Mon
tAgue-"A college acquaintance" Fred
explained.
My absence was explained on the
ground Of indisposition, and l had the
satisfaction of hearing Maud Cor that
was her n,nc) say that she was sorry,
for, as she put it, ''Fred's particular
friend is about the uyliest looking NOR
tai | ever saw"
l can only say, in general terms, that
my progress in her favor that night was
very satisfactory, and at two in the
mOrnin we parted the best of friends.
The xt day it was decided to keep up
the IeI,>inn for awhile longer, and fl
nally my absence was accounted for by
telling her that my illness threatened to
b. serious and had been sent home.
AS slime passed on l became more and
more romantic, and amongst other
pro Gets gave her to understand that
| was u little more impccunlOus than
Job s poverty stricken turkey, and to
win, ii possible, for myself alone. | felt
that nv personal charms were equal to
the task, and laid ..sitge to cher heart
with zeal bordering Oh desperation.
How succeeded will presently be seen.
One morning rs l was sitting by her
side in the private parlor of the family,
Fred came in aud handed her letter
desiring her to give it immediate atten-
ton. Witt: IN apology she broke the
seal, and commenced TO read. ] had
risen and WAS pacing the floor and watch
in her collut"nuncA with beating
heart, heard her call Fred to sit beside
her, and stopped and looked out OF the
window. ] heard her say:
"What presumptiHn!'
"t.ut my dear Maudw Fred replied,
and then tho conversation became in
distinct, and could only catch here
and there word. But could near
enough to know that Fred was urging
and she was protesting. At last could
hear no more, and finally Fred called to
me.
Montague, give us your advice.
Maud wishes it as we'll as /. We will
leave it to YOU to say what ought to be
done. Here she has q letter from my
dear old college chum, rich, of good fam
lily. handsome"
'"Contine yourself to facts, Fred"
broke in Maud. II saw him once, and
he is as ugly as sim"
''She knows all about his character
and anteccdents-she knows that he is
nv best friend, aud yet she calls his Of
fer OF marriage contained in this letter
'impertinence,' and says she will leave it
to YOU to say whether she would answer
this letter at all"