The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1883-03-24
Peterkin's Suit.

Nho" hoW many exactly, but it was
some time during the war-I heard a
story which soldier was reading in
newspaper to a little group around
MIN, to their great enjoyment. shall
tell 1t only in brief, though, l remem-
Der well, the filling in was good
part of it, which will be missing in
my recital.
Mr. s. c. Peterkin was a prosper
Gus youhgish mar. CT business who
got ahead in spite of his constitution.
al modesty. This was in his way in
society more than in trade he was
afraid of women more than men. For
IA long, long time he had set his heart
upon a lovely young lady, whose
sweetness was like her name, which
was Violet. He had often called up.
on her, and resolved again and again
that he would make her an offer Of
his heart and hand, but as often that
heart failed him. Through the whole
of the evening he would sit and
"Gaze upon her as a star
Whose purity and distance make 1t fair"
and come away without making any
progress in his suit. At last he be.
came alarmed by the fact that the
dashing Captain Latham, of one of
the Sound steamers, was often at the
house when he called to see his
charmer, the charming Violet. At
last he could not bear the suspense
any longer. and he ventured. with
much hesitancy and awkwardness.
but with door die determination, to
ask her if she would be his. With
remarkable coolness, she replied:
"You should have spoken long ago,
Mr.. Peterkin; l have been engaged
to Captain Latham for some time
past, and we are to be married very
shortly. l am sorry to disappoint
you, but we will be as good friends
as ever, and you must come to sec me
just the same, The captain will al
ways be glad to have your company"
Peterkin went away sorrowful. But
a brighter day soon dawned, for with
in three months after they were mar
ried the captain fell off the steamer
in a fog on the Sound and was drown
ed. Now Peterkin took heart. He
would have the widow.
A year of mourning wore slowly
away. He kept his eye on the widow,
out would not Insure vno rrsvnaOry vi
the dead by proposing until a decent
interval had passed. The year ended,
and he laid his heart again at the
feet of Violet. She heard him quiet
ly. and quietly remarked, "My dear
Peterkin, am sorry to disappoint
you again, but for the last six months
1 have been engaged to DR.. Jones. 1t
was hard to make up my mind be-
tween him and his friend the hand.
some Lawyer Bright, but DR.. Jones
was s0 good to me while / was sick
in the winter after my husbands
death that | promised him / would
be his at the end of the year,"
So poor PeterkIn retired once more,
the widow Latham became Mrs. DIR.
Jones, and SO remained, while the
discounted Peterkin wished the doc
tor might take enough of his own
pills to make an end of him.
Time passed on. Peterkin was
walking down Broadway one day.
while not very far ahead Of him he
saw two men, one of whom he knew
to this hated DR.. Jones. A large fat
stone was being hoisted to the coping
of new building, the rope gave way;
it fell and instantly killed the two
men. Peterkin rose to the emergen=
cy of the moment. For the dead he
could be of no avail. His thoughts
were on the widow. He turned he
ran, he flew, to her abode. When she
entered the room where he waited
her he began:
"My dear Mrs. Jones. bring you
dreadful news. 1 was walking on the
street, when l saw a stone fall from a
house upon your poor husband, and
he is dead but you must let me COM
fort you. beg you now to be mine,
my Violet. at last"
"Dear Mr.. Peterkin. am so sorry!
but when DIR. Jones and Mr.. Bright
were both begging me to marry, l
took the doctor, and promised Mr..
Bright, if anything happened to
Jones, / would certainly be his. So
you see am engaged, 1 am sorry,
for l do think a great deal of you, my
dear Peterkin."
Peterkin was very calm and self
contained. He said, "And will you
promise to be mine when that law
yer is no more ?'
Certainly l will, with all my heart
and SOUL"
"Then come to my arms; thy Vic.