The daily gazette., 1883-08-18
labor

lnueed, Two oi my old rivals showed
| country accomplishments which threw me
somewhat In the background. One rode
and the other croqueted In very superior
manner; and though did not fear lest sui h
| frivolities should make any real impression
on so lofty an intelligence as Sarah's, did
not quite like the opportunities afforded to
men who were undenlably among the
cleverest of the fops who dangled about
| her.
Prudence suggested that 1t would be well
| TO spoil their little games when possible,
| even II could not at the moment profit
directly by the man9uvre, for, of course,
could not interrupt rivals tete a tete per-
sonally Without row. So, whenever Mar
/ tingale's riding-lesson or Mallet's instruc-
tion In croquet appeared to be growing dan
gorously confidential, ! set Freshet at them
The honest fellow had no notion that his
guests were his rivals and took each of us
In turn into the confidence of his passion,
SO he had no compunctions whatever in
falling in with my views whenever l sug-
gested that he should constitute himself an
odious third. at was nothing to Mallet
and Martingale, but he was spoOny in that
quarter" he reasoned.
The others did not perceive my maneuvre
or make reprisals, and as Freshet never
took the initiative, was left in peace when
| managed in my turn 20 secure the ear of
fair Sarah.
"Why do you all laugh at Mr.. FreshetY"
she inquired on one of these occasions.
81 don't know. People always have"
answered. "He was the only child ever
heard of who practically attempted to catch
birds by sprinkling salt on their tails"
"Did you see himP
"No; the first time l ever witnessed his
naivete was later, when we were school boys
together, and watching the sale of horse.
The purchaser, after having stroked his legs
down, ETC., secundum artem, went to his
mouth. Rising seven, said the would-be
seller"
"Ah, all that" replied the other
"How did he know the horses age2"
Freshet asked me; and |, being country
bred lad, was so amused at his greenness
that replied, "Did you not see the gray
hairs in his nose2'
"Oh" said Freshet, quite contented.
Presently afterward we met gray.
"What an old horse that must bel' cried
Freshet.
at was a perfectly natural deduction
from the information you gave him." said
Sarah, smiling.
"Perfectly; his blunders always are-that
is what gives them their piquancy."
81 see," said she; "hs nature is so trust
ing that no amount of experience can break
him of placing confidence in his fellow crea-
lures. Well, perhaps he deserves to be
laughed at.
IL was evident Sarah's kind heart did not
approve OF the flippant manner in which We
were In the habit OF treating the man whose
hospitality we enjoyed, and resolved not
to quiz him again in her presence. And, in
deed, when | thought. about 1t, / was
ashamed of making butt Of him at all, and
determined to discontinue the practice. And
yet, so powerful is custom, | put the most
cruel hoax possible upon him the next day;
for, bored by his praises of an object could
appreciate so much better, and irrtated by
professions of a love which seemed to bur
lesque my own, told him that it was won
derful he was SO blind us not to see his pas
sion was returned.
AS usual, he put implicit faith in my
words; the idea of irony or 'chah" never
occurred to him.
81 should never have dreamed itp' he
cried, grasping my hand. "What thing 1t
is to have friend"
He hurried off to the stables, and in five
minutes | heard him cantering along the
road. My heart smote me / had no idea he
would be so prompt. 1t was IL o'clock in
the morning, and presently Martingale and
Mallett, who were always late, came down
TO breakfast.
"Where's Freshet 2" asked Mallett.
"Gone to propose to Miss Hervy," said l,
and they roared. Freshet, of all blockheads,
to rush in where-whm-ha really intelli-
gent beings feared to offer
We waited his temperance as a gour-
mand watches the twisting of the cham
pagne wire. At lunch time he arrived-his
horse In a foam, his necktie twisted. He
grasped mp hand | felt very guilty.
Don't be excited, old fellow" | STAN
mered !; " had no idea that you would rush
of Ilke that. If l was mistaken"
'I'm your,debtor for life Congratulate
me, you others; have offered to Miss Her
Wy and been accepted"
Chorus -"Accepted ~
''Yes. | should never have dared ask if
1t had not been for Penyolin."
l thought that there must be a mistake,
but there was not, and they were married
in the June following, | acted as Freshet's
best man. That was ten years ago. They
are the happiest couple ever knew, and so
grateful to me If ever you want to get
anything out of Mrs Freshet, talk to her
husband, and pretend to show Difference to
what he says; she will subscribe, safe.
a