Northern tribune. [volume] (Cheboygan, Mich.) 1875-1885, 1883-03-31
THE LAGGARD SUITOR.
MIR. Peterktn's Attentions to the
Charming Violet.

MIR. Pcterkin's Attentions TO the
Charming Violet.
From Harpers' Magazine for April
Some 20 years ago-I do not know how
many exactly, but it was sometime dur
ing the war; heard story which a
soldier was reading in newspaper to a
little group around him, to their great
enjoyment. l shall tell it only in brief,
though remember we'll, the filling in
was good part of it, which will be miss
ing in my recital.
Mr.. S. G. Peterkin was prosperous
yOungish man of business, who got
ahead in spite of his constitutional mod
esty. This was his way in society rather
than in trade; he was afraid of women
more than men. For long, long time
he had set his heart on beautiful young
lady, whose sweetness was like her name,
which was Violet. He had often called
upon her. and resolved again and again
that he would make Der an offer of his
hand and heart, but as often that heart
had failed him. Through the whole of
the evening he would sit and
''GaZe upon her as star
Whose purity and distance makes it fair. {"
and come away without making any pro-
gress in his suit. At last he became
alarmed by the fact that the dashing
Capt. Latham, of one of the Sound steam
ers, was often at the house when he cal
led to see his charm or, the charming
Violet. At last he could not bear the
suspense any longer, and he ventured,
with much hesitancy and awkwardness,
but with ,lO-Or-die determination, to ask
her If she would be his. With remark
able GOODNESS, she replied;
"YOu should have spoken long ago,
Mr.. Peterkin; have been engaged to
Capt. Latham for some time past, and
we are to be married very shortly. 1 am
sorry to disappoint you, but we will be
as good friends as ever, and you must
come to see me just the same. The cap
tain will always be glad of your COM
pany."
Peterkin went away sOrrOwful. But
brighter day soon dawned, for within
three months after they were married
the captain fell off the steamer in a fog
on the sound and was drowned. Now
Peterkin took heart. He would have
the widow.
A year of mourning wore slowly away.
He kept his eye on the widow, but would
not insult the memory of the dead by
proposing until decent interval had
passed. The year ended, and he again
laid his heart at the little feet of Violet.
She heard him quietly, and quietly re-
marked, "My dear Peterkin, l am sorry
to disappOint you again, but for the last
six months have been engaged to DR..
Jones. 1t was hard to make up my
mind between him and his handsome
friend, Lawyer Bright, but DR.. Jones
was so good to me while l was sick in
the winter after my husbands death
that promised him l would be his at
the end of the year.
So poor Peterkin retired once more;
the widow Latham became Mrs. DR..
Jones, and so remained, while the dis
cOmfted Peterkin wished that the doctor
might take enough of his own pills to
put an end to him.
Time passed on. Peterkin was walk
ing down Broadway one day, while not
very far ahead of him he saw two men,
one of whom he knew to be this hated
DR.. Jones. A large flat 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 emergency 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 awaited her
he began:
"My dear Mrs. Jones, bring you dread
full news. was walking on the street,
when l saw stone fall from a house
upon your husband, and he is dead; but
you must let me comfort you. ! beg you
now to be mine, my dear Violet, at last"
Dear Mr.. Peterkin, am 80 sorry! but
when DR.. Jones and Mr.. Bright were
both begging to marry me, took the
doctor, and promised Mr.. Bright If any
thing happened to Jones. would GER
tainly be his. So you see am engaged.
/ am sorry, for do think great deal OF
you, my dear Peterkin."
Peterkin was very calm and self-con-
strained. He said, "And you will
promise to be mine when that lawyer Is
no mOrep"
Certainly will, with all my heart
and SOUL"