Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1884-01-02

priceless ruby-a gem OF some Fabulous
value, never won and never worn.
The opera-which Sobersides loved for its
music alone-drove her from his mind for
time, but before he retired that night, he
wrote one of the most fslciful and pleasant
little songs in his volume, published the fol-
lowing year, ''The Blondes"
After this they met somewhat frequently
and Sobersides fell heels over head in love
with the young girl.
There was an awkward spot in his mind
somewhere. He was as bashful and senti.
mental as hobblededoy. He could not go
straight to the girl, make love to her, until
he found out how she liked him, and offer
himself or drop the matter accordingly. He
lowered about her, keeping just near enough
to be in the way, but not near enough to be
accessible. He sighed and made eyes, this
even-tempered, plain, middle-aged man, and
stood afar off, in hidden corners and alcoves,
gazing upon her when she foated through
the dance, or chatted with gayer and younger
fellows, all unconscious Of his alteration.
Love, like wine, brings out all our hidden
strength and weakness.
OF course, this sort of thing could not go
ON forever. The first intimation Fannie re.
ceived of her unintentional conquest was
and easily seeing through the passion he I'M
agined so secretly and sacredly kept from
sight, were disposed to tease her little
about it.
'He is grand parti, Miss Fannie, :" said
Paul Ryder, one evening. ellis income is
good enough, if you are willing to live in
Bohemia. Matrimony can't cure him of
Bohemianism, but it is rather nice, on the
I,oln rat rcod IN y,iY, ntyo
and bachelor suppers."
"And he would write you little poem
every morning before breakfast, while the
steak broiled," said Grahame Allen.
''Wouldn't it be charming?'
HE is very superior man." said Nina
Dashe, the poetess, warmly; land would
make any, sensible woman happy"
''He is horrid," said Miss Fannie, shaking
eyes, DEAR" replied Nina, che would not
do for YOU"
Allen laughed.
"Bahl there's only one difficulty about
Sobersides. He's too good for this world. !
think he'd make first-class angel. rather
stand in terror of man who is always in
earnest; always tells the truth; never does
anything for effect, and is never fippant!"
'He is SOL don't know what!" said Mis-
Fannie with a contemptuous expression and
little conceited toss of her head
Paul Ryder, sitting somewhat behind her,
fixed his quiet, expressive eyes strongly upon
her delicate profile, and smiled a sort of bit
ter, sardonic smile at this ridiculous Miss
Nancyism.
''He is your first, my dear child" said he;
"you had best take care of him. Remember
the cameldriver who wouldn't pick dates
because he wanted pomegranates, and finally
went without either"
Perhaps Paul was wise in wing Miss
Fannie after this remark and joining another
group. The result of all such joking, how.
ever, was to make the young girl take vio-
lent dislike to Sobersides. She conceived
kind of disgust for him. He was "horrid,
san old thing" ''hateful, "a creature
everything, in short, that any distasteful
person can be to a maiden "just out" It
amounted almost to monomania with her.
She would not go party where he was in
vited; when he called at her home she never
appeared; she treated him in the most frig-
idly polite manner when they "met by
chance" and, in short, nobody but Sobersides
could help seeing that she despised him.
A new phase of my friends insanity now
appeared. He began sending her splendid
gifts-ruining himself to procure the most
wonderful gew-gaws from Rome and Paris
for her. The Lovells were not enormously
wealthy, and fine jewels were not purchased
by them every day. Maggie, in her char
acter of belle and coquette, had no end of
nice sets presented to her at various times,
but Fannie's first ornament was her pretty
shower of ringlets
Sobersides, then, determined that she
should, at least, equal her sister in the way
of trinkets; and don't know what extraor-
binary sums he expended upon rings, brace
let's, brooches, ear-drops, and things. One
diamond alone, that saw first in his pssses-
sion and then in hers, must have cost him
twice as much as his whole ibrary-the Sec
ond object Of his affection on earth.
When Fannie had amassed, in this way,
complete outfit of magnificent jewelry, tho
envy of all her friends, and the despair of all
her enemies Il never knew very young girl
who hadn't forty foesD she suddenly discov-
cred that it was improper for her to receive
gifts from such an tedious wretch" The
chatting ones had limited this, in a quiet and
perhaps cynical way; but it never struck
her SO, until she was well provided with
gems and gold.
Unfortunately, she announced this convic-
ton to us, who knew the position Of affairs,
and her resolution was taken little too soon;
for the next day she was surprised by the re-
ceipt of neat package, addressed to her in
Sobersides' handwriting A small party Of
us were present when this new offering came,
and we were just in the middle of ire
nlendous onslaught upon Miss Fannie, who,
excited and ashamed, declared that it was
absurd to think of, that Sobersides should
ever care pin for her-that she would never
see him again for any consideration-that she
hated the sight of his face, etc, etc.
To all of which wereplied that we knew him
to he dying of love for her, that girls. always
disliked at first those whom they afterward
loved, and that it would ultimately mako an
excellent match, beyond the possibility OF a
doubt. II
In the midst of this storm the package ar
rived.
SIS the express paids" asked Courtlandt
'Ah, yes; another proof of affectioni'
''Can't you reconsider your determination
about rejecting all future presents from himr'
said Ryder.
'Let us see what it is anyhow, said
Maggie Lowell, removing the outer wrapper
of the package.
The inside envelope was inscribed, in large,
plain letters: .For her whose beauty will
best become the gift"
Everybody laughed. It was very cruel,
no doubt; but ridiculous things must be
laughed at, even when done by the best
fellows in the world. This bit of medi@yal
sentimentality was too much for our gravity.
and our laughter was too much for Miss
Fannie. She hurst into flood OF tears, and
INDUCED in most undignifed TRADE agains
all of us generally, and Sobersides particu.
larly. She would have thrown his present
into the CRATE, but caught her hand.
Excuse me" + said, .'but that is unwise.