Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1884-07-01
sraAPPIE,s ssY.
lArksrsav Traveller ]

4
enc ever referred to him as John StraI
pie. bat as John Strappse's boy. He ia
a red head. eyes that did not seem Z
have been Sufficiently lighted. ears tina
stuck straight out, motley com plexiou
hump shoulders. slowed feet ana q vail
thai caused people TO turn around In til
streets and look at him. There ver
mazy boys Of attractive physical condi
lion that were more vicious than Strap
pies son. and there sere certainly youn,
fellows AZ school that were more stup,,
than he; Yet Strapple's boy. solely OF
account OF his shape, was looked upol
as both vicious and stupid. The boz
was painfully conscious of the clood an
der which he lived, and is never occurred
TO him thai he was designed for anythins
bot TO be ugly, until he suddenly found
himself IN love with the prettiest girl II
school. To fall In love with hand oms
GIRL SENS to be she fate of an ugly boy
VI course be cannot help this, and Ger
tainly no one, especially the girl, thinks
the less Of him for 1t; vet his efforts &C
appear graceful, his premeditated smile
and the care he takes In washing bis
hands almost up TO the wrists, only
tend 10 bring his LONELINESS into bolder
relief.
Strapple's boy bore the affection man
fully. de tried 70 persuade himself that
he was growing better-looking, and he
carried a small round mirror IN his
pocket--mIrror through courtesy. for Il
WAS only the top of a backing box-to
assist him IN noting the progress he was
making in that direction. Sometimes
It would seed that he had made Q great
jump; and again, with the too critical
eye of lover, he nated his increasing
ugIinsss- Once he smiled at Minnie
Seaier. his divinity, but she turned up
her nose at him This crushed him,
and his appetite weakened under the
blot. Ned Peters, the school bully, no.
ticed the facial performance. and of
course turned it to account. Ned was q
handsome fellow, with swapping black
eyes and hair that kinkled all over his
shapely head. He Was a favorite with
the girls, and the teacher-an old maid
of much experimentation called him
little rascal and kissed him.
:" Let me see you smile" said the hand
some boy, approaching the ardent lover
on the playground.
81 want You to let me alone"
Whst'l you take to grim at me like
you did at AlnnleF
Strsppie's boy blushed, took of his hat
with feverish hand. put it on again.
turned and walked away. Ned followed
him.
What'll you take"
Strspple's boy wheeled around, struck
Ned in the face, Knocked him down and
beat him numerically. The entire
school arose in indignation.
- The idea" said the teacher, for q
great, bag. Rood-for- nothing boy like
Strapple's to beat little Ned" although
any one could zee that Ned was the
largest.
HE sha'n't come to my school an
other day. Go home, You good-fer-no-
thing thing"
Strapple's boy went home, and shortly
afterward note came from the teacher.
The contents of this note were never
known to the boy, but the fact that his
father proceeded to administer severe
punishment led him to suppose that
the communication vas not of friendly
nature.
After much serrowful meditation, it
Was decided by Strappls to send his son
away, and shortly afterward the unfor-
tuaate fellow was posted of to distant
institution Of learning. Here he re-
manned for years, not even coming
home during vacation; for there had
never been but one person in his native
place whom he cared to see, and even
she had turned mp her nose at him. He
went into the Law, after finishing his
scholastic course, and probably never
would have gone hsme again, had he not
received letter announcing the illness
of his mother.
The people we're all surprised to see a
man of suoh fine form, for the boy had
not neglected his physical education.
After the recovery of his mother the
young lawyer accepted an invitation to
dine at the house of old man Scaler,
father of the once petulant Minnie. She
was, of course, more beautiful than
ever, but not nearly SO eapricious, for
when Strapple's boy smiled at her, she
smiled in return. After dinner, while
the young couple we're alone, Strapple's
boy asked:
"Do you remember the time you turned
up yoHr nose at meT
"Whatl never did such thingw
Yes. you did, when smiled at yoa."
"Mhy, aren't you ashamed of your
self, 10 sit MP here aud tell such big
storyp
"Weli, never mind"
But you mustn't accuse me wrong
fully"
+" ldon't accuse you wrongfully. but let
il all go. By the way, what has become
of pretty Ned?'
Hes guard at the penitentiary.
He drove cart for long time, but bis
friends secured the penitentiary position
for him at salary of $13 month"
lis the woman who taught our school
still alive?"
"Oh, yes, and ia doing remarkably
we'll. She married old Absalom Shark
winder. His business 10 good, for no
longer ago than yesterday she told pa
that he had already contracted for as
many wells as he could clean ont this
season."
You havsn't told me anything about
yourself" and as she FLASHED he could
see the paint and powder on her face.
You don't want to know anything
about mo, do your"
"Yes, or I would not have asked"
She sighed deeply.
you haven't heard any thing, have
your"
"No; what 10 there TO hear2'
"NothinR, only people always said
was in love with somebody"
with whomw
"Can't you euess?"
Don't think oan."
With-oh, you know"
Swear / don't."
With-yss you do, You rascal"
"Upen my honor / do mott
with yoa. There, now You know,
Mr.. Smarty.r
The young lawyer understood the Sit
uation. He saw the shallow insincerity
Of the woman.
al am very sorry to hear this" be re-
piled, arising and looking earnestly at
the blurred picture Of his youthful de-
votiou, Who seemed TO grow ugly under
his gaze. "when I was q boy loved
you, bot because was ugly you turned
OPP your moss at me. Beauty may be proof
against slight, but homeiiness il sensi
tive. So long. fair maiden"
Strapple's boy married Jane Woo
patch, who was oncs the ugliest girl in
school. They nov own the finest house
in Arkansaw. Old Scaier's daughter
married dog-catcher.
HRRa BASDNAxx.-This famous ira
eedian, supported by full company,
In ...k. ~ q ,.x .ux.>avzc,~ - AL