The sun. [volume] (Morris, Stevens County, Minn.) 1882-1895, 1884-11-27

| u
hasty retreat on the part of the unlucky
maiden.
A little later in the day, my landlady
knocked timidly at my door.
Come in |" said /.
She came. in folding her hands and
looking up at the ceiling.
I'm sure, sill, you'll excuseit, though
a liberty, but as I'm mother, which its
nothing after all, and I've no call tc
worrlt, I'm certain, but it's my daught-
er, sir, takin' on so after You spoke to
her this mornin,' and if you'd be so very
kind, SEEM as Sophonisba Ann is SC
tender hearted"
"What is it about?" I said, as the
fearful lady paused to take breath. 81
don't understand"
ooh! and I'm sure you didn't mean
for to hurt her feelin's sir, and she owns
it she's said as much in that kitchen
down below to me. His way seemed
harsh, she says, hut his hearts in the
right place. she saws; I'm certain sure
OF it, she says. and she's been cryin'
her eyes out, which Sophonisba Ann is
rather 'sterical at times, sir. l tell her
I'm sure you don't mean nothing, and
likely it won't so occur again"
BLESS me?" said 1. "this is very fool
ish; of course l didn't mean to hurt
your daughters feelings, mann; pray
tell her so; I'll remember to speak less
abruptly since you've named it.
"Oh! sir, you're the most feelin' gent
as ever L did know, I'm sure, don't
know whatever my gur'll say-and the
last gent we had so different-so wio-
lent IN his language; not to speak of
banging the door. 0 dear! what 1T is
to have sperrit, which is what me and
mine never had. and so the world tram
pies on u.s." said Mrs. Maudle.
Il hope not" said [. you should
take q more cheerful view of life, Mrs.
Maudle."
[ was very busy, and wished she
would go, but she didn't.
well, SIR" she observed with sigh,
Il always was one of the downhearted
ones; and Maudle's nerves that low! I
never shall forget when he asted me to
have him-that's seven-and- twenty wear
| ago-'Mariar,' he says to me Chats my
/ name)-"but there, sir, don't mind me,
which as wife hope 1 have wife's
feelins;" and Mrs. Maudle shed tears.
! [ did mind her very much, and de-
voutly wished her at the North Pole, as
she stood in the doorway wiping her
eyes with her apron, and evidently
awaiting my sympathy.
I'm sure Mr.. Maudle's choice does
him credit" l said desperately, "he
couldn't do better than take good wife
to sooth the path of life for him; wasn't
that your door bell?"
| "Sophonisba Ann will answer the door
sir. which [ think you was mistaken,
and it didn't ring" said Mrs Maudle.
Il am sure I never did meet with gem
tleman so thoughtful and feelin'; real
friend. as one may say, already, and I'm
only thankful"
I'm afraid [ must trouble you to
shut that door, Mrs. Maudle,"I gasped.
I'm subject to ear-ache, and the
draught" hope I shall be forgiven for
tue fibs that woman caused me to invent.
She slowly withdrew, murmuring moth
erly compassion, and family suggested
pepper plasters and other mild remedies
for ear ache, while [ took up my pen
and tried to collect my scattered ideas.
l had not vet seen Mr.. Maudle, the
state of whose nerves" kept him most
Iy confined to an armchair in the kitch-
en-, but from occasional sounds of melo-
dy, something like feebly rendered
choruses of {. jovial nature, in which
slight confusion of consonants was per-
ceptible, l concluded that even Mr.. M.
had intervals of comparative cheerful
ness. Moreover, | discovered that there
was son of the house-a tall youth,
with whitey-brown hair and skin, and
stoop IN his shoulders-whose avocation
seemed to be near at hand, by his pune
tual return to meals at stated hours in
the day. With this young man I was
fated, alas too soon to become aquaint-
ed.
One evening, little before my din
ner, Mrs. Maudle waited on me with an
air Of meek mystery, to ask If her son
might "step Up by-and-by" and speak
to me, if SO be that had no objections.
His name, his mother told me, was
Cincinnatus: he was rather low-spirit-
ed, and had, in fact, something on his
mind.
Dear mel" said, poor fellow! any
trouble? Nothing serious, l hope?"
ooh, dear, no, sir-leastwise, moth
ing wrong. Gins as innocent as the
babe unborn, as to evil ways, sir;
no, its the mind, that's where it is; ;"
(mysteriouslv) "he's got soarin' mind,
sir, and the worlds too little for him. I"
"Indeed?' said I, mentally regretting
that the young gentleman had selected
me as the confidapt of his mental trials
but, alas little guessed what was to
come. Scarcely was the cloth removed |
when modest rap announced my new
acquaintance, and Cincinnatus entered,
bearing huge brown paper parcel,
which he deposited with jerk on the
table, violently shaking back a long
wisp of hair which kept falling rebelli-
ously into his eyes, and sinking i'm
mediately into the first chair near, with |
an air of profound detection.
This young man had large nose OF |
the solid Roman type, very red eyelids,
and sonorous voice with a twang in |
it. He told me he was in an attorneys |
office, but that the work was very dis
tasteful to him, and he had thought of |
giving it up and turning author.
He had begun several works of i'm
portance, one of which his "chef dou-
YER" he called it, he had brought up
with him.
BLANK verse mostly, SIR" he ex-
claimed; Gin ten books, revealing the
mysteries of human soul TO the moon,
who is supposed to be listening-poeti-
cal license, of course-you understand.
The first three books"
Isn't it a risk" interrupted I,
from the prospect of being
pressed into the same service as the
moon, and resolved to be as practical
as possible; isn't it risk to give up
steady work for an uncertainty like
"Well, sir, mother talks like that,
and she's right and you're right, in one
point of yiew,' said the youth, meekly;
'but when you've soul, and when your
soul mounts beyond the office stool,
where are you them"
L