Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1884-04-16
JOE BARRETT'S CONFESSION.

One seventeenth day of August not
many years ago, Il party of four, con-
sistng of Joe Barrett and his wife, their
most intimate friend, Phil Somers, and
Miss Maude Mortimer, n young lady
they hoped he might be induced to CON
slider the future happiness of his exist
ence, stood quite alone upon narrow
strip of sand on the Long Island ceast,
not far from the great metropolis. Joe
Barrett and his wife had long ago been
given over by thcirrclatives and friends,
and the genial circle of society they
adorned, rs an old-fashioned couple
that prolonged their honeymoon to n
most unprecedented and unheard-of
period. They had lately celebrated
their silver wedding, and for the amuse-
ment of others and the romance for
themselves would have gone through
with thc original ceremony again had it
not been for serious obstacle. The
Clergyman was still alive, and vigorous
for his years, and Phil Somers, Joe S
best man at his wedding, was yet his
best friend, but the pale, pretty little
brid6maid had vanished long ago off the
face of the earth, and become one of
thch shadowy band to which 1--WE call,
and they answer not again"
There was rumor that if she had
lived she would have become the wife of
Phil Somers, thus making the happiness
of the four complete. 1t was currently
believed that because of this tender and
romantic episode of his life, Phil Somers
had remained bachelor. In his
younger days this apparent halo of soft
regret and indispensable longing lent q
melancholy grace to his already pleas
ing exterior, and many damsel en-
dcavored to console him. but although
he was gentle, and even chivalric, to all
womankind, he remained, to all matri-
monial intents and purposes, unconsoled.
And here he was, n bachelor still, fifty
years old, getting rather grlzzled about
the temples and crow-footed about the
eyes, bronzed by his partially for the
open air, thin but muscular, tall but
straight; while Joe Barrett and his wife
might both pass for "fat, fair, and
forty, though they were not so many
years Pills Juniors.
And here they were, plotting as lively
as ever for Pills connubial bliss. The
present victim of their tolls, although
no longer in her first youth, would have
seemed so in any other light but the
critical one of sun against sand; and
now that thick bands of gray clouds lay
heavily across the sky, tempcring the
brilliancy of the suns rays, and the
young lady had pulled her veil about
the outlines of her face, Miss Mortimer
seemed at the heyday of her charms.
While waiting for dinner, which was
in process of preparation in long low
hostelry dozen furlongs OF so inland,
they had strolled down to the waters
edge, and, true to the plan in hand, Joe
Barrett had pulled his wife's chubby
hand through his arm and trotted her
away from Phil and the young lady.
Lets leave them alone together for a
while, y said Joe. at seems propitious
time for love-making, and hope some
thing will come of to-day's trip, Polly;
I'm getting awfully tired of working
like pack-horse for Pills happiness. "
While strolling along, they INDUCED
in spirited conversation about Phil and
the matrimonial projects in which they
had been engaged on his account. AT
last Joe remarked, looking fondly at his
wife: I'D be the happicst fellow in the
world if Phil could be happy, too"
His wife shook his arm impatiently.
"See here, Joe," she said, 81 think
you are absurd about Phil Somers, and
you may as well understand, once fol
all, that If this thing falls through, I'm
not going to bother about his marrying
at all. It's none of your business OF
mine. | don't believe he wants tc
marry, anyway. Some natures are SC
constituted that they can only love once
and believe all the love Phil had to give
any one was squandercd long ago or
our dear little bridemaid. After all
there's something very sweet and touch
ing in his remaining faithful to the one
memory all these years"
Joe shifted uneasily from one foot t.
the other. He picked up stone, ant
sent II savagely whirring over the water
polly" he said, IL think I'll take {
plunge in the sea; il will tone me up
and give me an appetite for dinner
There's bathing suitin one of the littl,