Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-08-29
| reality of joyfulness, taught by them whose
| educational elixir was but buoyant youth and

This was much to have learned. for man to
whom the world had grown to seem much as an
enlarged scientific schooroom, and his fellow
creatures almost an abstraction. He had known
that there were men outside his own small circle
made life thing much pIeasanter than his own
contracted existence and had at times felt Q
certain longing to be as they. But his ways and
there would be lacking sympathy between
them, and routine and shyness combined to
keep him Isolated. As to the opposite sex,
they seemed beings strange and far removed a
gracious and tender vision, worthy all love and
reverence, but beyond his reach; beautiful i'm
personalities in petticoats.
Then he had been prescribed open-air exercise,
had been persuaded by friend to try lawn
tennis, and had made bis appearance. as we
have seen, with signal advantage to himself.
But of all the things he had learned during
the month of summer days that had passed
since then, there was one most important. 1t
may have been the first or the last, the foun-
dation or the coping stone OF the educational
process, or as was most likely, may have been
contemp OraneOus with each step in 1t, waken-
ing his mind TO the perception OF new truths as
every day went by. 1t was a lesson easily be-
gun ana most pleasant OF acanirementi sci
discoveries, most simple, yet most complex of
all studies there be. And his teacher in it was
She taught him with no dull books, foolish
folios OF paper and printers ink, but all alone
and unaided. Taught him with sweet blue
eyes, with waved brown hair; with a dimpled
face, and q small mouth saucily merry, or sad
with wistful thOughtfulness With q grlish
sent, to close on a harmless racquet. With
laughter and childish words and innocent
maiden wiles, unconscious of themselves SO
the professors education had been finished,
and his domestication accomplished; and the
process, as often happens, had cost him his
freedom. Never was man more hopelessly en-
shaved and never slave in geutler bondage.
1t had seemed that the course of their true
love would run smooth. There was nothing to
as Niagara So, as they dallied on the sewage
OF happiness, like bathing nymph procrasti-
mating pleasure with preliminary padding,
one and all, in the professors welfare, expected
to hear Of their engagement. And then this
9nlpcky Misunderstanding had arisen, as sud
denly and pOrtentiouSly as q summer thunder
shower.
1t was all on the head Of a black bean. Nell
sauciness, fair, fifteen and iufyhared, had
come home tor her holidays, had been pro-
posed as . member, and had received black
bean. A black bean metaphOrical, for they did
their ballOting on paper, but nevertheless a
black bean. There was only one, so the young
lady was triumphantly elected, but Nellie took
the matter to heart and was much aggrieved
For in this harmonious little corner of the
earth black beaning had become an obsolete Oh
servance, and even one was an insult.
That was bad enough, but why she should
have taken it into her foolish pretty little head
tina the professor was the guilty party should
and, without asking for defense or expana-
ton, or even going through the formula of &C.
cusation, should have punished him with os-
tracism from her favor, that was q puzzle and
a mystery. 1t was a fact that on the afternoon
preceding the ballot this saucy sister Of hers
had been thOughtlesS enough to laugh little
at the professors tennis play and it was also
true that when suspicion first struck her, and
relied detective sort Of gaze. he had blushed
guiltily. But the latter phenomenon was by no
means uncommon, being the general result of
her looking at him at all; and to the first
ground OF Offense-why. it was folly to suppose
that the good-natured poor fellow would dream
OF resenting ridicule at all, and to suspect him
olSD
lutte madness. However, Nellie was unreason-
able. and cut him. Hence these tears. Hence
lovers quarrels herself years ago-probably
as many as five years ago. Hence the deliber-
alton Of Sam MahOn, waiting the return of the
club Ulysses.
II.
1t was evening, and Mr.. Colthurst having
returned from his travels, was smoking the pipe
OF psace-and digestion; q venerable meer-
schaum, extensively spliced and banded, and
Ethiopian in complexion, lying on the grass
To him Sam said:
SWELL my venerable sage, the first thing we
want your help and counsel in, is"
'What?'
IAN affair of the heart"
That's the biz" said George Carstairs a
young fellow whom Sam had invited to the
with some vague idea as to the value
OF collective wisdom, more than actual expecta-
ton of assistance, since George shone more on
The tennis ground than in the deliberative
assembly.
Mr. Coithurst looked at them in constsr.
nation.
well now, youngsters, look here" he said.
: AS far as tennis goes. and commercial matters
are connected with 1t, you're welcome to my
advice: but when it comes TO hearts, and the
unlimited liability of love-making, must de-
cline to take shares at any price Hang it,
man, dye think I'm matrimonial agency?,
They both laughed. This was an unusual
effort of eloquence for the Ancient, who, unlike
NO. you're mistaken" said sam ats only
about q the professor and Nellie Brenton. They've
"Ohr' said Colthurst, somewhat relieved. but
Here's how it is Nellie's sister-you know
club last week. Some one gave her black
bean at the ballot. Nellie imagines it was him,
and won't speak TO him since. He is quite mis-,
ask or give any explanation
We'll: But what's that got to do with
that has been bothering me about it. I'd like
TO set things straight, il 1 could. too"
Yes But what can you do?'
NOW, we re coming to Ii" said Sam "That's
just what we want you to suggest"
Indeed, said COlthurst, not very gratefully.
There was silence. At last, find" said
-. ,,ceT,sinly." Colthurst acquiesced. Find;
quite brilliant one You're poisoning into a
regular Oracle OF Delphi, you are. Would you
nina mentioning hOw?'
This hadn't occurred to George He medi-
tated Tor awhile, and at last said, diftidently:
''Papers."
They didn't welcome the idea with absolute
enthusiasm. After awhile, Colthurst said, |
-WeI' we might try. Have you got them,
Sam?'
Sam said he had. With some pride, as If it |
was an instance of fOrethought not to be ex- |
pected from him. So he fetched them.
These were the ballot papers. Not much in |
formation 10 be had from them. Only oblong
slips OF paper, fifteen OF them, each bearing the |
young ladys name, and ruled in two columns |
yes and NO" Fourteen marked with q |
pencil cross in the column "Yes," one similaely |
adorned in the column "NO."
They passed round this last, each scrutinizinp
1t carefully, but to no purpose There isn't
much indication of character, or clue to person.
Atty, in two short lines, intersecting
sam was gazing at IL fOrlornly, one degree
from despair, when he became con.
seious Of presence. Not an imposing one 1t |
reached TO a height of two feet or So and was
somewhat uncertain In its equilibrium. as IL |
unaccustomed to biped progression. Golden
was It's hair, SO much there was of IL: inuuir-
Ing were its blue eyes, and soft its infantile |
cabs OF hands, wherewith it attempted fruitLess |
pIunEes At the paper. Evidently, from its
mo sisitlveness, and acquisitlveness, feminine,
sam niece.
Halo, Toddlss. how are your" said Col
thurst; .'come here"
But the young lady wouldn't. She wanted |
that paper.
Now, young person." said Sam, holding IL |
ABOVE her head and speaking in tone of dig |
nl.eo IeouKe, w nat do you mean? You are |
not content with Obtruding your insignificant
presence ID the council chamber, and aspiring.
though OF the.undeliberative gender To take a
place among the warriors OF the tribe, but You