Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1885-02-21
eyes. ma'am," said Placide. more than

eyes, ma'am," said Placide, more than
willing.
aSeein' you couldn't attend MOI. send
VOur REGRETS, you must make a party cali
| Let's see, Placide, yOur pa was a small
man. I shouldn't wonder # you'd most
grOwed into his sWaler tailed coat by
this time. This was your pas dresscOat,
she said, as she laid 1t out on the bed.
"NOW slip in your arms and let's see
how it vail do" THE tails came within
six inches of the hoOr.) "'Tain't so dread
full long if it Is q little loose, she said.
Goats is worn long nOW-gentlemen's
come clear down to their heels"
The white vest did pretty well by pin
ming up a broad plat in the back; his
mothers kid-glOves didn't wrinkle very
much. and the shine Of his shoes could
not have been improved. After being.
thoroughly instructed on various points
he set out 10 make his party call, j." think
ing his costume just the thing. FOrtu-
nately, darkness protected him. Smiles
strOve for the mastery in DOlly's face as
she ushered MIN into the slttIng-roOm,
announcing, "This young gentleman
wants 10 see Miss A1able." They were
all ladies and gentlemen at DR.. Law
rence's, however. Mable redeemed, as
ne entered, but she arose as grave as a
Judge, and offered him a chair.
"This is Placide de Castro, papa" she
said to the Doctor. who eyed him through
his glasses in some amaZement.
Placide executed his bow with great
elegance and precision, saluting IN turn
tie Doctor, Mrs. Lawrence and Mabel,
ending up with a comprehensive salam
for the rest of the family.
please accept my respectful thanks,
Miss Lawrence, for the kind invitation
to your party" was his opening remark.
Il am sorry you didn't come; we had
a very nice time" answered Mabel pO-
ltely.
This opened the way for his second
speech.
81 should, doubtless, have enjoyed the
occasion extremely, but my attendance
was prevented by circumstances over
which L had no control" (This sentence
he had memOrized from a complete
Letter-Writer.")
Wouldn't your mother let you cOme?'
asked Mabel.
Not being exactly prepared for this,
he answered naturally enough: ooh,
yes, ma'am The reason is that I did
not get the valentine till to-day"
'That was too badl' said Mabel.
"OtherWise, I should have been pres
ent or sent my regrets" recited Placide,
seeing his opportunity. When the Doc
tor asked him, "Are you attending school
this winter" he replied, eyes, sir, 1 am
pursuing my studies under the direction
of Miss Rose Mayfeld," and he was pre-
pared with several other elegant replies
possible queries; but after this the
conversation ran in channels unfavorable
to their introduction. The Doctor was
regularly captivated; the quaintness of
the whole proceeding took his fancy.
POEteness in ''yOung America" was phe-
nOmenOn worth studying. Once clear of
the points of etiquette" he found the
boy quite simple and chiIdlike, while the
thoughtfulness and intelligence of his
replies pleased his questioner very
much.
Not to outstay the proper limits of a
call, Placide presently arose and made
his adieux.
"That must have been poor De CastrO's
professional coat, f" said the doctor. "There
is certainly something in that costume
which gives an air Of gentility to the
wearer."
"Why-didn't you think he looked ri
diculOus, papa ?" asked Mabel.
"NOt exactly, my dear; it looked as
though he might be masquerading. There |
are some unusual elements of character /
in that boy" he went on. az like his
nerve. I doubt if another boy in the
place could be induced to perform that
little act of courtesy"
One day, while his interest was still
fresh, Rose Mayfield praised Placide, in /
his hearing, as her most ambitious pupil. !
"It is a pity" she said, ''that he must |
leave school when spring opens; they are |
so poor it is necessary for him to work"
The doctor determined to be Of service /
to him. He really needed an Office boy |
AN errand bOy-a generally useful boy. |
Placide he felt confident was exactly the /
kind Of boy wanted, and so the lad was
presently lifted to the topmost pinnacle |
of human bliss by the offer of the situa- |
alton, with the privilege of pursuing his /
studies under the direction of the tutor /
employed to prepare Hal and Archie for !
college. And that was the 'rise in the |
world" These same qualities of faith /
tulness and zeal, which secured him the /
first advance, in time enabled him to
become the trusted associate of DR.. Law
renee.
DIED OF SWEET VIOLETs.