The Ketchum keystone. [volume] (Ketchum, Idaho) 1885-1899, 1886-09-04

office feeling decidedly out of sorts,
for the bulky parcel in my hand
was the Ms. of a long story of
which / had hoped great things;
and here it was back again, with a
polite note from the editor, sug-
gesting so many alterations that |
had grimly resolved to stuff the
whole thing into the stove as soon
as ever | reached home.
1t was clustering March day.
The wind was impudent to the last
degree, and playing such rude ca
pers with my draperies that ! could
hardly get along.
As it whisked about the corner
my foot slipped on a piece of ice.
[ threw out my hands in a frantic
effort to gain my equilibrium, and
was conscious of sustaining arm
about my shoulders, while a hearty
voice said in my ear:
"Steady, my lass !"
/ looked up with some asperity,
feeling my dignity rullled by this
free and easy address, and saw a
big man with a handsome beard
sweeping his broad chest, and grow
ing nearly to his eyes, which were
dark and clear, and shining with a
rare good humor.
He was dressed in a suit Of dark
blue flannel with the brightest of
brass buttons.
He wore no overcoat, and looked
as if he never needed one. There
was breezy hearty look about him
that suggested the sea.
MY father had been a sailor. !
softened little, bowed, thanked
him, and hurried on.
was only a commonplace scrib-
bier, and made a modest living for
myself.
Mother was an invalid, and our
lives were so quiet and monotonous
that trifling incidents amused US.
Accordingly, after discussing the
fate of my unlucky Ms. | told her
of my little encounter, and we
named the stranger the "Commo-
dore," laughed over him little,
and dropped him from our minds.
Two days later | entered a
crowded tram-car at the same time
with an old Irish woman who car
ried a heavy basket of eggs.
Ny commodore sat in one corner,
and rising at once he seated the old
creature as carefully as though she
had been a duchess; giving me
such a bright smile of recognition
that / returned it in spite of myself.
cage before beauty, little lass,
he said in his big voice.
Before / could put on my dignity
the car was off the track, humping
over the stones in a most intolera-
bic fashion.
I clutched at a strap, but felt
that same steady touch upon my
shoulder, while the commodore
said
"YouH need your sea-less Tor
these breakers"
Was there ever such ridiculous
man?
I colored furiously and then was
nearly strangled in the wild effort
TO smother laugh. But he smiled
at me SO ipnocently, and seemed SO
unconscious of giving offence, and
so thoroughly at peace with the
whole world, that it was utterly
impossible to snub him.
when / left the car | had no ex-
pectation of seeing him again.
But fate willed otherwise.
Coming from church one Sunday
evening in the beginning of April
i found to my dismay that 1T was
raining hard and blowing furiously
! had no umbrella, for the even
ing had promised to be fair.
Gathering up my skirts prepara-
tory to making dive into the
storm, l heard a friendly voice ex'
claim: .. ;,
"Whv, if it amt my little lass !
/ glanced up to see that man n
all the glory Of his brass -buttoned
blue suit, bcaming at me from un
der his huge umbrella.
Nv first impulse was to run away
i.,.x Lo coor,nd IN have