Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1886-11-03
SEPTIlIUS POTTER'S FIANCEE,


II was exceedingly hot In the little
larlOr of the country inn where Edmund
Fenwiek lay tossing on the horsehair
sofa. inadequately supported by pillows
the very picture of WEAKNESS and
misery.
He had come down on fishing expe-
iitIOn with a few select companions,
and, as lll-luck would have it, he
mad met with an accident jumping out
lf the dOg-cart, and had broken his leg
he second day after his arrival.
Just come up from the station, sir.
Eighteen-pence to pay; and sixpence
for the boy"
Ii was the current number of the
Brickbury Chronicle.
Septimus Potter was a clerk in
large house of business In the city.
The exact nature of the business trans
actions of the firm by which he was
employed it would be hard TO describe,
but principally it had to do with hides
and tallow- Septimus was. conSe-
quently. engaged in ayocations of a
commercial character which bore
directly on this subject. So far, he was
in the same position as scores of young
men in the city; but, in one particular,
be differed FROM his companlons-he
was thoroughly ashamed of his work.
Indeed, he had kept hides and tallow
a profound secret for : considerable
length of time; and even his most
intimate friends, the WindleS-who
lived at Brickbury, in the same street
as himself-even Emily Windle, whom
be admired, and who was not unfavor-
ably disposed to his advances, had
never had an inkling Of the truth till it
came. out one day by accident. Then
Sam Wndle had very naturally made q
few Jokes at the expense of his friend,
and these jokes. as often happens, had
not been appreciated. The fact wss,
that Septimus, who was only gifted
with very ordinary capacities, firmly
believed that his avocation was Art,
and that he was a misappreciated
genius. He had been given fair start
in life by a bachelor uncle; the firm
treated HIM we'll; he had rising
salary, and was considered by his
friends TO be most fortunate young
man. Nevertheless, he was not salts
fed.
Septimus lounged into reading-room
to which he subscribed. 1t was a
dingy, shabby place, with torn carpet
and dusty velvet sofa. More than
once he thought of Emily's fearful
gaze-of the cosy drawing-room, and
the happy evenings he had spent there
drinking tea out of gold-and-white-
cups; ornamented with butterfly
handles. which he had himself presented
TO Mr.. and Mrs. Windle on the twenty
fifth anniversary of their wedding day.
No, he would stay where he was, and
show his spirit as a man of character.
So be sat down to table with deter
mined air, and dragged a paper toward
him. 1t was the Brickbury Chronicle.
a corner of this select publication was
devoted to advertisements, and as Sep
timus looked down the column, a
pathetic appeal met his eye: IAN
elderly widower, no longer handsome.
engaged in the ham and sausage bust
ness, desires to correspond with young
and beautiful lady-posSessing II, ,5OO
who would meet him at the hymeneal
ALTAR
Septimus had no originality, but who
quicker to seize an idea when 1t was
once put before him in black and white.
He read, and at the same moment
resolved that he also would confide an
advertisement to the columns of this
excellent journal. Should an elderly
a plain pork butcher meet with success,
and lie not? Farther down the list he
saw touching appeals from loving
ladies', who wished to meetwith eligible
husbands. Had he ever been dlsdaln-
ful towards the fair sex? All, well,
Emily-pshawl She was simple girl
who could not appreciate his higher as
pirations; well enough. doubtless, but
too uncultiyated for him. de had
already paved the way, he would break
of that unfortunate affair on the spot,
and hope for better future. He sat
up until 2 O'Clock that morning, wTi-
ting and rewriting his advertisements,
tearing up sheet upon sheet of rose-col-
ored paper in his endeavors after per-
fection. AT last lie was satisfied, and
the masterpiece read:
"a young gentleman, whose morning
hours are devoted to the pursuit. OF
eommerce'-so he got out of the hide
and tallow wishes to cor
respond with a maiden of great person.
al attractions, his own being not to be
iaspised, with a view to matrimony.
His prospects are good; he stands five
feet eight in his boots; his eyes are blue
and his hair auburn. His great desire
is TO meet with a partner who has SIM
liar tastes, as his are refined to a high
degree. Photos could be exchanged
and returned If not approved Ad=
dress; Rupert, care of the editor oil the
Brickbury Chronicle.h
On the evening of the following sat
urday, two letters lay on the table.
Breathless with agitation, he tore one
of them open; it was blOtted and Ill
expressed note from young
lady in a hairdresser's shop. He threw
it Indignantly on one side; what had
he and she in common?
The second letter was written Oh
lilac paper, the envelope sealed with
seal bearing the impress OF Cupio.
The letter itself was neatly written ID q