The Warner sun. (Warner, Brown Co., Dakota [S.D.]) 1885-1???, 1886-04-02

| metamorphosed O vagrant nobody
into a hero. Those WILSON'S literally
groveled. They cringed, wriggled and
squirmed in the ecstacy OF their ad-
miration.
lido not know but that even Marla's
superb beauty paled in the shadow OF
their vulgar servility; but, ii so, the
spell was only lifted for q moment.
The more | saw Of the mamma the
less | liked her. So even under the
charm of my infatuation, | could not
but APPRECIATE the aflictiOn Of Il
mother.in-law who called a horse "a
'orse," and who looked dOwnfrom her
gilded heights on the profession OF lit
erature as a lOriOrn refuge for the deS-
titute.
But Maria was charming.
What if her papa did eat with his
knife, and mistake his dinner napkin
fora pocket handkerchief? WouldnOt
the trolling forties' of the Atlantic
rage between us ifIcOuld only win that
dainty damsel for my bride?
After the eclat OF the review day OPP
pOrtunities to press my suit were as
plentiful as sheaves in harvest time.
Carriage parties were gotten up solely
in my honor. Dainty missives on
tinted paper with a lorid crest inn
printed thereon, reached me almost
daily, which informed me that "Mr.
and Mrs. Grofin Wigson present their
compliments to Mr.. Scribbler, and we
shall be glad to receive you IN u
apartments this evening"
One thing was Don apparent. They
we're hungering after society, athirst
for blue blood, and they looked on me
as one especially detailed by Provi-
dence to break down the barriers and
lead them into the SElysian fields Of
fashionable life.
Never a day passed at the table d.
hote that my prospective mother-in-
law forgot to send the color mantling
to my temples by inquiring in a loud
voice, SO that all around might hear,
after my dear friend, '"is 'ighness."
Twice she introduced me to travel
ing plutocrates, sui generis, and each
time added in a stage whisper, "a
friend of the crown prince. Very har.
istoCratic, though he does come from
those 'orrid states"
At last. the golden moment came.
One dewy eve, in the delicious twi-
light, | was permitted to escort the
fair Maria to q vesper service at the
Cathedral of the ST. Gudule.
We passed through the brilliant
Galerie st. Hubert into the sombre
precincts of the sacred building, whose
hallowed arches lowered above our
heads. 1t was an epic poem of archi-
lecture, a dream in stone.
What heart would not be softened
by such a scene? Surely not hers,
who's fair face gazed in rapture like
that OF some Madonna.
Then, when from the choir poured
forth q flood of melody, now joyously
exalting, and anon floating in shadowy
cadences into the far recesses of that
noble pile, it thrilled my soul; and,
from the trembling of the tiny hand
that rested on my arm, / knew that
my sweet companions emotions were
stirred to their lowest depths.
Now, if ever, was the time to speak.
So, when we passed out, softened
and subdued, into the Silly night, |
led her up the quaint, gabled street
towards the park, a route that would
be least fr%equented at hat hour.
But just as we turned the corner
into the avenue of Elms, the appari-
ton of Mrs. Wigson stood before us.
"Quickl Maria, quickl she gasped,
half breathless with. haste. "John
came by the tidal boat. He's in the
parlor with your pa"
With little cry of delight, the girl
flew from my side, and before / could
recover from surprise, had vanished
into the distant gloom.
Mrs. Wigson, / stammered, "what
does this mean? Has your daughter
lost her senses? Who is this mystic
John?"
Years have rolled by, yet Ican still
see that awful oma as she stood in
the moonlight, the night breeze lifting
! the streaming scarlet Titbbons OF mel
bonnet, while from her lips fell the
words that froze my blood:
Err 'usbandl"-Chicago Tribune.
Romance of Chunder Ram Chow.