The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1886-09-09
WHYIREPENTED.

love, as young men generally do. with
the girl who came handiest. This par
ticular girl happened to be Belle Bur-
ton, and l devoted myself to her-rode
with her, boated with her lit was a
country place where we metz, walked
with her. talked with her, begged her
for the roses she wore in her hair, and
tried in vain (for I was no poet) to
make sonnets not only to her "eyc-
brows," but to her hair, her cheeks,
and her lily-white hands. In fact,
went through the pretty dream of first
owe as most people do, and it ended,
as it generally does, in an unpleasant
awakening.
One day the stage arrived at the
hotel with dozen dashing New York-
ers for passengers. The next, one of
them obtained an Introduction to Belle
Burton. There was no doubt whatever
that he was handsomer than men gen.
orally are, or that his grace and accom-
plishments were equal to his personal
charms. Handsome Arnold he was
generally called, and girls went into
raptures over his large, long-lashed
eyes and blonde mustache, and men
feared his broad shoulders. deep chest,
and splendid proportions. For my
part hated him from the first, for no
sooner had he appeared upon the car
pet than Belle seemed utterly to forget
my very existence.
l suppose she had never cared any
thing about me, but she had flirted
with me while there was no better fun
to be had, and was not old enough to
know that the man she loves is the one
no woman ever tlirts with. With
Arnold she was rather graver than
with most men, but her eyes sparkled
as he approaced her. She blushed
when his name was mentioned, and
cared for nothing in which he had not
some share. In fact, it was as plain
that she was in love with him as that
he was devoted to her; and there was
no doubt in any ones mind that all
this would end in a wedding. 1t was
a good thing, said the old people, for
poor Belle Burton, for she chad moth
ing" For my part it seemed to me
all the luck was Arnold's.
should have taken my departure
and put myself out of the way of hour
ly torture, but l did not do so wisely.
l fingered about the place and did
small things to spite the happy pair
intruded on the tete-a-tetes, managed
to force thu society of some excellent
and loquacious matron or some trouble.
some child upon them, looked daggers
of contempt at him and forgot to pass
tho butter to her. At last a grand
chance to annoy him occurred. He was
a good rider and proud of his accom-
plishment, and he had FESTIVE, ner-
vous animal which he boosted no one
could ride but himself a perfect mas
ter of the creature, who had never
given him serious trouble save once,
when suddenly brought into the pres
ence of an artist who was sketching
under wLite umbrella. THAT"
said Handsome Arnold, "was some
thing Prince could not understand, and
made him forget who held the bride. :"
AS he came prancing up to the gate
or rode away with an air [ used to
wish for an artist with a white UNI
brella. desired to see that fellow I'M
seated and ingloriously turned into the
mud. That would have made me
happy; and once when he had offended
me more than ever by his gallant style
OF riding sauntered out into the fields
-cursing him in my inmost soul-when
what should spy in the middle of the
grass, intent upon bunch of clover,
but fat pre.Raphaelite artist in a
white suit, q faping hat, and white
sketching umbrella that would have
frightened the clergymen's gray mare,
who was nearly as old as himself, into
being a runaway.
rushed toward this artist with en-
thusiasm, took off my hat to him.
said:
''Sir, 1 rejoice that one of your
glorious profession has at last visited
us. You love the minute, / see. Have
you noticed the spider-webs on the
blackberry bushes at the turn of the
lane, the dew sparkling on the silvery
film, the delicious fruits growing be-
neath-have you seen that, sir?''
The pre-Raphaelite artist scratched
his head with his brush and said:
swell, no, ain't.''
will you come and see it, sir?"
said. ''Will you make it immortal on
your canvas?''
The pre-Raphaelite artist replied:
swell, wouldn't mind.''
did not care what he said so that
he came. My object was not art; it
was the white umbrella. 1 desired to
have him seated where the eye of hand
some Arnold's FESTIVE Prince would
fall upon him as he turned the corner
of the garden walk, and to that very
spot beguiled my artist and there sta
toned him, and, when he had settled
with Chinese precision to his spider-web
and b]ackberries, hid myself behind
tree to enjoy the comic scene l fully
expected would follow.
heard handsome Arnold bid adieu
to the ladies. l heard the patter OF
his horses feet upon the road. and in
a moment more saw him come pavlV