The Penn's Grove record., 1886-10-30
SEPTIMUS POTTER'S FIANCEE.

lSEPTlMUS P0TTER'S FIANCEE.
It was exceedingly hot In the little
parlor of the country inn where Edmund
Fenwick lay tossing on the horsehair
sofa, inadequately supported by pillows
the very picture of WEAKNESS and
misery.
He had come down on a fishing expe-
iition with a few select companions,
and, as Ill-luck would have it, he
had met with an accident jumping out
Of the dog-cart, and had broken his leg
the second day after his arrival.
"Just come up from the station, sir.
Eighteen-pence to pay; and sIxpence
for the boy"
1t was the current number of the
Briekbury Chronicle.
Septimus Potter was a clerk in
a 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 70 describe,
but principally it had to do with hides
and tallow. Septimus was. conse.
~quently. engaged in %avocations 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 IN particular,
he 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
| trttpan4n frfandc thu IVinAlac-Nvh6
lived at Brickbury, in the same street
as himself-even Emily Windle, whom
he 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. TAen
Sam WIndle had very naturally made a
few Jokes at the expense of his friend,
and these jokes, as often happens, had
not been appreciated. The fact wss,
that Septimus, who vas only gifted
with very ordinary capacities, firmly
believed that his a~yocation was Art,
and that he was a misappreciated
genius. He had been given a fair start
in life by a bachelor uncle; the firm
treated HIM well; he had a rising
salary, and wa considered by his
friends to be a most fortunate young
man. Nevertheless, he was not salts
fed.
=
Septimusl ounged into a reading-room
to which he subscribed. 1t was. a
dingy, shabby place, with a torn carpet
and a 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
tosMr. 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 he sat down to a table with a 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 a young
and beautiful lady-possessing el,50t
who would meet him at the hymeneal
affair."
Septimus had no originality, but who
quicker to seize an idea when it was
once put before him in black and white.
He read, and at the same moment
resolved that he also would contide an
advertisement to the columns of thif
excellent journal. Should an elderly
a plain pork butcher meet with success,
and he not? Farther down the list he
saw touching appeals from loving
ladies, who wished to meetwith eligible
husbands. Had he eyer been disdain'
full towards the fair sexp All, well
Emily-pshawI She was a simple CIR
who could not appreciate his higher as
p%irations; well enough. doubtless, but
too uncultivated for him. He had
already paved the way, he would break
off that unfortunate affair on the spot
and hope for a better future. He sal
up until 2 O'Clock that morning, wri
ting and rewriting his advertisements.
tearing up sheet upon sheet of rose-col'
ored paper in his endeayors after per
lection. At last he was satisfied, and
the masterpiece read:
"a young gentleman, whose morning
hours are devoted to the pursuit oi
commerce"-so he got out of the hide
and tallow carbohydrates to cor
respond with a maiden of great person
al attractions, his own being not TO b.
despIsed, with a view to matrimony,
His prospects are good; he stands five
feet eight In his boots; his eyes are blut
and his hair auburn. His great desire
| Is to meet with a partner who has sim
liar tastes, &c bis are refined to a higl
| degree. Photos could be exchanged
and returned If not approved. Ad-
[ dress: Rupert, care Of the editor Of ths
Brickbury Chrontcle."
On the evening of the following Sat
urday, two letters lay on the table.
Breathless with agitation, he tore ons
of them open; it was a blotted and i'll
expressed note from a young
lady in a hairdresser's shop. He threw
1t Indignantly on one side; what hac
| he and she in common2
The second letter was written OF
lilac paper, the envelope sealed with
seal bearing the impress of a Cupid
The letter itself was neatly written II