The Warner sun. (Warner, Brown Co., Dakota [S.D.]) 1885-1???, 1886-06-04
SEPTIMUS POTTER'SFIANCEE

uuIlu ECuWICA ldy tossing Oh Iut
horsehair sofa, inadequately support
ed by pillows-the very picture O.
WEAKNESS and misery.
He haI come down on a fishing ex-
pedition with a few select companions,
and as ill-Iuck 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. Eishteenpence to pay, and six
pence for the boy"
1t was the current number of the
Brickbury Chronicle.
X
Septlmus Potter was q clerk in q
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 avocations of q
commercial character which bore di-
rectly on this subject. So far, he was
In the same position as scores ofyoung
men In the city; but, Iii one particular,
he differed from his companions he
was thoroughly ashamed of his work.
Indeed, he had kept hide and tallow a
profound secret for a considerable
length of time; and even his most in
innate friends, the Windles-who
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.
Then Sam Windle had very naturally
made few jokes at the expense of his
friend, and these Jokes as often hap
pens, had been appreciated. The fact
was, that Septimus, who was only
gifted with very ordinary capacities,
firmly believed that his vocation was
art, and that he was misappreciated
genius. He had been given fair start
In life by a bachelor uncle; the firm
treated him we'll; he had a rising
salary, and was considered by his
friends to be q most fortunate young
man. Nevertheless, he was not salts
fed.
Septimus lounged into a reading.
"a
q dingy, shabby place, with torn
carpet and a dusty velvet sofa. More
than once he thought 81 Emily's tear
full gaze--of the cosy drawing-room,
and the happy evenings he had spent
there drinking tea out of gold-and-
white cups, ornamented with butter
fly handles, which he had himself pre-
scented to Mr.. and Mrs. Wrinkle on the
twenty-fifth anniversary of their we'd
ding day. No, he would stay where
he was, and show his spirit as a man
OF character. So he sat down to
table with determined air, and drag
ged paper toward him. It was the
Briekbury Chronicle. A corner ofthis
select publication was devoted to ad-
vertisements, and as Septimus looked
down the column, pathetic appeal
met his eye: "An elderly widower, no
longer handsome, engaged in the ham
and sausage business, desires to cor
respond with young and beautiful
lady possessing FL, 5O0-who will
meet him at the hymeneal altar"
Septimls had no originality, but
who quicker to seize an idea when it
was once read, and at the same mo-
ment resolved that he also would
confidt an advertisement to the col
umns of this excellent journal. Should
an elder'y--a plain pork butcher meet
with success and he not? Farther
down the list, hesaw touc hing appeals
from loving ladies, who wished to
meet with eligible husbands. Had he
ever been disdainful toward the fair
sex? All, well, Emily -pshaw! She was
q simple girl who could not appreciate
his higher aspirations; we'll enough,
doubtless, but too uncuitivated for
him He he'd already paved the way,
he would break of that unfortunate
affair on the spot and hope for a bet
ter future. He sat up until 2 o'clock
that morning writing and rewriting
his advertisement, tearing sheet upon
sheet Of rosecoled paper in his en-
deavors after perfection At last he
was satisfied, and the masterpiece
ready
"A young gentleman, whose morn
ing hours are devoted to the pursuit
Of commerce, $50 he got out of this
hide and tAllow difficulty wishes to
correspond with maiden OF great
personal attractions. His own being