The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1886-05-07

down glass Of claret. and produced
the Ms. from my pocket Ny uncle
took them with smile which really
tried my strong Affection for him, prom
ising 10 look 1t them before bed time.
He had evidently no faith in my poet
zeal genius.
Rose was more fascinating that even
Ing than she had ever been before. She
sang My mother bids me bind my
hair" with SO sweet a manner that the
tears came into my eyes. How
wished that had expressed myself bet
ter in that "Ode TO the Great Bear,''
And yet ] cherished q secret hope Of
my uncle's conversion. Alas, was
doomed 10 disappointment.
:" wouldn't waste any more time
over this sort Of thing" said the cruel
critic. handing me back my precious
Ms. Its not In your line. my boy.
Try trigonometry. BY the way. my
dear he added. turning TO my aunt,
:. shall be glad il you will drop note
to Woodbird. and ask him TO come TO
us on Tuesday,"
Then ! lost my temper. told my
TO marry Rose d'Agincourt, and that
nothing on earth should prevent my
proposing to her. least Of all ridicu-
lous subservience to crotchcts that
were all moonshine. She was the only
woman could ever love. and ! would
never marry any girl 70 point theory
or adorn scientific treatise.
You should not speak Of science in
that way. my boy" said my uncle.
very grayely. "When you are older.
you will see matters in another light
and all my wrath broke in vain upon
his placid front
Before went to bed that night Twas
firmly resolved to propose TO Rose the
next day. ..bcforc that warbling idiot
Woodbird comes upon the scene."
muttercd to myself The next morn
ing. however. brought less preciptate
counsels. felt that could not offend
my uncle. Not only was l to some ex-
tent dependent upon my guardian. but
was deeply attached TO him. and
was aware that the only proper course
TO pursue was to endeavor 10 alter his
wish. The hobby must be attacked
After the pitiful failure of my poetic
illusions TO alter his opinion of me.
any further efforts in that direction
would be useless. longed to startle
him with some wild and weird fictions
Of my creative fancy. but found myself
quite unable to concoct any. And so
drifted on irresolutely. until Tuesday
came. and brought Tom Woodbird to
stay with US.
".
Woodbird was not at all Of an un-
pleasant species of poet He had not
been soured BY the vanity Of human
wishes any more than ordinary people
who are unable to pen their aspira-
tons. He did not seem at all addicted
to incoming. but entered heartily into
every thing that was going forward.
and. when he saw how matters stood
between Rose and me. he most honor
ably RETAINED from any poaching upon
nv preserves. So much was / pleased
with this delicacy that ! resolved to
take him into my confidence As he
was a poet. being ''of imagination all
compact" he would doubtless be able
to imagine some scheme for attacking
my uncle's hobby. was not disap-
pointed 1t il true that he embraced
| the situation with an Olympian roar Of
\ laughter. which somewhat outraged
nv sympathics. until | remember the
privilege which superior men possess
Of looking on the humorous side OF
/ things. and / did not take offensc. He
made very light Of the hobby. and
promised me that my uncle should be
won over in a few DAYS.
1T is not the first time. he said.
'.that have done battle with the sub
| jccts of Queen Entelecheia, ct militavi
non sine gloria.
The allusion to Rabclais was beyond
me. but had learnt enough Latin at
Eton to construe the quotation from
Horace, and felt much relieved at hav-
ing secured so excellent = champion
What his plan Of attack was he would
not tell me. and he made me promise
to leave every thing in his hands. and
to wait patiently until the enemy sur
rendered. can not say that l waited
patiently. for was burning with anx-
icty to know what would happen. but
| refrained from any interference. The
campaign was Unexpectedly brief
On the very day after my conversation
with woodbird. whilst / IVES indulg-
ing my melancholy in the garden.
saw my uncle coming towards me with
glow on his face that made my heart
leap
Reginald. he said, laying his hand
upon my shoulder. and speaking in an
excited way very different from his ha-
bifual manner. Ego at once and ask
Rose to be your wife; she is in the con-
scrvatory alone. Heaven grant that
she may say ycs.
What were my feelings do you think ?
Oh. the Joy. the uncertainty, the de-
spondcncyi II she should refuse me ?
All. now began to see upon what
slight hopes I had built my foolish cas-
tie in the air! Never did man pre-
pare for = surgical operation certain to
either kill or cure him with more pain
full emotions than went TO put nv
fate to the touch. How il all happened
| do not know. From the time at
which l entered the conservatory TO
| the time when Rose and left il to-
gethcr swimming in dream Of mutual
happiness. 1 can only remember dis
tinctly my words: do you care for
meP- and her precious answer: ''Yes. 7
| We went TO my uncle, who blessed