The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1888-06-23
Bobby Shafto."
ANNABEL DWIGHT.


cliff line is flashing million jewels be
meath the rays of the sun. From my
seat at the piano can see dozel
snowy sails dotting the blue surface
My canary in the bay window is goins
crazy over his own music; and / drum
out on the ivory keys a nonsenstcal all
of my own composition. and sing loud
~ the equally nonsensical verses O
nursery fame:
'Boby Shattc's gone to sea,
With silver buckles on his knee.
He'll come back and marry me-
Pretty Bobby ShaftoI"
The front door is wide open, also The
door from hall to sitting room. and 6
masculin voice, expressive of much
amusement says:
Lucky Bobby Shafto!"
Iwheel about on the stool, and there
stands young man dressed in a dark
flannel suit, hat in hand. laughing al
me.
Il havn't the honor of your acquain.
tance." say. rather fippantly.
He steps over tine threshold and
makes me low bow, as he replies:
bobby Shafto at your service"
Nonsense" says /, laughing little
in spite of myself
"At any rate" he pursues. quite ser.
iously. 'my name 10 Robert Shafter,
and that you will admit. is very like
Bobby Shafto. I called to ascertain il
I could procure lodging here for the
season. The hotel clerk thought that
Knight There is not one comfortable
room left at the Eyris."
l have ascertained by this time that
he is rather nice looking. His hair is
light an curly; his nose is large. but he
has very pleasant dark blue eyes. a
long, curling moustache, and square
chin. cleft In the center.
''Please be seated" say. remember.
ing my manners of sudden. Il will
speak to Aunt Jane"
You must know that Aunt Jane came
to take care of me. tiny girl. when
my mother died. She has been with
US ever since. and her word is law with
father and me. Father. busy with his
manuscripts all the time flor he is a
newspaper correspondent is only too
glad to let the reigns of government
slip into such capable hands as those
of my worthy Aunt. She Is q spin
ster, tall and gaunt of figure. with
keen gray eyes behind pair of steel
bowed spectacles. and she wears her
inevitable high white cap and choco-
late colored gown when bring her in
and introduce her to Mr.. Shafter.
He flushed unaccountably and seems
about to speak, but Aunt Jane says
directly in her moist business like
manner:
my niece, Adelaide tells me that
you desire lodging"
Eyes. madame" replied the young
man, Il belong to the band which is to
make the season here at Bluff Point
and"
oh, then you are one of those band
menu interrupts Aunt Jane, rather
disparagingly.
II have the misfortune so to be-"
Mr. Shafter replies, quite meekly, but
there is a culver of his lip and laugh
ing twinkle in his eye. II play one of
the coronets.''
Now If there is anything on earth
that Aunt Jane abhors it is a wind in
strument
She hesitates.
I, being rather in favor OF having
him come. suggest that he may be
willing to do his practicing away from
the house.
"Oh, certainly" responds he. cheer
fully. IF you will be good enough to
take me you shall not be annoyed by
the sound of my coronet."
Every WELL" Aunt Jane decides,
you may have the southwest cham
Der, which is the pleasantest room in
he house, for three dollars a week."
'Thank you, very much" says MIR.
Shafter, promptly. Il will send my
trunk over this afternoon.
With that he bows himself out, leav-
ing me much elated at the prospect of
so pleasant an addition to our family.
In a weeks time Mr.. Shafter and 1
are the best possible friends.
Father, to speak figuratively. has
taken him to his bosom-indeed these
two seem to have some pleasant I'M
between them which do
not comprehend.
Even Aunt Jane unbends in the
magic Of his frank speech and laugh
ing voice.
We are very good friends, but l am
perfectly thunderstruck, when at the
end of a months acquaintance our
lodger makes me an offer of marriage.
am nineteen years old, and have
never had lover; but I have very ro-
mantle ideas of what lover should be,
and Robert Shafter falls very far short
of my ideal.
So reply decidedly in the negative.
and endeavor to explain to him what
manner of q man intend to honor
with my heart and hand.
He does not seem as despairing as
rejected lover should.
Indeed. think he is very much
amused at what say, for he shrugs
his shoulders and walks away, laugh
ing.
am provoked and disguised with
his levity, and treat him with much
dignity and GOODNESS for day or two;
but this seems foolish in the face of his
frank. jolly manners. and soon we
drift back into the old pleasant COM
! can see the band-stand from our
piazza. but being rather near-sighted.
cannot distinguish Mr.. Shafter from
the other musicians
I never 60 over to the hotel when
the band is playing; I prefer to listen
10 the music swinging luxuriously in