Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1888-12-26

think, kind sir you are mistook,
I'm not 80 big fool as look"
L'Envol.
Since marriage is failure,
In single blessedness will die.
Detroit Free Prsss.
A FEARFUL EXPERIENCE.
The True Story Of a Forced Inter-
view with a Mailman.
1t was about six years ago. i recall
the scene and the circumstances wildly
to mind. i can see now the large
square room in an old-fashioned ram
bling hotel in the quaint little town OF
l., in Germany, where l sat that
night. 1t was winter. Without ii
was dark and desolate. The naked
branches of the trees swayed and
tossed as If tortured by the cruel
blasts from the north. The tiny river
that erstwhile danced so gayly over
the stones in its bed at the foot of the
garden was stilled and stiffened In an
icy embrace, and the wind moaned and
ratified at the easements like belated
wanderer begging for shelter.
Within there was warmth and light
and luxury. The monumental porcelain
stove placed close up in corner as il,
like superhuous piece of furniture, to
get 1t out OF the way, had unobtrusive-
ly diffused delicious, languorous
summer warmth throughout the room.
A softly-shaded lamp burned upon the
table, and /, wrapped in a cozy tea.
gown, was half reclining on a quaint
old chaise-longue. / had been read
ing the Lotus Eaters" The lines
How sweet II were ----
With half-shut eyes ever TO seem
| Failing asleep in half dream
were still running through my head.
l was full of the spirit OF the poem.
My old nurse and constant companion
sat in the next room where l could see
her through the open door nodding,
nodding so sleepily The cathedral
tones of the old lock on the shelf fell
upon my ears. counted the strokes
one, two, three, four, five, six, seven,
eight, nine, ten, eleven.
1t was time to send nurse TO bed; but,
lazily watched her head drop again
and again, too idly content to find will
enough 10 speak to her. The house
was profoundly still. could hear the
regular breathing of the nurse, and
even my own heart-throbs.
Suddenly was aroused by the light
steps OF slippered feet on the stone
floor Of the hall. They halted, there
was hurried tap at my door, and, be-
fore i had time TO assume sitting
posture, the door was flung open and
there stood gentleman. | rose TO
my feet and begged to know to what
chance / was indebted for so untimely
visit. He closed the door gently,
then with his usual superb manner
saluted me: 81 beg your pardon,
madam, IL have intruded.. | was go
ing to my room, and seeing light
under your door, thought i might
venture to stop for few moments
chat with you"
i had been in l. a year, and had
met the intruder, Mr. B., frequent
ly at his sisters house; he had also
called upon me, so we were not
strangers. He was man of rather
attractive personal appearance, about
medium height, slender and graceful,
with the manners Of an old courtier.
He was fine musician and linguist,
and we'll versed in the history and
literature OF the several countries
whose language he spoke, and was
also n brilliant conversationalist.
Still, notwithstanding all these accom-
plishments and his charming manners,
there was something repellcnt about
the man, something undefnable, that
made every one half afraid of him.
Well, in reply to the implied quce-
ton as to whether he might remain or
not, ] said that l had been in the land
Of the lotus-eaters, pointing at the
same time to the book had laid upon
the table; that the spell OF the lotus
caves had almost closed my eyelids,
that my old nurse was nodding, and /
feared i must ask that the visit might
be brief.
'As brief as you desire, madam, {"
said he; "only there is something
should like TO tell you before CO."
He eyed me curiously as ! sat down,
and felt SILVER OF repugnance go
over me. He advanced to the table,
took up a volume Of Mrs. Browning,
and, after turning over the leaves SOW
eral times, rcad
AS one alone; once not alone,
SIT and knock at Natures DOOR
meartoare. heart-hungry very poor
Whose desolated days 60 on"
oloslng the book with a sigh, he
SAID as he began TO pace up and down
the room: did you know that was
once engaged to be married. never
sec Mrs. Browning without thinking
of my fancee." Then for some time
he walked to and fro, apparently OBJ
livious OF my presence, quoting from
German, French and English authors,
and withal delightfully."-, until one
stroke OF the clock admonished me
that IL wanted but a half hour till mid
night. l reminded Mr.. B. that a
half hour had gone by and he had not
yet told me the object Of his visit.
suggested that what he had TO tell me
might do for serial story. and
would take the poetry for the intro
ductory.
He flashed savage glance over TO
ward me. One quick step and he was
at my side, saying. In low tone
'Why does she cit thereP" pointing Il
my old nurse. "Send her away"