The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1889-08-02

house
don't say she Iaughed-I simply
saw her crammiug her handkerchief.
her lace fan and some embroidery into
her mouth rs she rushed for the door:
and when she was within the widest
peals OF uncomfortable laughter shook
the walls. But / trust Miss Rosalee
was too polite to allow herself to be
excited TO merriment at our eccentric
appearance, though the rest of the
party on the veranda were not so
punctilious; and it was with quiet sat
isfaction that l saw one man dragged
away in a fit.
For the next few days we kept our
selves in close retirement, as we were
wearing several marks and bruises
which only time and arnica could ef-
face.
We resolved on our next appearance
TO avoid both canoes and brOncos So
arraying ourselves in our tartest raj
ment, and assuming our imported
bored look. We sauntered TO the picnic
grounds by the river bank. where Miss
Rosalee and her party were assembled.
Iu consequence of the two disastrous
'
TO make an impression on Miss Rosa
lee, this our third attempt made US
feel decidedly nervous. All the con-
ventional picnic accidents rose up be-
fore US like ghosts.
On approaching we saw that the
widest confusion and excitement
seemed to prevail; then out from the
crowd walked the H. R., Mr.. Junius
Brutus Jonas. Yes, there was no mis-
take. though his appearance was IN
usual.
His elastic step, his nOnchalant air,
his patronizing smile and his spotless
garb were not with him. At every
move water spouted from his shoes,
spurted from every seam and ran in
torrents from the edges of his clothes
Yes, as the intelligent reader has
already surmised, Mr.. Jonas was wet!
For once he had reached our level /
don't hesitate to say we smiIed-in
fact, my amusement was too large for
my collar and l came Lear having
a fit
We suddenly observed that our in
noceut merriment was coldly frowned
on by the assembly; and, a moment
later, it was explained to US that Mr..
Jonas was a hero-a real, Hfe-sized,
first-class. sensational heroi
At the risk of his life and the sure
ruin OF his chaste costume he had
plunged boldly into the raging tor
rent and snatched the beautiful Miss
ROsalee from the jaws of death-that
is. she would no doubt have drowned,
! IN time. if the water had sufficient
depth; but, TO tell the truth, Poolado
and l afterwards quietly sounded the
water in that locality and found it
only three or four feet deep. There
was no current, and no holes; and If
she had been let alone she would have
walked comfortably out and saved her
bangs, which, alasi were lost in the
confusion Of being dragged ashore.
But OF course we could not say ali
this to the enthusiastic admirers of
the thrilling deed. and the H. r"
posed as the lion of the hour.
Some OF the reports placed the
depth of the water at seventy-fve
feet, and said the young lady was be-
ing rapidly swept out of sight by
furious current, and that she had al
ready sunk four times before the dar-
ing swimmer could grasp her.
All this was too much for Poolado.
We wandered to our hotel, and he
paced the floor nervously all day. and
wrote desperately all night And the
result was letter to Miss Rosalee, of
which this is a synopsis:
He told her OF his unconquerable
love; he declared his intention of never
seeing her again; he would leave the
field to Mr.. Jonas, the man whom
fate had favored in allowing him the
privilege of risking his life to save
the lOveliest girl in the world; and
he could only hope her happiness
would be as great as his own misery
was deep; etc, etc
The number of hours and the amount
of writing-paper it required to
compose this effusiou were beyond
reckoning. It was sent to her by
messenger as We rolled to the station
the next morning on our way home.
The following day at the breakfast
table, as l occupied my accustomed
stool at Poolado's eldow, watching
him Hstlessly open his mail, he
jumped from his seat upsetting the
chOcolate-pot and nearly overturning
the whole table L sprang just in
time to avoid the flying china and
falling chairs as he rushed wildly to
his room, where l was not slow in
following him.
Already his traveling-bag was in
his hand, into which he was crowding
lot of articles. Then, without one
word or thought for me, he flew out Of
the house
Now from experience knew that If
went unlimited it would simply make
scene; so while | was standing there
undecided, my eye fell on the letter
which had caused this sudden emo
ton, and which he had accidentally y
dropped
Behold the contents:
''fou Dear Fooiish OiR Boy: thought every
one knew that Mr.. Jonas was engaged 20 my
pretty cousin who IS now abroad and he seeks
my society simply so that he can find patient
listener while he enthuses about his absent
love.
In regard TO his saving the lovoliest girl IN
the world as you so charmingly word it, may
as well let you into the secret now; II was all
a practical joke We girls planned We made
wagers as TO which man would be the first to
jump in after the-supposed-to-be-dr &
girl
Besides being an expert swimmer, I knew
the shallowness OF the water. But the partic-
ulars OF all this VIII keep TIL see you, which
trust VIII be-Usry soon.
"YoUR WAITING RosALEE''
Now I'm no fool; at a glance l saw
the chance to make myself welcome to
Poolado- / realized how he'd prize
the precious letter, so seizing the mis-
sive l bolted after him
Talk about an enthusiastic recep-
ton! You should have Just seen him
hug me when the letter in my mouth
was recognized