The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1889-09-07
OH, TO BE A MAN!
London Society.

MlsS I1dllildH OteptOe Nuo a piihO
little old maid, with a fat, round
rudy face and dark brown hair
neatly fastened behind in little
knot. She invariably dressed in
gray silk orsatin, wore gold brooch
containing n lock of white hair, and
was very particular about her caps
curious compounds of ribbon and
muslin and lace, which varied from
the severe turban in the morning to
the last new fashion from Paris in
the evening. These caps wrought a
remarkable change in her appearance;
she seemed TO grow younger as the
day advanced, so that the question of
her age was often debated by the
gossiping inhabitants of Dullish, the
small and dreary watering-place in
which she had made her home.
She lived with q confidential old
servant in a little cottage facing a
triangular green. Roses were care
fully trailed over the wooden porch;
the path through the tiny garden
was bordered with white pebbles; tho
fower-beds were cut with mathemati-
cal precision;in short the outside ofthe
cottage clearly indicated the orderly
habits that prevailed within. Moth
ing ever went wrong there. Doors
opened and shut without creaking;
hot mutton punctually at 1 O'Clock
on Sundays was followed by cold
mutton punctually at l o'clock on
Mondays; the mullins were done to
turn on Thursdays, when few
friends always came to afternoon
tea; habit had worn for itself deep
grooves, and everythingran smoothly
undeviatingly along them.
When any Sunday-schoo oil teacher
wanted a model of commonplace
propriety for the example of her pu-
pills, she was sure to select Miss Han
nah Steptoe. No one would have
dreamed of suspecting the slightest
tinge OF romance in this quiet little
lady.
And yet, so inconsistent is human
nature, she had set her affections up
on n man much younger than her.
self, while her life was haunted by
the dark desire to see the world as it
really is, and not as it was presented
to her and her set of highly respect
able friends, all of whom stood upon
the neat and narrow platform of
conventionality and never ventured
to look over the edge. She longed to
do what they dared not. The placid
smile that sometimes lighted up her
face as she sat in the armchair be-
fore the fire and watched her cat
sleeping on the hearth-rug was
caused, not by pleasant retro
spect which affords enjoyment to so
many old ladies, but by a fanciful
picture of her friends feelings as they
believed her plunging into some wild
extravaganza.
Certain persons ofundoubted piety,
John Wesley among them, are said
to have been beset by horrible and
almost irresistible temptation to do
something outrageous. The tempta-
ton that beset Miss Steptoe was
somewhat similar in degree, though
different in kind. ooh, to be n mani"
was the thought that continually
rose to her lips. hut never escaped
them. 1t was more than feminine
curiosity; it was almost a mania
with her, cleverly as she concealed it.
Perhaps, after all, the very stiffness
of manner and habit, which was sup
posed to be her leading characters
tic, was but an extreme precaution
against her besetting temptation.
''Oh, to he a manp' The thought
was no sooner driven from her mind
than it was back again, often burst
ing upon her at the most incongru-
Gus times, when she was making
pudding or knitting n stocking. But
the day came when, with dazzled eyes,
she saw q way to the attainment OF
wish which she had always regard
ed as unattainable.
Late one autumn there arrived in
Dullish mesmerist, who called him
self Professor Sobrinski. In spite of
his name he spoke English with very
good accent. He was a tall, thin,
sallow-faced man, with an enormous
nose and cold, snake-like eyes. Pos
sessed of funS OF grim humor he re.
garded human nature as n plaything.
and was never. so pleased ms when
trying the effect of a round block in
a square hole 1t was doubtless this
propensity that had led him to adopt
mesmerism as means of livelihood.
A successful seance in the town hall
brought Professor Sobrinski into no.
tice. At first his vocation as a pub
lie performers sort OF play-actor. in
tact-was decidedly against him. but
somebody started the story that he
was a Polish Count, whereupon he
became quite the rage in Dullish. He
was invited to dinners, tens and sup
pers, and all of them was expected
to give illustrations of his art gra-
tuitously. This he did, revcnging
himself by making fools of his host
and hostess.
II Among the Professors warmest
admirers was Miss Hannah Steptoe.
In the crowd that used to gather
round him she always occupied a
prominentplace; herprim little figure
rigid, her dainty attired head held
on one side as she hung upon
his every word. She had con-
ceived most fantastic idea of the
powers of mesmerism, BY its aid, it
seemed to her. the transmigration oil
souls was brought within the range
OF possibility, fnot OF accomplished
facts. Glowing witlrexcitement, she
Matched a little plot based upon this
conclusion. She invited to q coy