Idaho news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1887-1891, 1889-09-21

Nh "
SAN OLD FRIEND, MADAME
After thoroughly sounding his heart he
finally arrived at the bold conclusion that
he would ask in marriage the hand of the
jolly bon camerade.
For several days he had deliberated in
what manner this ceremony, which he had
always thought so very comical in others.
should be put into execution. Dress coat
and silk hat?
At one time, it was a rainy forenoon, he
almost decided to take these articles. so
useful and ornamental at counting and at
funerals, from his wardrobe, but at the last
/ moment an uncertain sensation oyercame
him that before theatric princess some
what more romantic manner of wooing
were in pace. He did not exactly mean
1 TO do the thing as the hero Lohengrin had
\ done it, for the managers of the resort did
not keep boat drawn by swans for the
use of their guests. But walk into the
propitious solitude of the autumnal forest,
sail on the lake, or something Of that
sort, seemed fit occasions.
As we said, re waited several days. But
as the longed-for occasion for lyric state
of mind had been scared away repeatedly
by the silvery laugh of the beautiful
woman, he decided to altar his tactics.
Nothing else would answer; dress coat and
silk hat had to be taken out. In this dig
nifed habiliment, tea-rose bouquet in
his hand and a camelia at his bosom, he
went to call on the lady who had perform
ed the feat of kindling anew the little
: spark under the lava Of his heart to a
! roaring fiame-snd he received the intelli-
gence that my lady was out taking drive.
A drive with gentleman who had arrived
the previous night and had been received
by her with familiarity, like an old ac-
quaintance.
He made inquiries among the hotel SER
wants, and from them and his observations
he had reason to look upon the arrival Of
the stranger as an interruption TO his pro-
ceedings.
''Dr. Johannes Frenius, editor, Vienna"
In this way the rival had entered his name
in the hotel register.
Had Adonis arrived at the hotel in his
own person, and been received in as
friendly manner by the singer, the Baron
would have felt no greater uneasiness than
he did about this hero Of the quill, with
his enormous reddish whiskers and his
sparkling eyeglasses. According TO the
. honest opinion Of the Baron, unbiased by
: any self-delusion, this Doctor with his
. large stature was anything but beautiful.
;, But it is a well-known fact that critics are
! dangerous for male and female artists, but
!. more than dangerous for the admirers Of
o the latter.
!. AS a man of the world, the Baron con.
: cealed the unfayorable impression which
this man of letters had made upon him
although he wished him into Beelzebub'i
a company.
IAN old friend, madam; is 1t not?' h
. asked, with a certain emphasis, at theil
= introduction. The singer confirmed this
at the same time throwing glance at Thu
= Doctor, which seemed to the jealous BaroI
: like a look Of cuIpable familiarity.
y i'Baron Theodor Sengen, one of the sin
= cerest of my admirers!'
y ALAS! not an old friendp' added tn
:, Baron with dignity, "But not less SINGER
! in his friendship than you, Doctor"
y The two rivals shook hands with cor
= diality such as can be found only anon
= people that dislike each other. And agail
that mysterious smile, again the merry
Z laughing glance of the singer.
. The affair began to take decidedly dis
~ agreeable turn. The Baron could no longe
: stand by and see this witty chatterer, wit
- his red beard and his malicious satire, gal
~ step after step on that battlefield befor
the beautiful Valdini. 1t was absolutel
= necessary for him TO undertake genera
4 attack. 1t is in accordance with the ord
y nary course of things that he who asks 70
= the hand Of woman first obtains posses
!, sion of 1t.
10 On a rainy Sunday the Doctor, tired q
the idyllic quietude at the hotel, of th
or tediousness at the hotel d'hote, and eve
ID of the company Of the charming singei
IN chose TO take long walk in the near fol
est; this was the moment for the Baron
n accomplish decided result. lie finishe
a his toilet with the carefulness Of scho'
er girl who is about to make her debut at
n: ball. Then he examined himself closely
be the mirror.
to ''WelI, my boy" he said with nc
"a toward hts counterfeit, ''those are ni'
stories that we hear about you in your o.