Wichita eagle., 1889-04-23
THE LAGGARD LETTER.
Amusing Romance Of the Lady OF
Asthetic Tastes.


looking eyes, his POLITICALLY long, wavy hair,
an, his, as she called it, "Raphael-like"
ia ,. Then, too, his name was so full OF
roj antic suggestion - Francisco Wolfe
81 owne.
lobe sure, her brother, who was always
teasing, insisted upon it that formerly the
name was Frank W. Brown, and that the
hyphen and other accessories, the long hair
and imitation of-Irving expression first ap-
peared on his return from abroad.
Beatrice, or, as her brother would insist
upon calling her, Bet, notwithstanding that
she possessed remarkably good constitu-
ton and the attractiveness which generally
accompanies it, had an uncomfortable
thirst for romance; and this aesthetic-poet-
ical youth impressed her like an unopened
volume of ancient legends in most fasci-
mating binding.
She was wei content TO play lawn tennis,
and row and ride with her brother and his
friend Bob in the mornings, but what q
rest in the afternoons when Francisco
called, to wander with him through the
spring garden discussing ancient chivalry,
reading modern poets, and looking for roses
without thornsl And then his singing of
Did love songs
To be sure his voice was not strong, but
81 n feeling Eyes, always feeling for the
high notes which are beyond his GRASP" her
brother sand; he also added a criticism on
the singer, to the effect that it was good
voice for calling chickensl Beatrices only
regret was that he accompanied himself on
the banjo; it would have been SO much more
esthetic to have played the light guitar or
the Spanish mandolin.
During the summer Francisco sailed for
foreign shores to seek inspiration among
the artistic ruins for his idyllic poem. But
frequent letters kept up the interest In
Beatrice's sentimental mind.
To be sure, Bob was always around, wear
ing her out with his practical ideas and
prosaic views; but then he was so conven-
lent as an escort to social festivities that
he had to be tolerated, and, after all, admira-
ton is enjoyable even from an everyday
young man"
Mr.. Francisco Wolfe Browne returned
with the birds in the spring, and Beatrice's
afternoons were again the bright spots in
her romantic calendar.
One day, Just as the setting sun was con-
cealing itself in varied vestment of YER
million vapor, and from the silyery stream
game stealthily creeping up the malaria
laden mist, Francisco gently took Beatrice's
pink fingers in his fervid grasp, and in sub
ume language poured out his tale of I'M
luenchable love.
Now, Beatrice might then and there have
settled his fate, but her romantic nature
could not be curbed To have murmured
ives" right on the spot would have been
entirely too prosaic; so, gracefully, half-re-
luctantly gathering herself together, she
whispered that in the morning his answer
ha Sh0uld find IN the hollow tree
Now it so happened that there was no
hollow tree on the place, and Beatrice knew
it perfectly well, but she hoped against
hope that she might discover one; and that
night after lnditing a favorable reply bub-
bling with poetical effusions, she vainly
sought for some gnarled and knotted oak
But their modern three acres contained
nothing but painfully young and upright
trees, and at last, in a fit OF despair, she re-
solved to utilize an old tin watering can
which hung on a branch of Il convenient
sapling: so after some manipulation and
maneuvering with the aid of a garden
bench and a box, her love-letter was depos-
tied.
How endless the night seemed! How
eagerly she longed to hear the music of a
light guitar and a silvery voice singing a
touching melody;under her latuced window
As for Francisco. he was otherwise en-
gagged, keeping an appointment with chill,
and in the quiet seclusion of his cheerful
chamber he was busily shaking.
1t rather detracted from the romance of
the affair to be compelled, the next morn
ing. to go herself and point out the location
of the concealed misslve.
All. however, would have doubtless
passed off sereuely but for the fact that she
had been espied by her brother while depos-
iting the letter, and he afterward, IN quiet,
transformations way, innocently arranged
things so that when Francisco, after climb
ing upon the boxes, proceeded TO reach for
the can, his crane-lke neck received large
gallon Of the wettest kind of water.
Z ortunately, Beatrice, being human,
could not entirely repress a slight smile at
the peculiar appearance Mr.. Nolfe-Browne
presented on gathering himself up out OF
the mud. This might have passed I'M
noticed In the excitement; but when her
horrld brother put in an appearance, and
commented on the fact that IL was April lst,
this was too much for Francisco, and with a
look of concentrated wetness he stalked
into the dim future.
Weeks passed. Mr.. Francisco Wolfe
Browne no more appeared, while Beatrice S
misery made her supremacy happy. Here
was real romancei She knew they loved
each other devotedly, but true love always
did run roughly, and this estrangement was
simply a proof of their affection. To be
sure. she was not deserted; her brother S
friend Bob was always at hand for tennis,
riding, or TO take her canoeing in search Of
sketchable spots, while rumor reached her
ears that Francisco was touching the light
banjo at the feet of another shrine and the
summer birds and the new-mown hay filed
the air with song and perfume.
She had no doubt that Francisco's misery
was equal to her own, and that simply out
of sheer pique he was pretending toInteres'
himself in another divinity.
But what a contrast TO his finely strung,
pOetical temperament was the matter-of
fact, almost EARRING. practical mind OF Bob
And how she disiked that name Bob! (His
real name was Roberto, but he obsunately
refused TO answer to it,
While canoeing one day, 8 common
Japanese fan that she carried was blown
INTO the water. Now, any man. she thought
OF chlvalrous nature, any man but a
pracucal, nineteenth-century creature
would have regained his lady's fan at all
cost To be sure, the canoe might have
oeen upset but then, what romantic op
portunlty to save her lifel
Instead o~ taking any OF these chances,
Roberto aei''a@T watched the fan disappear.