The intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1887-1891, 1890-10-25
A DOOTORED WATERMELON.
From The New York SunI

out the saloon ana all lis works
from their surroundings.
His devotion to the cause led to his
fayor in the eyes of Miss Marcella l..
Nash. the beautiful and accomplished
daughter of Robert g. Nash, Esq, a
local merchant prince, whose grocery
can fairly be called one of the leading
business houses of North Stamford.
Mr. Hopkins is a persOnable yOung
man ,and he found favor in Miss Nash's
deep blue eyes from the day of their
first meeting at the camp at Sea Cliff,
over a year ago. His manly bearing
and high principles won him the esteem
of Miss Nash, and as time progressed
this sentiment deepened and grew
more tender, until MIR. Hopkins con-
fessed his love, which Miss Nash
returned, not because she
had no use for il, but rs an evidence of
good faith.
But MIR. Nash opposed the match on
public sentiment demanded the liberty
of taking a drink If one chose, and he
wasn't gong to give his daughter, so
he affirmed. to no ranting prohibition
ist. The fact is that in the rear of his
fine grocery emporium Mr.. Nash made
specially of that form of merchandise
known as wet groceries, and your
correspondent would take this oppOr.
tunity to state that no finer goods nor
better assortment than Mr.. Nash's cen
be found in any similar store between
New York and Bridgeport, whatever
clsims may he advanced by certain
bumptious citizens of South Norwalk.
And bis cigars are also of unvarying
excellence, because he selects them per-
sona.ly, and MIR. Nash knows good
cigar when he sees it.
Mr.. Nash did not feel like giving his
daughter to man " h0 would, a. he
said, slearn her to hate him for q rum.
seller" and he remained steadfast and
unmoved by the entreaties of Miss
Marcella and Ter mother, who had
long looked with regretful eye, SO
village rumOr says, on the back room
in the grocery. But all that her father
could say was not enough to shake
M rss Marcella's allegiance to Mr.. Hop
kins. She told her most intimate friend
the charming and dlstingue Miss Mabel
r ST. John, whose spirited roam coli
is often seen whirling its fair rider over
the hills of North Stamford, that she
COZ uld never love any other man thar
Mr.. Hopkins, and that she only hoped
her pa would come around. This
information is direct, and was obtained
only by the special facilities possessed
by your correspondent.
While Mr.. Nash did not approve o
Mr.. Hopkins, he did not 60 so far as t
refuse him permission to wait upol
his daughter. In fact, ss that yOun!
lady once said. apon his limiting a
stern measures, "She should like I,
SEQ him try it." Miss Marcells has
fine, free way with her, and a master
FIJI disposition, inherited from he
father, and, as Miss st. john once said
"When Nicola sets out for thing
she's liable 10 make folks stand ronud.
Recently, according to a state
ment made by Mr.. Nash, the firs
melon of the season was imported int
North Stamford. 1t was exposed fO
sale at Mr.. Nash's grocery store, aud
So happened that il was bought by MI
James W. Hendrix. q hitherto popula
young society leader and the chic
clerk in Buskirk's drug store.
Now Mr.. Hendrix had also been
suitor tor the hand of Miss MARCEL
Nash, and had won marks OF distlI
guished favor from that young lady
when the Rev. MIR. Hopkins had entel
ed upon The scene and supplanted hil
In Miss Nash's affections. Mr.. HeI
dirk, moreover, had been acceptabl
to MIR. Nash, and on the turning OF Mis-
Marcella's heart to the prohibitionls
minister Mr.. Hendrix and Mr.. Mas
had condoled with each other AL
talked over the situation frequently
Mr.. Nash's back room. lll-nature
persO have been found TO say that
community OF interest IN re rum, 8
Squire Latham put il one day, evOkin
roars OF laughter, caused the father an
su tor to clasp hands even more fer
vently than had love alone impelle
their minds.
Just after Mr.. HcRdrix had bougi
the watermelon, and before 1t had bee
sent TO his boarding house, the te'
Mr.. Hopkins came along and wanie
10 buy it. Mr.. Nash told the reveren
gentlemen that this melon was sol'
but that he would get another for M
Hopkins IN day or two. This alrang
ment was satisfactory.
, This happened on Wednesday. Th'
!, night being popularity known a
, "girl night" in North Stamford, II
Rev. MIR. Hopkins called upon Mi
Marcella, while the unfortunate M
D.. Hendrix, bereft OF a girl, called arour
at Mr.. Nash's grocery, as usual, to Ia
= things over. Now, which Of the
;, two men proposed the scheme can n
+ be stated positively. Miss Isabel
: st. John, the quecnly equestriemne
North Stamford, Gays that she believ,
that il was the jealous suitor, burnil
with rage at the thought of his success
!, ful rival at that very moment in M
: Nash's parlor with Miss Marcells. B
- whether the idea originated with faith
, , or Iuckless suitUr, they clasped hani
:, warmly in infamous compact TO int1i
: trouble upon young lady who snou
= have been dearer To both than reveng
and to bring scandal upon man VINO
;, sacred calling should have staid the
= impious hands.
;. They planned it all oHt then al
= there, and when the next day (rhul
- day) the watermelon came for the Re
. Hopkins, these two men, as tn
~ shamelessly confess. proceeded TO pll
u il, and then poured into the wa.ermel,
10y little and little, u quart of chan
( pagne. AS everybody snows,a vale
melon will take up large quantity
Il liquid into its pOrus and bushil
a heart This melon was large, d.
n one and il absorbed the contents OF t
a bottle of champagne by careful cOaxi
n until,as Mr.. Nash says with All effrol
= cry hard to imagine possible, 9Th
=" want enough lett Tor u decent drin
Then these two men set the waite
g melon in the ice box aud waite q Tor I
Il Rev. MIR. Hopkins. That gentlem
IS ,oon came along and inquired if
watermelon had arrived. Mr.. Ma
: handed il out and took the money. Th
y Hr. Hopkins took the opportunity
}, make a lew remarks upon the virtues
a water as u beverage, and said that I
d rhiefest charm about walermel
}. was that il was cooling, but not hea,
le refreshing, but never harmful exc,
Ie to u dis0rdered stomach; sweet "A
l.; good tor the use of man az the b,
'e bling waite. from the mountain sprir
le and he said the very name was ia
is man. Who would ever buy whist
d melon or a brandymelOn or ginmelO
~ Nobody The watermelon appealed
0, every heart, and as for this one.
proposed to eat the whole OF il hims