The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1890-01-29

Seaspray was something OF q yaChtman |
and affected nautical phrases.
"Well, if that's the case, he had better
fight shy of Miss Angelina was the
judicious response; ''she threw over Will
Highly last year because she found him
tight once"
Smallbore, despite the brandy and
soda, was Of the same opinion, but as he
explained to me afterward when making
a clean breast of the whole business, he
could not resist the temptation to steal
down stairs to see what Bluff was
up to. He selected place in
deep shadow where he could see without
much risk of being seen. But in this
world when fellow gets into a fix the
thing that he wishes most to avoid is most
likely to happen. The sharp eyes of Miss
Kitty Clipper discovered him. She had
been out six seasons, and perhaps had her
own private reasons for objectiug to a
long continued tete-a-tcte between Miss
Angelina and Bluff.
"Oh, Mr.. Smallbore," she exclaimed
tripping up to him, "where have you
been keeping yourself so long. I'm so
glad I've found you. There are lot of
girls who are just dying to have you sing
duet with Miss Angelina. That sweet
one, you know, about love will have its
wayn
Miss Kitty tapped him with her fan
and added slyly, pointing to where Miss
Angelina and Bluff were sitting: "Now
don't you think that Pm a real good
friend of yours2 There's many slip
'twixt the cup and the lip, you know"
"Confound her!" thought Smallbore.
(He really thought something stronger he
told me.) Earlier in the evening he had
looked forward with great deal of
pleasure to singing with Miss Angelina,
but now the bare idea of it made him
shudder.
"Thu'll have to excuthe me, "mumbled
Smallbore, vainly trying to control his
lisp. "I'm moth feething thwell." "
"Indeed | think we had better excuse
you" replied Miss Kitty with emphasis,
lifting her eyebrows.
Smallbore didn't appreciate the signifi-
canoe of that emphasis. He was only too
glad to get rid of her.
Meanwhile false theory concerning
the cause of Smalbore's defective speech
had travelled like lightning. Tom Jenk-
ins, who bore Smallbore a grudge for
richly deserved snub which Smallbore
had once administered to him, found an
opportunity to whisper the news to
Bluff. got it afterward from friend
of Bluffs that this is what he said
"That snob, Smallbore, is rs full as Il
tick. He can't even talk straight. If
you play your cards well you've got a
winning game"
don't like Bluff, but l admit he is a
pretty smart fellow.
He at once perceived the advantages
which the situation offered for him.
Kittie Clipper had only left Smallbore
five minutes when Bluff strolled up to
him.
"What's this hear, old fellow; you're
not feeling welll I'm deucedly sorry.
I'll take you where you'll get well in a
jiffy. Miss Angelina has been so anX-
ious to see you all the evening that, by
Jove, she has been hardly civil to me. :"
"Come right along, old fellow added
Bluff with affected good nature patting
Smallbore on the back, "you'll get well
in no time
There had been nothing in the terms
of their acquaintance for the past six
months to Justify such familiarity. In
fact their relations had been decidedly
''strained." But poor Smallbore was
powerless in Bluffs hands. He was
hustled along until he found himself
pumped down alongside of Miss Ange-
lima. To add to his CONSERVATION he
found that he had dropped his handker-
chief and could no longer hide his em-
barrassment behind its protecting folds.
"Why, Mr.. Smallbore, I'm just awfully
sorry to hear that you are sick. What
can do for youl Please do tell me.
Perhaps if you come with me into the
conservatory and get some fresh air you
will feel better"
The tones were tender; the look,
divinely sympathetic. 1t was in that
conservatory that Smallbore had fondly
imagined he would ask Miss Angelina to
be his wife. Here was the opportunity
offered him. But he was Just as power
less to take advantage of it as if he had
been bound hand and foot. He had
never before in his life, he told me, felt
so abjectly and completely miserable.
18th nothing ith nothing; / atthure
thu NTH Anthelina," he said pitiously,
''I'm lithle thick, thath all; I'll get
over it'll.
Miss Angelina looked at him earnestly
There was no trace on his face of that
bewitching, imitable smile with which
he was wont to meet her gaze. Alas,
poor Smallbore did not dare to attempt
smile. That would expose cavity
where four pearl-white teeth had been
accustomed to glisten. His lips were
tightly drawn. lie presented most
woeful aspect.
Miss AngeEna's sympathies were
touched. Smallbore might have extrica-
ted himself from his awkward position
and pushed his suit to "A successful issue
on some other occasion, when better
equipped for it, but for one little awkward
circumstance.
Women are quick to put this and that
together and jump at conclusions. Miss
Angelina had delicate olfactory organs,
She detected the odor of brandy. 1t
was the result of that confounded brandy
and soda that Smallbore had taken al
Seasprays suggestion. Her manner be-
came frigid Immediately.
llATr Gma1lbora / thfply ,-,,, boI hoffnr