Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1890-05-24

away from here and look out Tor somepoo
else"
Thus it happened that Franklin viii
lam and Mr.. Hops, by dint of borrowin
| and scraping, continued to spend tw
| weeks at the sea shore, where Mr. Hopp
/, industriously circulated stories of his com
panion's fabulous wealth, and inveigle,
that young gentleman into number Q
very desperate firtations. As young mel
were scarce at this particular resort, as a
all summer resorts, Franklin William die
not lack for feminine society. But tn,
very scarcity of male escorts, instead o
being in his favor, operated against him
The number of forlorn maids was so grea
that he was obliged 70 accompany whole
bevy of fair ones, instead of one particular
girl, wherever he went, and with from two
to dozen continually demanding hi:
knightly services, Franklin William found
himself as far away from matr.mony a:
ever.
Come" said Mr. Hops, finally, one
moonlight evening, "our funds are horri-
bly, low, and we'll have to leave here in.
side of two days. Now, what have you
done?"
Noth4HS; sdIu TIE UNHAPPY seehef
after welded bliss. "You see how it is
yourself. How can | ask girl TO marry
me when there are seven of 'em all talk
ing to me at once. 1t wouldn't be polite to
ask one without asking the others-I mean
it can't be done, and that's the end of it.
The only girl Eve had FIVE minutes con-
versation with alone since she came here
is Miss Wilson, the Chicago grain mans
daughter"
'iShe's just the one you want" cried Mr..
Hops; you've danced lot with her and
she told me she thought you quite awfully
SWELL"
"Did she?" inquired the victim, twisting
his small mustache.
"Yes, and by the way, there she goes
now, on the piazza-all alone, too. Now's
your chance"
''But don't love her."
That's nothing"
"And she may refuse me-"
81 don't believe it," said Mr.. Hops,
seizing his friend by the shoulder and
pushing him forward "Go on. Remem.
Der your birthday and make a desperate
effort"
AT the mention of his twenty-fourth
birthday, which had become sort of hor-
rible nightmare in his mind, Franklin
William started after the grain mans
daughter with grim determination, like an
Indian warrior going to the stake She
was disappearing around the corner and he
hastened to overtake her.
"AIay | share your promenade, Miss
Wilson, he inquired In his most dulcet
tones.
"Why, good evening, Mr.. Lee" said
Miss Wilson. Certainly, you may. | am
looking for mamma. Isn't it just too
sweet for anything tonight"
"Yes," said Franklin William, offering
his arm and wondering how he should be-
gin. eyes, it is"
ooh, I've been having an awfuily nice
time here" said Miss Wilson This is
such charming place. Mamma prefers
Saratoga, but | like the great big sea, don't
your"
ooh, yes" responded Franklin William,
whose senses were just deserving him.
when he thought of what was to come.
"Oh, yes"
ooh, l love nature" continued Miss
Wilson, shaking her pretty head, over
which heavy mass of filmy white lace
was thrown, causing her to look very
charming in the moonlight. II adore the
sea. | like to sketch it. Sketching is
awfully nice Don't you think sketching
is awfully nice, Mr.. Lee?"
Franklin William could stand this no
longer. He resolved to perform his task
without further delay, especially as they
were Just entering a little arbor on the
hotel grounds, which was secluded, and
fortunately deserted. He stopped and dis
engaged his arm from Miss Wilson's in
order to carry out the scene effectively.
Cold chills ran over him and at first he
could not speak.
"Why, Mr.. Lee, are you i'll ~ cried Miss
Wilson in some alarm.
''Miss Wilson," stammered the unhappy
sutton. "Let me-let me declare my
lovew
"Your what?''
"My lover he gasped. "That is, II
want to marry you. Of course, if you
have any objections / won't-that is, /
hope there is none, for / am-you see it is
important-well, you know what 1 mean,
and-Fd like to have the wedding in a
week or so and"
Miss Wilson uttered cry of alarm and
evidently believed herself alone with a
maniac. But the unhappy Franklin, who
knew he had Numbered, did not attempt
to approach her, so she said at length
rather family, 81 don't understand you
Mr. Lee. Please let me go and find
mamma And | cannot listen to this, fol
Iam-engaged already" She turned to 60
"Stay an instant" cried Franklin Will
lam, overcome with shame. II beg your
pardon. II assure you it doesn't make
any difference. l shouldn't have done it
but IL was forced to it by-another "
At this incomprehensible speech Mis-:
Wilson turned and fed along the path tc
the hotel while the unfortunate Franklin
William executed a maniacal dance O
despair upon the gravel and objurgated
his eccentric uncle in the most emphatic
manner.
Mr.. Hops took his wretched frienC
home, where he remained for privacy fol
some days. Mr.. Hops naturally sympa
thetic nature, added to the thought of tn,
substantial creature comforts his friend haC
promised him, created bond of union be
tween them which produced the most per
feet uuanimi.y of feeling. Franklin Will
lam ltiASts ilAc AOOAu ~ 0lSiidCltdlN THAI
was suspected of having become a poet b,
his anxious landlady, and she tremblet
for the fate of his board bill, which wa.
assuming gigantic proportions, should thii
prove true.
Lorenzo" said Franklin William sol
EMMY one evening, "our last resource
gone" 1t was annoying to hear him in
clude Mr.. Hops in the matter. ''As vol
advised, sent an offer OF marriage yes
terday to Mary Eaton, the highly cult
waited young female with the big nose.
was dire necessity, and / thought Mar,
would be willing to marry anybody"
"And the answer ~
''Her father returned it unopened, wit
note to the effect that Mary had gone a
a missionary to the Sandwich Islands, o
the Cannibal Islands, forget which,
That's bad" reflected Mr.. Hops.
/ "Eyerything's bad" groaned the ur