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

Smallbore made no secret of the fact
that he meant "business" with Angelina
Goodluck. She had good figure. n
pretty face, not too much brains and a
cool million in hard cash. There was
every indication that Smallbore's suit
would be crowned with success. Never
before had his smile been so bewitching
or his glances so thrillingly tender. Miss
Angelina baslSed in the sunshine of the
former and revelled in the radiance of the
latter. In fact so obvious was it that
Smallborc was the favored suitor that all
other competitors had retired from the
field with the exception of Frank Bluff,
and 1t was the general opinion that he
didn't leave it simply because of his con-
stitutional inability to perceive when he
was beaten.
The Goodluck parties, as everybody in
the social swim knows, are delightful and
jolly affairs. They are not sufficiently
particular, perhaps, concerning the line
age OF some persons they invite to suit
those who hold strong and un-
compromising opinions on the sub
jec of "blue blood" but it has
always been conceded that if any one gets
bored at one of the Goodluck's enter
tainments the fault is his own. There is
no stiffness or restraint about their hos
pitality. They possess the happy faculty
of making everybody feel at home. The
house, with the large conservatory at
taehed to it, is delightfully."- arranged for
'spooning" or flirting, or even more
serious amatory business. The house is
deservedly very popular with mamas with
marriageable daughters. One mama who
there successfully launched three daugh-
tiers on the serene and placid sea of
matrimony once remarked: 'It is nv
candid opinion that if girl can't get off
the hooks through Goodluck's parties
she may as well retire to a nunnery at
once"
1t is not strange, therefore that Small
bore should have decided after careful con.
sideration, to formally ''pop" to Miss
Angelina at the next Goodluck party.
The fateful evening came round in due
course as all evenings do, fateful or other
wise. Smallbore was a happy man and
he believed that somewhere in the neigh
borhood of midnight he would be still
happier,
The most careful and methodical of
men is apt to become absent-minded when
he thinks that he is going to ''pop" to a
young lady within the next few hours. |
do not speak from experience but have
been so informed by those whom l have
consulted on the subject. Smallbore
himself told me afterward that he dressed
like an automaton that evening, he was
thinking all the time of something
else"
1t was long drive to the Goodluck
mansion. but the way didn't seem long
to Smallbore. The rain fell in dismal
drizzle. The contrast between the cheer
less streets and the brilliantly lighted
parlors full of fragrance and laughter and
well bred men and handsome women
was equal to that between the ogre's den
and the fairies grotto in the pantomime
So it served to the poor people gathered
outside who occasionally caught frag-
mentary glimpses of the scene within
when door was opened, and they wished
wistfully that they, too, might be rich.
But no sooner had Smallbore opened
his mouth to greet the first friend that
he met-young Jack Seaspray-than he
made a discovery which caused him to
feel that he would gladly change places
with the poorest of the poor chaps out
side and remain poor chap for the rest
of his days. That he told me himself.
He had forgotten his false teeth!
He turned pale and clapped his hand
kerchief TO his mouth while narrowing
thoughts swirled through his brain.
Great heavens, if he should smile he was
lost man! He could not sing. lie
was robbed of his accomplishments and
transformed into an awkward body.
"What's the matter, old fellow?"
asked Seaspray, with genuine solicitude.
'Nothing, nothing" muttered poor
Smallbore behind the folds of his hand
kerchief, the absence of his teeth making
him lisp. ~ gueth it'll only thill, buth
think I'd betther go home"
Wise decision. Why didn't he stick
to it? Because fate had ordained that
at that moment he should see, through an
attention to Miss Angelina.
Smallbore's affection was, under ordi-
nary circumstances, of a well regulated
and discreet character. But even the
most temperate of wooers is likely to get
his mental balance disturbed when he
sees rival, making love to the woman
whom he has resolved TO make his wife
SO Smallbore hastily decided that he
would stay to keep an eye on Bluff, but
would make himself as inconspicuous a;
possible.
"Come upstairs and take brandy anC
soda, }" said Seaspray, ''you will feel bet
ter then.
''Thankth, Ithinkth thwill, replied
Smallbore, who felt the need of something
to stimulate his courage. 1t was the
worst thing he could take under the cir
| cumstances, What he wanted was some