Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1892-09-02
AN UNLUCKY SERENADE.

My parents both died In my boy
hood leaving me nothing but their
blessing and myself as Il legacy to a
rich and eccentric aunt She having
adopted an orphan girl and not wish
ing to be plagued with pair prompt
ly packed me off to a boarding school.
Here | remained. holidays included.
Till attained my eighteenth year.
Not till then did Aunt Matilda con.
descend to receive me-
She did not greet me with much
warmth. She kissed me and then re-
warded fat poodle which nestled in
her lap with the same attention.
~ GU have grown very much like
your fool of father"
Pardon me. auntie" said ]. as
founded at this Introductory remark
you mentioned"
Your father blockhead!" she
snapped. Whatever my poor sister
saw in such a match passes my COM
prehension. Nothing but a ne er- do.
WELL good-for nothing"
Excuse me- aunt" remon .trated;
''but hadn't we better change the sub
jectp The weather is very sultry."
She laughed outright
Il am pleased to find you are not
the same easy going fool he was l
suppose you are right We will let
the poor man rest" which remark
was very charitable, considering poor
dad had been at rest eight years.
Come" she continued Il want to
introduce you TO Louise your future
wife"
1 stood open mouthed with amaze
ment
Don't stand staring there you
BOBBY"
MY wifeP" gasped.
Yes; | suppose you may as we'll
know first as last | will leave you
my fortune-twenty thousand pounds
in consols-but only on condition that
you marry Louise. you understand. ;"
Yes aunt" l responded, feebly.
Following her was introduced to
Louise and at once fell in with my
Aunts proposals. She was lovely. l
don't think it would have needed my
aunts money as an incentive to falling
at once in love with her. DARK. with
splendid hazel eyes laughing mouth
and pure transparent skin. sho was
indeed picture OF youth and beauty.
She received me graciously. and |
could see that my aunt was pleased
with the impression sho had made.
A few days after Aunt Matilda
preached my future.
Il don't want to see you around
the house idly wasting your time !"
she said. You must adopt some
profession. Now 10 what do you in
cline?n
Protest was useless and my aunt
had her own way. So shortly after
passed my examination and became "
member of her ma,esty's civil service.
had my own quarters which de-
cent allowance from my aunt enabled
me to keep up. and | occasionally Wis.
tied her at the snug little Hampstead
village.
Out OF my first quarters allowance
from Aunt Matilda l lent follow
clerk Jack Denton. five pounds for
which he promised handsome interest.
! waited patiently but in vain for its
return. At the end Of two years-al :
though by that time | regarded it as a
bad debit ventured to remark that |
should like to see the principal. and
would willingly waive all claim to tho
interest
My dear fellow. was his reply Il
would pay you with all the pleasure
in the world. but unfortunately | am
completely stumped."
l saw no chance OF its recovery but
| determined to press him lite.
Couldn't you manage to pay so
much a month";"
Vague improbability, old chap. l
have mortgaged my next three.
months crew. But--a good idea-I
have n French horn, regular beauty.
worth ten guineas. and dirt cheap at
that Now, take it like good fel-
low and cancel the debt"
But what on earth do want with
a French hornP It's OF no use TO
me-"
Then create a use for it. Add to
your many accomplishments that OF
musical amateur. You've splendid
mp ho eoheihueu' aiV'uiiy, just Tue
cut for the instrument Now. old
chap. make me eternally grateful by
| accepting. A magnificent bargain, |
assure you.
l took the instrument and from
that date my trouble began.
Up to this period the course OF my
love had been perfectly smooth. when
wso should turn up but cousin OF
Louisa's Tom Medium. He had been
out to Australia TO try his fortune
but after sojourn OF five years in
that land OF promise he returned with
just sufficient to pay his cab fare from
the dock TO my aunt's where he was
loa6ng till he found something better
to do.
was jealous of this Hercules. He
stood six feet in his stockings. When
ever paid dutiful visit to the villa
/ l was bound to come upon the cousins
in some interesting position-pouring
over sketch books or albums Aunt
, was confined to her bed and could not
watch over my interests and SO my
ri, al had the field to himself.
i determined to warm my tickle
, loves waning affections and with this
oh. Get ! practiced assiduously on the
/ French horn lovely German sere-
made ! bad purchased at cheap
, music stall
taxed my patience to the utter
most and most people within respec-
| table radius OF sound II endeav-
ored to make a crescende on certain
note invariably cracked it or split il
I into two or three