The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-05-01
SHORTY LOCHINVAR.

successful contradiction, that at no period
of mans existence does Cupid's dart
strike 80 deeply and cause SO much sleep
lessnes as at the age of one score, or there
about. / have known quite q number of
young men Of about that age to be deeply,
passionately, desperately in love, and
ultimately to recover and 20 through
similar but less agonizing experiences
several times thereafter. But. as I said,
they never in a single instance. suffered
half so much from subsequent attacks as
from that first experience. Not that they
love less. but their capacity for suffering
has diminished-which is something to be
thankful for. for man who could suffer
at each recurrence of the complaint as
much as he did at the first would die of
the second or third relapse.
The victim of this first attack is a pitia-
BILE creature. particularly when there are
obstacles" which is usually the case.
always feel very sorry for chap in
this sort Of pickle. and l felt particularly
sorry for poor Shorty Fleming knew 1
ought not to encourage him, but he was
such good little beggar, and so much in
earnest, that would have defied a far
more severe man than his brother Jack tor
his sake. Besides, Shorty was not one of
the chaps who get over anything easily,
and knew failure would go hard with
him. Moreover, Jack was not the only
''obstacle." Sam Parker. Shorty's Net
ties papa, also objected. He was not a
stern, unreasonable parent. by any means,
but his objections, even if presented
good-naturedly, were none the less
formidable. Parker was shrewd
Maine Yankee. with a total disbe-
lief in the ability of womankind to use
reason, and record of some sixty years of
devotion to an earnest hustle for the fas-
cinating but elusive American dollar
Nettie was the only daughter and the
youngest child in family of seven, and
the old man, close-fisted as he was spared
no expense in educating her literally. 1t
was only natural, therefore, for him to OBJ
iect, especially as Nettie was barely Is,
and had only been out of school a few
months.
He called on Jack one afternoon, not
casually, rs he usually called. on his way
to or from town, but with direct purpose.
Jack Was under the weather, and lay on
the sofa was reading to him when
Parker walked in.
"Howdy, Flemin'; laid mp, air yer
Howdy, Fsber; purity warm, amt itf
Thanks, will set q spell" And he sat
down on the edge of . chair and began
tracing figures on the floor with his big
spur. He seemed nervous, and rose 10
leave the room, but he waived his hand
and said: ''Set daown. Faber. Set still.
Guess amt got nothin' & say but what
We mout as we'll hear
Here the old man stiffened up in hi.
seat and stated the object of his mission,
in good-natured, but thoroughly decided
way, closing with:
'Naow, Flemin', I amt no 'biection 4
tn leetle feller-not one mite: he's tip
top good boy. an all that But faint in
reason th't I'm eddics,in' young 'un, an
then LET FER SO an marry mother young 'un
shout AIRY red. An that's what it'n come
tew. fust thing We know"
Now, Parker's remarks were in the na-
ture of revelation TO US OF course we
knew Shorty had put in good many
evenings at the Parker ranch, but We had
never guessed that his visits there had any
significance. A eourtship, Hoo, wishlsix
big brothers loahng around is a difdculs
matter. 1t is easy enough TO fall-iust
fall-in love with girl if there is no one
80 hinder. But with six young men, with
whom one IS on good terms, sitting around
and occupying large portion Of ones at
tention, 1t Is matter of getting in love
which, accomplished, is rather more seri.
Gus than q mere fall into the same.
through his hair. gravely. Then: II
quite agree with you, Mr., Parker. l don't
know what 10 say TO Percy. but | will try
little strategy and see II he can be kent
q, home more. II that won't do, can
talk 10 him"
And here began nv connection with
shorty's love affair. That evening Twas
writing husily, when some one opened the
door Of my den and walked in. Ii was
shorty. He SAT down Quietly and took up
paper. which he looked at fer several
minutes, while | scratched away ST NV
work. Then he threw the paper down
suddenly, and turned 20 me with; "Faher.
what Was old Parker here fo- ,odays"
i tried 10 diSsemhle. but Shorty is no
hody's fool, and interrupted; '0h. rot :"
said he; Il reckon you think I'm q sucker.
Now. honestly, what was he here fore"
Finally, told him about the conversa-
ton between his brother and Parker He
SAT silent Tor several inmates could see
his face tNitch. Then he turned his ewes
90 my face and said, slowly; "Faher,
know I'm yeuag and Sll that, butt know
my own mind. Jacks = good brother and
feels in duty bound 10 take care Of me but
guess l can tend % that myself live
made pp my mind 10 marry that girl. if
she'll have me, and all the Jacks aud sam
farkers in the world ean't stop me" And
MIR. pereiyal Fleming set his mouth ha.d
and walked out, He called 81 Parker's the
next evening, despite Jacks" strategy"
There was another caller 81 Parser's
that evening in the person 81 Morris Cot
trell, wealthy raneher from up the
"Five.Mile," Shorty, when he got home,
mentioned this fact 10 me, With some
feeling in his tones. CottreA was no old
dufter. He Was = man Of -. well-read
and a gentleman, and the prospect of
having him for q rival would have sent
despair 70 the heart of any pennileSs
young msa less determined than Shorty
fieming.
For two or three months shorty con.
sinued his calls at Psrker's, growing more
and more gloomy and savage as the DAYS
cent by, for old Sam Parker Was some
thing of a stsaiegist, and managed 10 keep
ths poor lad from getting siaSse private
IntsfV,ew with Nsttie, thereby giving Cot
tfsl clear ueld which Was evidently sat
lslsetaFy g. the latter. although he did act
sssua b. make much progress.
Dna evening shorty came 10 nay nom in
q stats af mind lie had seen Sam Parker
lLAi day. and the latter had told him, as
sAsily as possible, some CALLING truths
shaal his age and his penniless condition.
e,.NeliiinH with the cheerful Information
,l,st ne 'feekaaed Net he'd 'eent d'eiasG &
i-ke ~ with Cattrell. anyheoW,"
~ ee,.4sa shorty VAS Respondent, bat he
ess tena Ihs less Determined, "faeeS,
ifa e}sas 81 zee her tomorrow afternoon,
snA seal @ak keS"
fhs An.s s,,d che hour favored sANr,yi