New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-02-21
"SHORTY LOCHINVAR."


ca,lsc much sleeplessness as at the age OIL one
score, thereabout. have known quite num-
Der of young men of about that age TO De deeply,
passona,ey, desperately IN love, and ultimately
TO recover and go through similar put less
agonizinS experiences several times thereafter
But, as / said, they never, in 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 ptlabla
creature, particularly when there are Obstacles
which Is usually the case.
always feel very sorry for a chap in this sort
Shorty Fleming. ] knew | ought not to en-
courage him. but he was such good little beg
gar, and so much In earnest, that would have
0eiied far more severe man than his brother
Jack for his sa Ike. Besides Shorty was not one Of
the chaps who get over anything easily and knew
failure would go hard with him. Moreover Jack
Shorty's Nettie's papa, also objected. lie was
not a stern, unreasonable parent, by any. means,
but his objections, even If presented good
naturally were none the less formidable Parker
was a shrewd Maine Yankee, with total disbe-
lief in the ability of womankind to use reason,
and record of some sixty years OF devotion 10
American dollar. Nettie was the only daughter
and the youngest child in family of seven, and
the old man, cloee-flsted as he was. had spared
no expense in educating her literally. 1t
only Natural, therefore, for him to object .es--
pecialE as Nettie was barely eighteen, and had
only been out of school few months,
He called on Jack one afternoon, not casually,
but with direct purpose. Jack was under the
weather, and layton the sofa. l was reading to
him when Parker walked in.
Howdy Flemin'; laid up air ye? Howdy,
Faber; purity warm, amt til Thanks, will set
a spell" And he sat down on the, edge Of
his big spur. He seemed nervous, and / rose TO
leave the room, but be waved his hand and said
Set daown, Fabcr. Set still. Guess ! amt got
nothin Z say, but what ye mout ez we'll hear
Here the old man stifened up in his seat and
stated the object of his mission, in good
natured but thoroughly decided way, closing
@Naow, Flemin', amt no 'bjection t. tn
leetlc feller-not one mite; he's tptop. good
goin t spend more'n three thousan dollars
marry mother young Jun 'thout AIRY red
An that's what it'll come tew. fust thing We
know
Now, Parker's remarks were in the nature of a
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 courtship. too.
with six big brothers loafiing around is difficult
matter. 1t is easy, enough TO fall-just fall.in
love with q. girl if there is to hinder But
with SIX young men. with whom one is on good
terms, sitting around and occupying large por-
ton of ones attention it is matter Of getting in
love- which, accomplished is rather more serious
than mere fall into the same.
Fleming sat up and ran his 4,i fingers through his
Mr.. Parker l don't know what TO say to Percy.
but will try little strategy and see if he can
be Kept at home more. If that won't do. can
talk to him."
And here began my connection with Shorty's
love affair That evening / writing buSily.
when some one opened the door Of my den and
walked in. 1t was Shorty. lie sat down quietly
minutes, while scratched away at my work.
Then he threw the paper down suddenly, and
turned TO me with "Faber. what was old
. /, fried to dissemble. but Shorty is ,nobody's
fool. and interrupted "Oh, rot!,', said he; ."
reckon you think I'm a sucker Now. honestly.
Finally told him about the conversation be-
tween his brother and Parker. lie sat silent for
several minutes. ! could see his face twitch.
slowly: "Faber. know I'm young and all that,
butt know my own mind Jacks good
brother and feels in duty bound TO take care of
me, but l guess can tend to that myself. l.
I've made up my mind to marry that girl, If shell
have me- and all the Jacks and Sam Parkers in the
world can't stop me-; And Mr. rereivol flem-
called at Parkers the next evening. despite Jacks
"strategy!'
There was another caller at Parker's that even.
rancher from up the " Five-Me." Shorty. when
nc got home, mentioned this fact to me- with some
feeling in his tones. Cottrell was no old duffer,
He was a man of thirty. well-read. and gentle
man. and the prospect Of having him for rival
would have sent despair to the heart Of any penni-
lSs young man less determined than Shorty Flem-
For two or three months Shorty continued his
calls at Parker's. growing more and more gloomy
and savage as the days went by. for old Sam
Parker was something of a strategist and managed
IN keen the poor lad from getting single private
interview with Nettie, thereby giving Cottrcll
clear field which evidently satisfactory to
the latter. although he did not seem to make much
One evening Shorty came to my room in
state Of mind lie had seen Sam Parker that
day, and the latter had toid him, as gently
and his pennieSs condition. concluding WIN INC
Cheerful Information that he "reckcned Net he'd
b9f Seaea Shorty 5aSe w %p but he
none the less determined aFaber, I'm going to
her tomorrow afternoon, and-and ask her.
The time and the hour favored Shorty: but
hardly think Nettie knew her own mind The boy
who came riding slowly home through the shadows
NEXT evening was very much downcast boy. in
Tie told me all about il, later; how Ncttie had
wavercd. and finally told him that she could give
him TO answer. She cared great deal for him.
she said but she not sure she cared enough for
him Besides her father objected to him. and she
could never cross her fathers wishes, when he had
Sam Parker must have heard of this interview,
and made up his mind to something. Although
he was usually so good-natured, he was as deter
mined as a bulldog, and / think he used some In
auence in deciding matters, for, two weeks later,
he dropped in to tell Jack that Nettie and Cot
trell would be married on Thanksgiving Day. two
months later.
Shorty must have seen the news in my face, for;
after supper, he drew me aside and asked what
knew Ihated TO tell him, but did So the best way
could The poor Lad stood still as stone for sew
era seconds. Then, with q shuddering sob, he
turned away; In, the morning he was gone, with
his horse and clothes, leaving no word.
Jack and Joe. the other brother, were much wor
ried but, as Jack now for the first time acknowl
edged. - the boy could take care of himself"
Jack and talked IL during the day, and he
expressed good deal of regret thinking, however
that Netie had decided for herself and that Shorty
had no one to blame for his failure. II it had
been different" he went on, and Percy had per-
severed and won. I would have given in, and |
think Parker would too, for next year Percy will
come into about fifteen thousand. You see, Pve
never told him Of il, because wanted him to grow
mp On his merits and be self-reliant. ! think