The morning call., 1893-02-02

W vi IL IfA1A AA-<s
1t was late in August. The air was soft
and sweet. I was free from care. Lying
In a hammock. swinging idly to and fro.
smoking my after-diDner cigar, was to all
intents and purposes thinking-thinkln IN
the abstract 1t was moment OF reflection
that involved no concrete thought.
Thinking is one Of my bad habits. My
friends say it is the ruin Of me-destrOys all
nv positive qualities. they say. l never
ASSERT always thi0k. l believe that this
Is wise The man who never asserts is
never mendacious. Assertion is the thief of
accuracy. Ny friends tell me that any idiot
can think a thing is So but that 1t takes
genius TO assert and support his assertion.
This NAV be true.
But prefer to be an idiot; 1t is easier,
happier, less commttal than genius. Any
how, to ali intents and purposes l was in
dulging IN two bad habits tina; late August
Notwithstanding and thinking in
tnougbtless fashion.
and as / smoked and thought, the door
OF the little Queen Anne cottage on the
other side Of the street opened, aud there in
The moonlight stood the falrest TaTest,
most radiantly lovely creature | had ever
seen. AUQ NY lCdkk gave q SACdt AuADts
II was = thrOb OF pain. For am engaged,
and any heart disturbance that had not fer
its initiative that other fairest, rarest, most
ra1iaDtlv lovely being | had ever seen WAS
necessarily painful, particularly SO on TINS
occasion, because the party OF the hTst part
she WhO was now wearing the useful little
solitaire that had done service Ia NY Two
previous engagements, was At that mbment
wi hin the house on whose porch my ham
mock was swinging.
What if she should come forth and sur
prise ne while ] was admiTlDg the vision
across the street?
Horrible thought.
Hit a fresh cigar and felt secure, for my
Phyllis cannot abide smoking
Whether il was the light Of my cigar or
the scratching Of my match on tue sole OF
my shoe that attracted the attention of that
rare pale Margaret across The way l don't
know. but, al any rate, she cried, ID sllyeTy
tones:
"HuHo! is that vou?"
Il vas q fficuit question 70 answer.
/ certainly am myself, but equally GER
tainly was not the person to wnom she
referred as you"
was too much overcome to think, so for
once asserted.
Yes" ! replied, Pm me-" And then
ny heart thTGbbed again. this time with a
iears0me throb lest she should notice the
ungrammatcal quality Of my response. l
EAUUlQ nave cui4 i III BNtt O. 1 nav
already remarked, | was indulging ~ asser-
ton, and assertion and l are not at home
together.
Ny fears were groundless for my words
had hardly had time TO cross over the high
way which separated Us when she replied,
'COme over"
Engaged as l was. l went. As drew
nearer she grew loyelier and more radiantIy
beautiful.
Where have you been all this timer"
she asked.
Again l was nouplused. I had never
seen her before, and il would have taken
me a long time b tell her where l had been
IN the twenty-seven years l have had the
honor TO exist If / had stuck to my habit
of thinking ] should have seen at once that
she took me for somebody else, but. alas my
thinking apparatus was cut Of gear, so l
answered, waiting for you" Another
assertion, and untrue.
We'll, l came as soon as l could" she
said Il misaid my glasses, and you know
how upset | am without glasses"
Yes, l know" | said. Assertion number
three. Aissi untrue again.
Il can hardly see you now" she added.
Then she nestled up against my coat aud
looked at the moon.
You've got a new suit, haven't you?"
she asked
''No--that is, yes; pretty new" 1 had
worn 1t only six summers.
Then there was a deep and lasting silence.
ana l put my arm about her waist.
Summer girls don't count" | said to n.y.
self, though knew if Phyllis should happen
to catch sight Of US out there in the moon
light she wouldn't agree with me.
Il told papa" said my new-made friend
at last.
Did youP" 1 answered. not knowing
what else TO say.
Yes; and he won't hear Of it."
What's his objection % / ventured.
he says you can't support me-"
This was rather sudden, and for mo-
Gent was so disturbed that it looked as
though papa's objections we're TO be literally
demonstrated.
1--WE must elope," she added; "and to-
night, because papa Is going to take me
away from here tomorrow"
Great Scott! | am IN for it," thought.
Then Phyllis's fair face rose up befor
me and, making all due allowances for its
visionary qualities. l must say il wasn't
quite up TO that of my new-fOund love.
''Atl right; let's start | said.
We were married half an hour later BY
the village parsOn and started on our way
back 10 the parental roof to ask forgive
ness. As we walked along In the moon
light l saw something on the ground before
me that looked like two silver quarters. |
stopped to pick them up. They were
nothing but glasses.
What have yon found?" asked my
bride
"a pair of eyeglasses"
"Oh. good" she CALCULATED, taking them
from me. Perhaps they are mine" Then
she tried them on. Yes. they are mine"
she added. Now, let me look at my sweet
old hubby"
Alas, for the weakness of mani LET her
look. and all was over. l was not the
George she thought l was, and she ran
shIieking into the house.
by Jove," | said to myself. when | real
ized the situation, Pm in the deuce of a
boie; bow on earth shall get out Of ~"
Give me your hand and III helm Won. :"
came the reply instanter, in a familiar
Volce-not that Of my wife, however.
1T was Phyllis voice, and it added.
You'll catch your death of cold going to
sleep IN that hammock without anything
around you"
Then ! knew all. l had smoked and
thought myself into a smokeless. unihin X