Pawtucket tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 1890-189?, 1893-10-25
HE DID HIS BEST.

But Charley Lyans only responded with
: succession Of convulsive sneezes and
groans.
"sold in he head, chr Never mind It
up with youl"
up indeed. with knifelike pains shoot
ing up and down every Joint in fellows
body, and his head feeling as If hundred
weight of lead were tied to every individual
hair"
Remember your engagements, Charley.
Remember that the girls expecs every
young man TO do his duty this splendid
day"
Mr.. Evans groaned.
Ralph, your list of visits is com mparative-
ly small; you must 20 and make my apollo
gies."
swell. agreed But first let me give you
q cup Of coffee"
"Neyer mind" groaned Charley. "What
was going To sayi oh, you must 60 and
see Flora Howard for me. told her last
night that | should have something very
particular TO say to her today, and she'll
think it a purposed affront IL she hears
nothing from me-"
"What shall tell her-that you have
woeful cold in the headi"
"Nonsense. Just explain matters to her
and say that-that-in short, convey to her
the idea that love her and ask her II she
will have me-"
"Rather an awkward message for a third
person to carry. Hadn't you better walt
until you can plead your own cause in pro-
pria personal"
mo, no-it's a question that admits Of
no delay. There are dozen beaux flirting
round her the whole time, and 1t won't do
l.. q. L. a Il
act as my proxy, Ralph. know she will
say yes"
"On my soul, Charley, wish you wouldn't
send me on this particular errand. Can't
you find some other messenger"
"Oh, understand what you mean," said
Evans, tossing restlessly on his pillow. IL
know you were rather an admirer of Flora's
at one time, but you must be aware that
you never had any chance in that quarter.
Don't be eselfish-and, besides, would rath-
er send an honest, stupid sort Of q fellow
like you than any one else. No offense.
Ralph, hopep
"Oh, no; Of course not, /" said Ralph Brew
sterN demurely, Struggling his shoulders
"Wen. I'll do my best"
AS Ralph Brewster walked rapidly along
the ice glazed pavements he could not help
mentally reverting to the gentleman he had
left behind him.
"Pretty cool. must sayl" he remarked
to himself. "Pve seen a good many evi-
dences of Charley Evans selflshness, but
this is the most convincing Of all. Does he
suppose l have no feelingst And then his
calm way Of taking it for granted that
Flora Howard is dying for him. I'd rather
undergo the rack than to do Charley's
courting for him-but I mustn't indulge
these lachrymose sensations"
The slanting afternoon beams peeping In
to Charley Evans invalid chamber played
all sorts of merry pranks around his dis
heveled hair and restless head, and finally
creeping up the wall vanished away into
the purple mysteries of ftwilight--and Ralph
Brewster did not appear to report progress
Charley grew impatient IL isn't particu-
larly favorable to an angelic disposition to
have cold in your head, with aching bones
and quivering nerves and Uranium throb-
bing as If somebody was trying to split 1t
apart with dull hatchet.
Nine, 10, IL o'clock sounded on his strained
ear, and still Ralph's familiar footstep had
not fallen on the stair. What could have
delayed himi
And while he was revolving probabilities
and possibilities in his weary brain Nor
pheus CONSIDERABLY came to the rescue, and
he fell asleep to dream of standing before
the altar with Flora Howard.
1t was on the evening Of the third day
from this eventful first that Charles Evans
sat before his fire, very cross because the
doctor had prohibited his going out for q
day or two.
Suddenly the door was flung open, and
Ralph Brewster burst In.
"Halloo, old fellow. How are your Sur
prised at my nonappearance, ehf Well,
here am to make all the necessary apollo
gies and explanations"
Charley held out his hand with lazy 40
quiescence in whatever might befall that
was worthy Of nobler cause.
swell, Charley, went to see Flora. as
you wished me to-"
"Did you" said Charley, rather bright
ening up. what did she sayf"
"Why, / commenced by making all apol-
ogies for your absence-which, by the way,
didn't seem to affect her very powerfully
and then / played offhand into the love
subject"
"Welli" demanded Charley eagerly.
"The strangest part of the matter was
that she didn't understand me, but seemed
to imagine that was making love for my
self-and before / could explain she had
hidden her pretty face on my shoulder and
confessed in the sweetest words woman
ever faltered forth that my sentiment was
not altogether unreturnedr
Charles Evans turned very red, sprang
up, and then changed his mind and sat
down again.
"Well-what next"
"Why, you can imagine the delighted
perplexity of my position. OF course, /
couldn't bawl out, You're mistaken I'm the
individual, Miss Floral am only oourting
In behalf of Charley Evans; now, could It'"
Charley Evans stared fxedly at his
friend, but made no answer Ralph went
Ont
$50, when discovered that the bright
est dream Of my life-hitherto deemed as
visionary and unapproachable as the very
stars Of heaven-was blessed reality,
accepted the priceless treasure with the
resolution to deserve 1t II possible. And
as she was annoyed by the opportunities of
one or two wealthy suitors, who were
favored by her parents, concluded that
the sooner matters were brought to q crisis
the better. So we quietly slipped away
and got married the selfsame EVENING" And
now claim your congratulationsp'
Charley deliberately pulled out his pocket
handkerchief, but not as his alarmed friend
imagined TO give way to burst Of vain
tears, merely to sneezel
"Well, Ralph, said he composedly, when
that operation was safely over, you're a