The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1893-09-21
COGSMITH'S BACK.

Tho handkerchief! the hardkerchief"'-
0THxLLo.
I am certainly the most unfortu'
nate man in the world.
II not, how does 1t happen that l
lm not married to Miss Priscilla
prltchard. only child and soc he:ress
Of the late not much lamented Jede-
ilah Prltchard OF Pritchardstowr?
She is worth a million and a half
at the very lowest computation, and
I'm not worth a penny, except in
the way OF credit am worth gu tie
4 sum in that way however, and
have plenty OF unpaid bills to p.oVe
It.
It was almost a sure thing. l know
she would have said Yes" II l had
popped the question the last time we
met.
On, why didn't I pop the question
the last time we met?
It is Of no use, I suppose, to cry
over spilled milk. She has gone and
married another man, I understand,
and am set out in the cold. I can
not cry, but should like to do lit
tie swearing if it were not against
my principles.
You see, I loved her passionately
with my whole heart and soul and
was greatly in want Of money.
She entertained, think, a strong
feeling OF regard for me, and as she
had had very few offers for the last
four years she might easily have been
led to accept my hand, heart, and
40, net my fortune; I have none, but
ne will say, my name, which is just
as good, il a body only thinks so.
Only she doesn't think so any
longer.
Let me col ect my bewildered senses
and relate the narrowing story. 1t
nay calm ME.
Peter Cogsmith is one Of my oldest
friends. We were boys together. He
is celebrated Tor two things onlS so
Tar as 7 KuOW: FOR De1ng crUss'eycr,
and for Carrying the larges1 Tulgarest
silk handkerchiefs-all red, and vel
low, ring streaked and spotted-that
ever were seen.
Notwithstanding which be is an
excellent fellow.
If he had been little fellow, he
might have been celebrated fur that,
too: but he had a serious ia Ilns-h1s
back close y resembled that OF a re-
spectacle old brlTer, with whom l am
but slightly acquainted.
hate respectable old buffers with
whom am but 81 ghtly acquainted.
remember that when Cogsmith
and I were at school together, he used
already to carry those hideous hand
kerchiefs, and it WAS considered
rather a lark, among the boys, to
steal them out Of his pocket. The
head boy of our class had eight of
them, all at once, that he had stolen
and accumu atei.
"Ah, why did I remember the
irolicsome DAYS Of boyhood? Why
did ever attempt to renew for
gotten sto:tivcness and an obsolete
locundity?
Let US pause to drop a briny pearl
and pro -eed with fresh penful OF
ink.
Business 1 loathe and de-
test-keeps me occupied during the
daytime, and my only hours Of recre'
alton are those that [ snatch from
The balmY period Of slumber.
Therefore, never had many op-
portunities to visit Miss Priscilla
pritchard, save on Sundays, and 90
the evenings of the week. Ny suit,
then. prospered slowly, but it did
prosper. Oh, yes; did I not press her
hand uureproved? Did I not tnsin.
uate, three several times, that con.
dered her personal attractions con-
sderab!y superior to the average?
Lid I not express my affection for her
ir a tn. usand nameless ways-by
signs, by signs, by moans by groans,
BY every means, IN a word, that your
skiiitul lover understands so well?
OF course I did.
And she-she not only accepted all
this homage so delicateEy rendered,
but she gave me to understand that
he should like to have me keep at 1t.
'FrailtY thy name is woman"
How true:
1t was one year ago last Wednes-
day night, that she and sat alone in
The little extension room off the back
pailor of Miss Pritchard's palatia!
:ity residence. We were alone.
lhaI been getting along very finely,
i.us somehow could not get my cour-
:.ge up to the point.
So l determined to give myself one
more chance the next night. I had
:, brilliant idea something new and
original.
Young men, take warning by my
ate. Never trust brilliant, Dew
nd original ideas. Strike while the
iron is hot, and clinch the nail as
,oon as possible.
Ny idea was to invite Miss Priscilla
20 accompany me to The opera and to
iropose to her between the acts, in a
roscenium- box I flattered myself
,at music's dreamy swell, the faint
.rfumes of the house en- toilette, the
..ellowed glitter Of l,C00 lights, the
..tchery OF the spectacle, all would
nd sn srtfui aid, and insure the
,c,ase for which I trembled