Pawtucket tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 1890-189?, 1893-11-27
AN ILLUSI0H:

Frank Bedford is the qucerest fellow
ever met. We were at school together and
have been chums ever since. Frank has
one great fai'iug-he is always falling In
love. lie first fell victim TO the charms OF
our schoolmaster's daughter. lie was 10
and she l6 and sensible girl for her age,
Thought. by the way in which she spoke
20 Frank when he declared his passion TO
her. He was always precocious boy.
| lie told Ada lac loved her To distraction.
She cut him short by kissing him and tell
ing him he was dear little boy. Then
she gave him aquarter to buy candies,
but told him not 10 make himself sick
| Poor frankl His feelings were greatly
wounded. He kept the quarter--as near
bis heart as possible-41r IA few weeks, and
nt the end OF that time he was desperately
IL love with some one else.
These little fancies Of Franks never
lasted very long, for he was great ad-
mirer OF beauty, so that IL he happened TO
| admire Rose because she had pretty hands
he suddenly discovered that Pansy had
such lovely feet, while Lily had beautiful,
limpid blue eyes or pretty shell-like ears.
and so he went on fitting from flower to
flower until he attained the dignifed age
| of 2l.
by that time looked on him IA quite
hopeless case. Why he was so susceptible
never could make out. but he said he
could not resist pretty face or gentle,
pleading voice. Poor fellow ! felt quite
sorry for him. have heard him declare
at least on nine different occasions that he
would die for the then object Of his affec-
tions. / ventured TO suggest that it would
be much more sensible 10 live for her.
II Frank had been blessed % with nine
lives, like "A cat, there is no knowing where
his foolishness might have led him, but
having only one IL kind Of made him care
full.
AZ for myself, would have married
but Frank would have been sure 10 fall Ia
love with my wife and make things awk
ward for both Of us, and 10 | remained In
single blessedness.
Frank was jolly, nice fellow to live
with. He very rarely lost his temper and
was never surprised at anything. lie re-
ceived severe shock once. When the
laundress sent home the basket OF linen,
on removing tho cover, Frank saw some
thing which he certainly knew did not be
long to him or me either. He turned the
lot out and there, nearly at the bottom Of
the basket, among heap Of lace and frills,
lay an innocent looking book marked
"Miss Jones'" IL took Frank long time
TO recover. but youth and a good constitu-
tion stood 10 him, and IL left no Ill effects.
j rather prided myself on being a sensi-
BILE sort of a fellow, 50 | asked Frank one
day IL he did not think IL was about time
for him 10 give up changing the object OF
his affections quite 80 often, or, as far az
that went, did not see what he wanted
to be In love for at all.
any dear George" Le replied, "there IL
no peace In love and no pleasure out OF It
for me"
After that thought II useless to argue
with him. One evening he said To me:
al have n box at the Friv tonight, old
man. Do You feel like goingi"
"Friv" was Franks elegant abbrevia-
ton Of the Frivolity theater.
"I'm your man." replied.
"There is new soubrette there, and
they say she is charming"
"No doubt you will think her 80"
"Don't be hard on fellow, George
Hang it all, IL she Is p-etty"-
"lou will be over head and ears In love
with her before you come home tonight"
"Ah, well, we'll see" said Frank.
And we did see.
We went. Frank lost no time In going
into raptures over Miss Dolly Dimples, the
soubcctte. She could not possibly be more
than II, he declared at least dozen times.
l had my doubts about that, but kept
them to myself. Frank purchased box
for the run Of the piece-made q fool Of
himself, ! thought-and spent a weeks
salary on single bouquet more often
than was consistent with prudence, and
nearly lost his reason when Miss Dimple
~ A r. "A IN ROT mr. for
the flowers.
But such affairs must end, and 70 did
this-in a rather unexpected manner.
About week before the closing Of the
theater Frank went as usual, only armed
with "A larger bouquet than ever. He was
feasting his eyes on the nymph In short
skirts when the door of his box opened,
and Edward Buckley, n mutual friend OF
ours, entered with n tall, dark man, whom
he introduced to Frank as Mr.. Browne.
Buckley soon afterward left, and Frank
and Mr.. Browne were alone.
OF course Frank spoke on the subject
nearest his heart.
al think she is perfect" he said, mean
ing the nymph.
"a matter of opinion, 4" said Mr. Browne
dryly.
"lt's my opinion anyway" said Frank
gallantly.
perhaps you're a little bit 'gone,'"
suggested the artful Browne.
"Well, believe | am, Frank answered
innocently. "And," he added, "if could
only get an introduction to her, should
be the happiest man alive"
"An introduction, my dear fellow
nothing ia easier. | can manage that for
YOU"
"Can you, really" asked Frank in rap
lures. 81 shall be everlastingly grateful"
Don't mention It, )" said Mr.. Browne.
TITS the most simple thing. You see, she
IL my wife. Let me see, we have been
married nearly IS years. Come into the
greenroom, and I'll introduce you to our
boys-seven Of them, fine strapping fel
lows"-
Hut Mr.. Browne never finished, or IL he
did Frank did not hear him. lie staggered
out to get n little fresh air
Mrs. Brownel What a namel And the
mother Of seven boys Pheww
Well, that cured Frank. 1t IL just three
years since the Dolly Dimples episode, and
my friend has steered clear OF love affairs
ever since.--DOrothy Neville in New York
Press.
The Dragon Tree.
The dragon tree (DracRna draco) which
| yields the sstringent gum resin called