Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1894-11-04
A Modern rlunehausen.


able summer resort. Hu, no one would ever
have imagined that Colonel Douglas shlile.
toe attorney-at.law. humorist. rac0n,eur and
thorough Cosmopolitan. dailied at Bar Har-
Dor for the express and only purpose of.tell-
'nE a young lady that he loved her. His IN
tention at frst was to remain only two
weeks, and then 80 to Newport until the
season closed. lie was introduced 10 the
Dlnsmores, and promptly fell in love With
Miss Reba Dlnsmoge. whose personal charms
had been pictured aud written about in the
society columns In Boston papers. where the
family resided.
Miss Dinsmore's manner Indicated that she
tolerated Colonel Shlle,oe'a attentions, but
that was all. Tho Colonel was favoritc
at the resort. and his anecdotes and good
humer always made him a most desirable
guest at any function. He was never at
loss for something appropriate to relate
HIS stories were generally introduced with
this short preface: THAT reminds me. etc"
Everybody would crowd around him except
Miss pinsmorc. and eyince by hearty laugh
ter genulDe appreciation Of his Hnecdotc.
Papa Dlnsmore and Mrs. Dinsmore favored
the coloncl's suit, The only objection that
could possibly be made TO him was that he
lived in New York. but then Mrs Dlnsmore
had brother who had quit the literary 60
elusion Of Beacon street for Gotham, and had
ions since been pardoncd. Reba Dinsmore
had IDEAS which her parents considered more
romantic than practical. These ideas had the
effect OF driving away young men. She
measured them hy her romantic standard
and Invariably found them wanting.
"The men Of to-day are negative and never
achieve anything great" she said In sadness
to her parents. "why should be sacrificed
TO the modern society MANI He knows how
10 lead In the german and how to drive tan.
dem. But how few Of them could DC any
thing real berolc7 Don't you suppose our
ancestors. who endured harlshlps and fought
the savage in order to settle this country
would. II they could come back and view
the eifete society man Of to-day. regret
their action. include In the efetc cate
cory Coloael shlletoe. the Joker"
The last sentence was said IN defiance to
Mrl. Dinsmore. who had boon sounding tho
Colonels praises. THE Colonel Is not ef-
fete. my daughter He is--"
mo, even entitled to be called Colonel I"
Interrupted her daughter, "He 70 not 30
years old yet, and was born after the war
closed Colonel ! am told. IS a title the
newspapers gave him because he always
Kindly permits himself to be interviewed
Mother, almost hate that mal. He Is
the Incarnation Of the commonplace, and ]
have ye, to hear OF anything heroic he w.
ever done"
This ebulltlon OF temper pleased the
mother She knew then that her high
spirited daughter had had enough Interest
to inquire about the colonols anleeedents.
Il Is but one step from interest to admira-
tlon. Mr. Dlnsmore's brother had been
written to on the subject OF tho Colonel.
and no had briefly replied that Colonel
shillotoe was the prince OF good fellows.
and all thar any girl might DO proud to
call husband.
The Colonel was in a gay humor tho
evening he called at the Dlnsmore cottage
to challenge his fate. Tho cold hauteur OF
Miss Dinsmore as she entered the drawing
room did not check the exuberant feeling
In him. He related an aDocdotc OF club
life, but the young lady did not smile.
II fear you do NOT understand me. Miss
Dlnsmore. any more than you appreciate
my poor Jokes" he said. rising and looking
out Of the window.
II belong to Il Browning Club. Colonel.
and have assisted In unravelllng many
alleged riddles" she replied, half laughing
Il hope am not as complex as Brown.
inst"
"oh, no. your anecdotes arc all in news
paper prose. Thoy arc for the masses. /
confess that my father and mother ofton re-
call your jokes after sou are gone and
laugh heartily. They Will miss you when
you 60"
win you miss me?'
"No"
He was silent for moment. and began in
a broken voice: 81 came TO tell you that
loved you, l shall go away and never speak
to You on the subject again. Once | thought
OF relating TO you somethlng-''
"That reminded you. no doubt, Of this Cpl
sode in your career, Colonel, really begin
to appreciate your humor. It Is equal to
any occasion. For onca desirc To hear
your Joke and when the climax is reached
trust you will give me the proper cue SO !
can Join you In laughter"
He Ieft his position by the window and sat
down by the center table. bouquet of
roses In a china vase filled tho room With
sweet fragrance. Carelessly picking out a
large rose he held lt 10 his Right hand.
slowly turning II around with his thumb and
forelnger. He began to speak in low
yolcei There is a page In every mans
history which he Nlshes To conceal from the
public. Miss Dlnsmore. | was once almost
as melancholy as Manfred. I was horn in
the southwest, In an unheal,hful location.
and my hoyh00d was one Of chill1 and fevcrs
shall pass over the vain struggle ! on
gagged In 70 acquire health and an education
AT the age OF 10 | was thin. almost ema-
ciated. and my parents had been told by the
doctors that only the most drastic remedies
would restore me to good health. II was
finally decided that should 80 Wet and
reckless, and Il did not matter to me whore
I went OF what did. In d few weeks /
fopnd myfoli at Santa Re. New Mexico. An
American. Major Randall. who owned
ranch some distance from Santa Re, engaged
nle 10 herd cattle at the munlncent aalary
Of s25 a north in Eold.'
..Thep you really went 10 work on the
ranch, colonel2" she asked IN tone that
seetne,i less sarcastic than her usual way Of
speaking to him.
SYes but do bore you by my recilai?r
ION not at all, for You have not come 10
tha anecdoi5l part of Il yet"
~. ana not notice. ar pretended not to, the
On, ~ her remark. Still holding the rose In
hts band he continued hts narration.
.'rhe Major had eleven cowboys. I made
me fWelfth They were disposed 70 guy
- I'M when they saw thar I was 4 good
-1asr ana could handle a reYolyor auickly
tbsv ssou acccp;ed ne as one OF them.
rbev misiook my reckless dash for true
seurage. In a week or 80 my health be-