Pawtucket tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 1890-189?, 1894-04-30
NE Did IiIS BEST.

"Hcllo, Charlcyl Wake upr'
b.. Charley Evans only responded with
a succession Of oonyulsiyo sneezes and
groans.
"Cold in the head, chr Never mind it
up with you'll"
up indeed, with knifelike pains shoot
ing up and down every joint In fellows
body and his head feeling as II hundred
weight OF lead were tied 10 every individ-
ual hair!"
Remember your engagements, Char
ley Remember that the girls expect every
young man to do his duty this splendid
day"
Mr. Evans groanod.
"Ralph, your list Of visits Is compare
lively small. You must go and make my
apologies. You must go and sec Flora
Howard for mo. l told her last night that
Ishould have something very particular TO
say 70 her today, and she'll think il a pur-
posed affront IL she hears nothing from
me-"
"What shall tell her-that you have a
woeful cold IA the headS'
"Nonsensci 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 q
third person TO carry Hadn't you better
wait until you can plead your own cause
In propria PERSONAL
mo no-it's n question that admits OF
no delay. There are dozen beaux flirting
round her the whole time, and IL won't do
to lose my prize for lack Of decision. Just
act as my proxy, Ralph. know she will
say yes"
wouldn't send me on this particular er-
randi Can't you find somo other messen-
geri"
"Oh, understand what you mean,"
said Evans, tossing restlessly on his pill
low. 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 selfish, and, be-
sides, would rather send an honest, stu
pid sort of fellow like you than any one
else. No offense, Ralph, hopeP
"Oh, no; Of course not" said Ralph
Brewster demurely, struggling his shoul-
ders. "Well, III do my best"
AS Ralph Brewster walked rapidly along
the ice glazed pavements ho could not help
mentally reverting to the gentleman he
had left behind him.
"Pretty COOL l must sayl" he remarked
to himself. "I've seen a good many evil
dences Of Charley Evans selflshness, but
this is the most convincing Of all. Does
he suppose that have no feelingsf And
then his calm way Of taking IL for granted
that Flora Howard is dying for him. I'd
rather undergo the rack than TO do Char
ley's courting for him, but / mustn't in
dulge these lachrymose sensations"
The slanting afternoon beams peeping
into Charley Evans invalid chamber play
ed all sorts Of merry pranks around his di-
sheveled hair and restless head, and finally
creeping up the wall vanished away into
the purple mysteries of twilight, and Ralph
Brewster did not appear to report progress
Charley grew impatient 1t isn't par
ticularly favorable 20 an angelic disposition
TO have a cold in your head, with aching
bones and quivering nerves and a Uranium
throbbing AS If somebody was trying to
split IL apart with "a dull hatchet.
Nine, ten, eleven o'clock sounded on his
strained ear, and still Ralph's familiar
footsteps had not fallen on the stairs. What
could have delayed himf
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 be-
fore 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 a
day or two.
Suddenly the door was flung open and
Ralph Brewster burst in.
Hello, old fellowl How are your Sur
prised at my nonappearance, chr Well,
here am To make all the necessary apollo
gies and explanations. ="
Charley held out his hand with lazy
acquiescence in whatever might befall that
was worthy of nobler cause.
well, Charley, l went to see Flora, nc
you wished me TO-"
"Did your" said Charley, rather bright
ening up. What did she sayi"
"Why, commenced 10y making all apollo
gies for your absence, which, by the way,
didn't seem to affect her very powerfully,
and then played offhand into the love
subject" "