The record-union., 1894-09-22
THE VESTNAKER'S APPRENTICE.
ICopyright, 1894, by Edgar L. Wakeman. All
rights reserved.l

y w
rights reserved.l
A wild little Minnesota nest at the edge
of a bluff which rises above the broad st.
Croix-a sweet, tuneful nest, where life
is measured in cadences of dreamful
sounds from murmuring streams, lush
meadows, fields of waving grain and
tender skies.
Not half thousand of the millions be-
tween the two great oceans ever knew of
this Alton hamlet. but these two light
hearted idleTs from Chicago had found it,
and were iealously guarding their pleas
ant secret in quietude and repose.
They were journalists a-summering,
and here in an old stage station hostelry
they had stumbled upon a heaven of
June and jasmine. To the simple souls
of the village one day they were counts,
the next counterfeiters, but upon all
days they were personages of very high
order. for they occupied the front room
at the hotel and never counted their
change.
Ned Watson was generous and splen-
did egotist with earnest literary aspira
tlons, with a fortune III his own right and
with the added power of an editorial po-
sition. Bob White, his companion and
friend, was locally distinguished as an
'irrepreSsible reporter" in wearing
double concave quizZers over his bulbous
eyes, in calling things by their right
names, and from a chronic, reckless, al
most brilliant poverty.
In every way opposites, the eccentrici-
ties of the one became the complement of
the others nature, and since their acci-
dental acquaintance, which had merged
into indisscluble friendship, they had
spared along with alternate antagonism
and reconciliation, like many husbands
and wives, with increasing regard for
each others abilities and genuine good
qualities.
AT this restful retreat Watson's PEN
chant was shown in his daily grand and
solitary march through the little village,
with Tupper under his arm and $50
trout rod on his shoulder, to a hill stream,
a mile beyond, where the coy fish cleaned
and splashed around his hook all day
long, while mocking his dreamful mus
ings.
The indolent and philosophic side of
Whites nature showed Itself in his utter
absence of enthusiasm for trout and his
habit of reclining for hours in a great
easy chair before the jaSmine-covered inn
windows, with his gaunt legs protruding
like ready guns from an ambuscade,
source OF dire insult to the villagers.
sanity, Cumming with the stage helpers
in the stableyaru and constantly badger
ing his village acquaintances, were his
sole and seemingly satisfactory diver
sions.
But now there was trouble and
woman.
Ned Watson had become entangled in
his trout line and enmeshed by the charms
OF the little SchoolmlstresS OF the village
who had come suddenly upon him while
angling.
he had Immediately MADE great show
OF deXterity which had resulted IN whip
ping his hook into his neck, from which
the fair pedagogue had obligingly and
dextrously extracted it. She had daint-
lily bound up his wound with her hand
kerchiet, and composedly caught half
dozen trout before his eyes. Then, with
laughter and merry taunts, she had LETT
him dazed with her winsomeness and
beauty and chaing over his own petty
humiliation.
Bob White had summarized succeeding
events in his choppy and exasperating
style and hung his blue penciled manu-
script sheets against the walls OF their
room at the inn. They read as fol-
lows:
Inundated upon the altar of friendship Mr.
Robert White makes inquiries in the interests
of Mr.. Ned Watson. Derided by small boys
and hustled by muscular relatives he finally
Mildred Hicks Milly'' tor short She is the
village schoolmistress. stipend, "thlrty doll
arS per month-and found'
Goddess is also u Chicago product. Writes
about Minnesota iSotherms, mill products
and agriculture to the Chicago papers. Be
sides with brusque farmer uncle. Pretty,
but probably coarse and common. Mr.. Ned
Watson gradually Succumbing to pareSis on
account OF her. Rude awakening OF some
kind necessary.
But shortly after it became Ned Wat
L. II
His friend returned late one evening
from a long tramp into the country and
found him finishing with triumphant
flourish this Latest bulletin OF the sit
uation:
Thursday, 8 P. M-Gradualy successful.
MIR. White Gozed at the hotel and tramped
among the farms. Miss Hicks sailed and Mr..
Watson rowed frantically upon the lovely st.
Croix. Delightful little squall struck Miss
Hicks boat, capslZing il.
The plucky lady clung to the boat, however,
managing 50 deity that the wind dTlfted
. it ana herself across the current toward the
land.
MIR. Watson, fortunately near in his boat,
rescued her; also saving her little craft and
towing it safely ashore.
Family rejoiced and grateful. Called this
evening. Passed a delightful hour. Cousins
surprisingly superior young men; sturdy and
honest sons of toll.
Thus hath the despised bohemian become
chief of the ethyl
Mem.-Io call tomorrow.
(which means-' began Watson, en-
Enthusiastically.
(which MEANS" interrupted Bob
White. gravely furnishing his glasses,
ssthat where two are thus met together,
they are a greater bore TO another fellow
than the other fellow can possibly be to
them."
''Your genius for perception will make
you famous in your profession" retorted
Watson gayly.
MY genius for perception will put me
on the next train for Chicagon' stoutly
insisted Bob White, tapping his friends
head sadly while shaking his own as if in
gloomy foreboding.
Bob White kept his word after his usual
impulsive and reckless fashion, and y ed
Watson at once found himself a welcome
guest at the plain old country house upon
the hill.
Never by word or act did the little
school mistress coudone his vanities as
other women had done, and this piqued
his admiration, though, at times, ii slung
him sorely. He had been accustomed TO
subservience and fiattery. and the appe-
tite for these is as difficult TO divert as to
appease.
He soon discovered that Mildred Hicks
had an honest and fearless way of look
ing at all things. He shrank from this,