The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-09-23
The VESTMAKER'S APPRENTICE.
TALES OF TEN TRAVELLERS. SERIES
BY EDGAR I. WAKEMAN.
Copyright 1894.


sounds from murmuring streams. lush
tender skies.
Not a half-thousaud Of the millions be-
tween the two great oceans ever knew Of
this Alton hamlet; but these two light
hearted idIers from Chicago had found il,
and were jealousy guarding their pleas
ant secret in quietude and repose.
They were journalists a-summering;
and here in an old stage station hosiery
they had stumbled upon heaven Of June
and jassamine. 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 egotisU, with earnest literary asplra-
tions, with fortune in his own right and
with the added power of an editorial po-
sition. Bob White his companion and
friend, was locally distinguished as an ar
repressible reporter in wearing double
concave quiZzers over his dubious eyes;
in calling things by their right names and
from a chronic, reckless, almost brilliant
poverty.
In every way opposites, the eccentrici--
ties of the one became the complement OF
the others nature; and since their acct
dental acquaintance, which had merged
into iudissoluble friendship, they mad
SPARED along With alternate antagonlSm
and reconciliation, like many husbands
and wives, with increasing regard for
each others abilities and genuine good
qualities.
4h;. ,.oe+F,l ,.o+raat yHatsoD,e nan
chant was shown in his daily grand and
solitary march through the little village,
with Upper under his arm and $50
trout rod on his shoulder, to a little
stream a mile beyond, where the coy fish
CLEANED and splashed around his hook all
daY long while knocking his dreamful
musings.
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 win
dows, with his gaunt legs protrudlnR like
ready guns from an ambuscade; source
of dire insult 10 the villagers. These long
siestas, for he smoked necessarily, chum-
ming with the stage helpers in the stable
yard and constantly badgering his village
acquaintance, were his sole and seem
ingly satisfactory diversions.
But now there was trouble-and a
woman.
Ned Watson had become entangled in
his trout line and enmeshed by the
charms of the little schoOlmistress 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 obliging and deX-
trously extracted it. She had daintily
bound up his wound with her handker-
chief, and composedly caught half
dozen trout before his eyes. Then with
laughter and merry taunts she had left
him dazed with her winsomeness and
beauty and chating ever 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 follows:
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
ascertains that the Aftonian goddess is
named Mildred Hicks 'Milly,' for short.
She is the village schoolmistress. stipend,
$50 per month-and found"
Goddess is also a Chicago product. Writes
about Minnesota isotherms, mill products and
agriculture to the Chicago papers. Resides
with brusque farmer uncle. Pretty, but prob
ably coarse and common. Mr.. Ned Watson
gradually succumbing to paresis on account
OF her. Rude awakening of some kind neces-
sary.
But shortly after. it became Ned Wat
sons turn with the blue penciled sheets.
His friend returned late one evening from
long tramp into the country and found
him finishing with triumphant flourish
this --latest" bulletin of the situation.
Thursday, p. m.-Grandly successful Mr..
White doZed at the hotel and tramped among
the farms. Miss Hicks sailed and Mr. Wat
son rowed frantically upon the lovely St.
Croix. Delightful little squall struck Miss
Hicks boat capslz1ng II.
The plucky lady chung TO the boat, how
ever, managing 1t so deftly that the wind
drifted it and herself across the current
toward the land.
Mr. Watson, fortunately near in his boat
rescued her; also saving her little craft and
towing II safely ashore.
Family reloiced 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 city
Mem: To call tomorrow.
(Which means" began Watson en-
Enthusiastically.
White, gravely furnishing his glasses
'that where two are thus met together
they are 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 gaily.
MY genius for perception will put me
on the next train for Chicago" stoutly
insisted Bob White, tapping his friends
head sadly while shaking his own as il
in gloomy foreboding
Bob White kept his word after hi.
usual impulsive and reckless fashion anC
Ned Watson at once found himself a vel
come guest at the plain old country house
on the hill.
Never by word or act did the little
schoolmistress condone his vanities as
other women had done; and this piuueC
his admiration, though at times IL stunl
him sorely. He had been accustomed tC
subservience and flattery; and the appe
tite for these is as difficult TO divert as L
appease.
He soon discovered that Mildred Hick,
had an honest and fearless way Of lookins
at all things He shrank from this. bu
found in her nature and companionshiI
only gentleness and consideration. save il
one particular. She was relentless in he
disparagement OF class dominance and hi
own lily concealed assumptions of socia
and literary superiority.
II see you would Danish US Bohemians.
said Watson with bitter smile, in reply
TO one of her scatbing satires.
Il would certainly have you con