The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1895-01-05
FAINT-HEARTED AS A LOVER.
Bob FitZsimmons Got the Book, but
Ills Rival Won the Beauty.

Big brawny Bob" FhZsimmons had a
faint heart despite his muscle. when, as
blacksmith's apprentice in Australia. he
fell in love with village maiden. Bob"
was like most lovers. inclined to be bashful.
and though none of the young men we're
able to stand up before him at fisticuffs, in
the presence of his inamorata he was like
Samson when shorn of his locks The story
of this early love affair and its accompany
ing hashfulness would never have been
known had no. the famous pneilist, in
moment of confidence, impaired 1t to New
\ DIRK Herald man who had witnessed
his halI-hour's bag-punching when the
champion middle weight was training Tor
his fight with Jim" Hall. After the
exercise was finished Bob" was rubbed
down by his trainer, and while resting a
few moments he spun yarn about the
girl in faT-away Australia whose heart
he had woOed and won.
You see it was this way" began he.
"There was only one girl in the village
that I thought was particularly hand
some, and / sort of worshiped her at
distance. Her name? Well, never
now, as the days are past and gone.
She vas pretty as picture--at least l
thought so-with golden hair and large
blue eyes. [ loved her, and she knew
it, and, as ] dared not tell her Of ii.
she would fiirt with the other boys
Just for the purpose OF making me
jealous. One night she spent the
and sisters. When the time came for
her to go home | volunteered to walk
along with her. My mother had loaned
her q book. l do not remember what
it was, but l do know that it was big
and heavy. 1t was nearly three miles
from our house to her house,
and, with the book under my arm, /
irudged along beside her 1t was bitter
cold and a sharp, chilling wind was blow
ing across the opsn fields. When half The
Journey was over we passed the house Of
one of my rivals in love.
"Of course, nothing would happen but
my lady had a message to give TO some
member of the household and must go in.
Sha woald be gone but minute. she said.
and as would not go in ! agreed to await
her at the gate. Minutes fled rapidly, until
an hour had passed. 1 was growing impa-
iient. Looking through the window
could see her chatting and laughing, en-
tirely forgetful of the fact that |
was waiting fer her outside in
the cold. was half frozen. Once
or twice / made up my mind TO
leave. / had not courage enough 10 step
up TO the door and remind her Of nv
Finally there WAS stir within doors, and
the girl | loved stepped out of the door,
and to my intense surprise. she was accom-
panied by the youth whom of all Others |
had the most reason to be jealous Of OF
course | was angry, but stronger than my
wrath WAS my bashfulness, so | merely
drew back under the shadow of friendly
clump of bushes and allowed them to
pass. After they had gone down the road
short distance | walked ont into the
middle of the highway and stood
bordering what to do. II / had had
courage enough 10 claim the GIRL
why, of course, l could have done her
companion up in no time. What was
the use of going home? Then, besides.
there was that big book still under my arm.
The volume had to be got rid Of | could
not take it back, for then my sisters
would nave laugh at my expense.
The only way out of it was 10
reach the house berore her So
| climbed fence. ran across several fields
and came out in the road again ahead of
the pair. Then | made tracks for the
house. When / reached it l walked up
TO the door, found it unlocked, and raising
the latch l strobe into the room. The
mother of the pretty girl with the golden
hair and blue ayes sat by the fire
sewing. She looked up in a rather star
tied way at my sudden entrance. ] said
not a word in explanation, but stIode
across the room to the ia bic. upon which |
flung the heavy volume with bang, say
ing. There is your old book, and walked
out. l did not see my girl again for sew
eral weeks, and then / had to begin to
make love all over again."