Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-03-22
} AGAINST Me; TIL ERE WE'RE NO LESS THAN SIX

FATE SEEMED AGAINST ME; TIL
close proximity 10 the college, like a
magnet applied to the steel, drew dozens
of collegiate admirers to her feet.
This was a very unwelcome state OF
affairs to me. as 1t was the cause OF
my never finding the young lady alone
and. therefore, of my never having the
much-longed-for opportunity of unourden-
me mv Iove-laden soul unto her. These
constant intrusions las ] called them) OF
these ministerial fledgelings, engendered
the most bitter feelings of my heart
against my Jasper rivals. until, at last
1 determined to sit them out some eve
ming. and tell my tale or woe.
The propitious evening arrived, and'
donpiny my best raiment. with an extra
twist to my auburn-which the snort
for red-moustache. l sailed forth WIN
nervous step / approached the parental
mansion OF my lady love. When entered
the parlors / paused in CONSERVATION
fate seemed against me. and. there, sit
ting in their usual prim and awkward
manner. were no less than six OF my
friends" from the college. l made my best
bow. and took the only vacant seat any
where near the object of my affections
that being Just across the ROOM Inc
moments that followed seemed each an
age, and, finally. when the first one Oh
the party left at 10 q clock, 1 began TO
hone. for / knew they always left by
prearranged plan. was not disappointed,
Tor one by one. they all left. ana, at
a quarter of Il they had all gone, except
one; but, as bad luck would have 1t, TINS
one sat Ike a fixture. seldom moving,
and more rarely speaking. and so he hau
SIT throughout the evening. L can see
him now, sitting there in the chair next
10 that sweet girl. with his great red
hands crossed serenely in his lap, with
his huge feet stuck awkwardly out be-
fore him. His name was Serubb ana
more fitting cognomen l had never known.
His long, yellow hair looked scrubby, his
husky brows and short and bristling
moustache seemed shrubby; his eye was
dun. and his big mouth seemed constantly
In a yarn-in short, he WAS utterly repug-
nant to me then, and even now, ~heh
time has lent its softening enects. MS
memory arises before me like some hide
Gus nightmare.
on. how l hated that fellow! But my
hatred or any other emotion that might
feel seemed alike Indifferent 10 MN
talked as I never talked before; mace
jokes. tried TO draw him into the conversa-
tioE-bIt all TO no purpose. with an occa-
s.ona Yes" or mo" and innumeraole
yawue he sim sat l ignored him, ana
talked 20 the young LADY, even attempt
ei some little sentiment but sentiment
with that Individual gaping at one proved
Nat indeed.
As lae time had gone so slowly before
DO seemed 90 20 too quickly now. and IL
hardly seemed five minutes from the time
The other coilcgials had left before the
sOft-t0ned French clock chimed out the
hour OF midnight When would the IDIOT
30? Couldn't he see 1 wanted to have a
word with the young lacy? To clap the
climax the young lady began TO look anX-
ious.y 40 the clock, and / detected her
twice suppressing a yawn. i moved closer
go Aer became more animated In my
eonyersatou-to use q slang phrase, Il
talked q blue streak" but very few re-
sDorses Gid ] get from either of my audi
tors. ! limited for the young man to go,
and he only smiled. l asked him If they
had regulations at the college specifying
when the students should seek their dor
mt0r.es. but he only looked at me in
puzzled manner and relaxed into his for
mer vacant stare without q word. How
! would have liked TO have thrown him
ont of the window: but as he was feet
tan and well muscled that was an impos-
s!bll!ty TO so slight a specimen OF man
ho9i ss myself But ia sit him out II II
took an morning, and as / glanced at the
clock 10 pointed TO 10 past one. and stimuli
taneously l heard mysterious rappings
from above The young lady appeared
frightened and half rose. Ten minutes
passed. and when / heard the sound OF
footsteps descending the stairs bethought
lie That discretion was the better part OF