The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1896-10-15
HANDICAPPED BY FATE.
By j. e. OCHILTREE

10 udru 10 get away from one euNl-
ronments.
My nearest approach to a matrimo-
NAL alliance occurred some three years
ago, under peculiar. not to say dis
tressing, circumstances. | have suf
fciently recovered from the ''recoil'
of that episode to tell the story with
complacency. 1t was through the
connivance of my old friend. Bob
White, whose farm joins mine, that |
first met this particular affinity.
White gave a social party, and thus
brought us together She was a
young and pretty widow, Mrs. Bessie
Boole. and was visiting relatives in
the neightorhood. NV recollection
is that fell in love with her immedi
ately. At least. [ recall that my
constitutional weakness was unusual
ly apparent on that occasion. Imam
aged to convey the state of my
feelings to her in the course of the
evening mainly by means OF panto
mine and eloquent facial contortions
At the last moment she made me
temporarily miserable by announcing
that she intended leaving for home
the next day; but her good night"
was almost caressingly tender; and !
promptly resolved to write to her
This was the last | saw of Mrs Boole
until-but | must no tforestall the
Genouement.
After practicing for few days l
wrote her a brief letter, stating the
condition of the weather and noting
the general good health of the neigh
borhood, with a cautiously worded
request for a correspondence with a
view to mutual improvement in spell
ing and svntax. Three or four days
later | was delighted at receiving a
modest answer, granting my wish and
hoping the health of the community
would remain good.
After few exchanges [ grew bold
er, and in due time breathed a some
what higher degree of temperature
into my sentences. At the end of a
month | mustered up the nerve to
send her sonnet on Beauty" which
ELECTED from her very graceful and
encouraging compliment. 1t was
then that | conceived the thought of
trip across the commonwealth to
pay her visit. / speeded my propo-
sition to her in the next mail, and her
answer inspired three fresh sonnets-
one on Love" another on affinity"
and the third on "Wedded Souls"
She said l might come, designating
the time-ten days from the date of
her letter, which was Sept. /. 1898 l
kissed the signature, which was
Bessie" and went out to overhaul
my bike; for l had already decided to
make the trip on that vehicle.
She acknowledged the receipt of
my sonnets, saying each consecutive
reading had brought moisture to her
eyes. felt as happy as a man of my
age could afford to feel, and kept the
sonnet mill grinding day and night
SIX of the weary days passed for
they dragged heavily. Even before
that time l had my little grip packed
and my wheel "greased for the oc-
casion." She was as bright as a gold
pocket-piece and fully equipped for
the journey. | prayed for good
weather, and swore every time l saw
a cloud. MY frankness shows the
customary moods of the typical lover.
Listen: The evening before the
morning set for my departure, L re-
ceived letter from my idolized Bessie
that took the breath out of me for a
full minute. l reproduce it herewith,
and the reader can judge for himself
how it made me feel. 1t read as fol
lows-literally:
Feeder Station, Sept. 8, 1898
My Dear Mr.. Oversmith: | write
to you this morning in great distress
of mind. l have learned to regard
you so dearly that can't bear to de-
ceive you no longer. | will tell you
the whole truth. 1t is this: | have
another accepted sutton, a Mr. Sagit
tarius Moon of Hathaway, this state.
His claim is older than yours, but
what you have lost in time you have
gained in ardency. Heaven help me!
for cannot choose between you. SO
L have after great mental anguish,
decided upon making the following
proposal-to both: As you live at
about equal distances from Feeder
station Il believe you have the advan-
tage of him one mile), you shall both
start to morrow morning at an hour
before sunrise, each on his wheel (Mr.
S. is an accomplished tiierD and the
one that meets me first at orr front
gate shall claim my hand put you
both on honor, not to start minute
before the hour set. You have mile
the start of him, but he is about two
degrees east Of you, which obviates
this handicap [ have written these
facts to him, and will mail both of
your letters together. | find that by
a happy coincidence the mail trains
to your respective homes pass at this
station, at $50 p. NJ, each arriving at
its destination about the same hour.
You will each get your notification
about 8 o'clock. Neither will dare to
start before the time mentioned, as
that resembles treachery
will cause forfeiture of all claims.
This may seem hard and practical
even cruel; but it is my only way out
Of this dreadful dilemma.
IF either of You gentlemen do not
the prize worth the trial, |
shall be all the happier with the other:
and l can't think this fair and impair
-ial test will cause me to lose both. [
nclose a diagram of our village.
showing the location of our street and
the latter being designated
Oy cross.
'Loyingly and expectantly,
Bessie"
| was shocked and bewildered at
-he contents of the letter. After
recovering my wits my first
impulse was to take the midnight
rain, put my wheel in the baggage
'ar, stop at some town near Feeder
station, get an early start. run in
about 10 a. m, and claim my prize.
Then | thought-what if my hated
-Iyal" ShOuld baSaly imDoSa upop mo