The record-union., 1897-04-18

pocket. Upon my word, Mullins, you
are dufferl All the thrashings I gave
you at school haven't done you much
good. You are your own master; you
are rich and free Why on earth can't
you buy a yacht?"
Il am not good sailor, Dick.
"Or go on shooting excursion to
| Africa?"
Il cannot fire gun
You can't do anything" said Dick.
scornfully,. except drivel over your
poetry"
1T is only coarse natures like yours
which despise the divine gift of poetry,
| Dick"
Il don't despise it, he cried. lighting
| his pipe; but poet can be mani!
VERY probably said l sweet1y; but
a man can't be a poet-always.
| Dick smoked silently for some mo-
ments, and eyed my fragile form as it
reclined against the messy trunk OF
| the tree 1t was the hour of sunset,
and the descending god of day illu-
minated my dreaming face with reful-
gent beams. Thinking that Dick was
admiring a figure more refined than his
own beefy frame, I adopted the grace
full attitude of a Greek god. Alas. did
not succeed in rousing his sense of the
beautiful, for he threw a clod at me,
which hit me with some force; dou-
bled up Immediately.
Get up, you little beast" said Dick.
laughing land listen to me. want to
tell you something"
| He paid no attention to my silent an
guish-I was really in pain-but made
/ am
in love-" he declared.
I'm love, Dick?" 1 smiled pityingly.
do you know what love is?"
Il know jolly sight better than you,
you effeminate duffer."
Calling names isn't to the purpose,
Dick. What is the name of your fair
nymph?"
Now, look here, Mullins" he said,
| ill-naturedly, IF you talk rot like that
I'll drop you into yonder stream; then
you can pose as a river god if you like.
/ tell you l am in love"
You needn't be so proud of it," 1 re-
torted; II am in love ALSO"
Like Narcissus-with YOURSELF
''No-with Jenny Darrow."
WHAT Dick got off the stile and
caught me roughly by the scruff Of the
neck with the aunt or the niece?
They are both called Jenny, you know"
Il don't know, Dick. Jane is the
aunt, Jenny is the niece; it is the latter
who is the object of my admiration
| Dick shook me, and demonstrated in a
speech of a vulgar fashion, which he
had acquired during tour in the
States.
You can just climb down from that
he said angrily. What do you mean
| by crossing my trail?"
Your trail, Dick! Jenny?"
Yes, Jenny. l love her; and if you
try to come between US, Tll-Tll-Bah."
he added, laughing disdainfully. Why
need I fear? Jenny wants to marry d
man, not weakened idiot like you.
Try the aunt, my boy She would
marry anything in trousers-even you'll"
II do not love the aunt" said I, with
as much dignity as my position would
admit He had flung me from him.
and 1 was a heaped-up ruin on the
sward. "a poet only loves once in his
| life, and the sum of my existence is
Jenny fair and coy"
"'Tis a sum you won't do, Mullins.
You We're never good at figures. What
40 you mean ny making love 10 my
| Jane?"
Are you talking of the aunt, Dick?"
mo, you ass; of the niece"
''Then call her Jenny, please. Though,
| indeed" I added calmly, you must
not be SO familiar when she is Mrs.
Pottlebury." s1a
"She will never be Mrs. Pottlebury.
Not if I have to break your neck to
prevent it."
With this rude speech he advanced to
trample on my recunbent form. Rath-
er alarmed by his glazing eyeballs and
grinding teeth I arose hastily, and fled
for safety. Why should l deny my
flight? Horace celebrated the throw
ing away of his, shield in verse so I
admit my retreat in prose. Prudence
is better than foolhardiness; therefore,
to preserve a poet to the world fled
like a graceful deer. I am pleased to
say that, instead of following me, he
sat believing on the stile, whether with
rage or mirth 1 did not stay to in
quire.
That evening 1 presented myself at
the bower of my nymph, only to learn
| that she was out spending the even
ing with some friends. / would have
departed III sorrow, but that Miss Jane
barrow insisted that 1 should remain
| for an hour. She proved to be a most
agreeable person, and listened atten
| lively to a few poems which I had
brought with me. They We're all ad
dressed to ~ with three stars. Need
l say who inspired them?
You are indeed a poet! exclaimed
Miss Darrow, clasping her hands and
raising her eyes; but may / ask who
inspires these exquisite lines?'
Need You ask" said I, in a thrilling
tone.
What does J. stand for?"
I quite forgot her name was similar
to that of her niece, and l was unpre-
pared for what followed She took
my remark as referring to herself, and
it was with the greatest difficulty that
I removed the impression. But when
she understood all, 1 am bound to say
she behaved very well.
You must excuse my mistake, Mr.
Pottlebury,' she said with a sigh.
which more than reproved my cruelty;
| but it all arises out of our two names
being so alike
Il quite understand, Miss barrow;
any one would make the same mis-
take
Would they, indeed" she answered,
in strange tone. Are all your po-
ems addressed to j. with three stars?''
''Yes-all; and when / have written
to your niece, 1 have directed my let
tiers to Miss Jane Darrow. 1 really
| wonder you did not open them by mis-
take