The record-union., 1897-05-22
WHEN Belts Was 4 MAN.

Oskopolis was waking up. NOW tnat
the sultry afternoon was near It's END,
the principal street of the city was
taking on the activity which made 1t
the pride of thirty-three or forty-hve
thousand good people, according as
census figures or local estimates were
trusted Swarming newsboys were
shouting their wares, gongS OF eiec-
trio cars-Oskopolis was progressive
We're changing with new energy, ana
on every hand were signs and tokens
that the city had finished it's nap.
Three young men had grouped them
selves in the doorway OF one OF the
most pretentious of the shops, ABOVE
which stretched a gilded sign bearing
In Enthusiastically designed letters, The
Metropolitan Behind the plate
glass of the show windows were ar
rayed rows of shirts, festoons OF neck
ties, little heaps of gray-colored foot
wear, many-hued caps, and other artl-
cles which filled the heart of the lmpe-
cunious youth of OSkopolis with long
ings 1t was a display that satisfied
even that connoisseur, Dick Banning.
That's what / call tasty window,
me boy" he remarked. Great thing
to have an artistic eye, amt it"
Inasmuch as Mr. Banning had COM
posed the symphony in shirtings, his
companions manifested no surprise. In
fact, Mr. Smith, the young gentleman
to whom the observation had been di-
rected, contented himself with a nod,
which seemed to be all that was ex-
pected of him, for Mr.. Banning smiled
with more complacency than before. 1t
had not occurred to him that the third
member of the group would join in the
conversation, except upon special invi-
tation, for the two older clerks of THE
metropolitan" regarded their junior as
a hopeless inferior.
Indeed, Mr. Banning, heard COM
pliment for you last night" the down
trodden one ventured. And it was
from a lady"
''Well?" said Banning. 1t is as if he
had told. the minion; You are permit
ted to proceed
Il was calling upon a lady friend,
sir, and 1 spoke of our windows-you
know they are very much commented
on in society, strand l told her you
had arranged them. And she said
you had a great deal of taste for a
man"
rs that all?'' Banning asked with a
shade of disappointment in his tone.
No; 1 don't think so. 1 remember
now she said you had SO much taste,
sir, you must have been meant for a
woman
Banning stared at the speaker for a
moment, but no fitting response occur
ring to him, he looked at the clock, an
nounced that it was time to close the
shop, and started out. The second man
accompanied him.
"Betsey's getting worse and worse"
Banning confided to his chum, as the
two strolled toward their boarding
place. He's an idiot"
Net" was the laconic response.
Betsy" otherwise Mr.. Alexander
Napoleon Belts, methodically inspect
ed the gas burners, shut the cat in the
cellar, fastened the rear windows, and
locked the front door, Then, slipping
the big key into his pocket, he crossed
the street, and taking off his hat paused
before large mirror, designed to draw
trade to the shop of an enterprising
milliner. 1t was included in his rou-
tine to inspect himself thus. He saw
reflected in the glass a mild face, with
a dab of thin whisker in front of each
ear, a delicately shaded upper lip, and
narrow forehead, from which the hair
was brushed back with a deep-laid de-
sign of increasing his appearance of
mental depth and physical hight.
With a final pat of his necktie the
young man pulled a corner of a color
ed handkerchief from his coat pocket,
gripped a kid glove in a fashion which,
as he thought, concealed the absence
of its mate, restored his hat to his
head and resumed his promenade. He
walked slowly, for he was to take tea
with the young woman whom he honor
ed with his affections, and he had no
desire to appear before her flushed and
heated. BY virtue of his precautions
he found himself in rather less than
half an hour close to the abode of his
beloved, and still unruffied in his plum
age. The path led him to a porch, on
which stood a young woman, evidently
waiting for him. A hall lamp supple
mented the fading daylight in showing
that she was tall, angular and possess
ed of one of those faces which advertise
their possessors as persons of strongly
developed opinions.
"Oh, it's you at last, is it?" she said,
with some sign of impatience. We've
been waiting tea for YOU Wen go
right in, Ally
Once or twice Mr.. Belts had wonder
ed why nobody thought it worth while
10 call him Alexander He had been
"Al' in his childhood, and he was
ALLY" in the speech of his affianced.
Betsy" was the result Of considerable
cogitation on the part of Mr.. Banning.
Mr.. Belts had contemplated the joy
of a chaste salute in the hall, but he
was robbed Of such bliss. for the young
woman led him without delay to the
dining room, where her parents had
already seated themselves at the table
Miss Amanda Robbins had inherited a
healthy appetite. Her sire greeted the
young man with q gruff "G'd'vening,"
and pointed to his chair, while her
mother advised him to sit down at
once. Very little was said until Rob-
erts had satisfied his hunger, and had
picked his teeth in satiated comfort
Then, settling back in his chair. he
glared at the young man, whose selec-
tion by Amanda had been accomplish
ed only after a battle royal between
father and daughter.
Belts" the older man said, finally.
how're you gettin' on?''
We're doing a very nice business,
thank you, SIR" replied the guest.
'Oh. / don't mean your boss trade
How're you doin' yourself? When you
goin' to be able to support a family?"
Paw Paw" exclaimed his daugh-
ter.