Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1898-11-03
MY SIN.

MY SIN.
Whom I was 4 young man l fell III
\ 1--we as young men generally do, with
+ho Girl who came handiest. This par
ticnlar girl happened to be Belle Bur
ton and | devoted myself to her, rode
with her. boated with her ut was
couptry place where we met, walked
with her. talked with her, begged her
for the roses she wore in her hair and
tried lin Vain. for | was no poet, to
make sounets not only to her eye
broWs," but to her hair, her cheeks
and her lily white hands. In fact, L
went through the pretty dream of first
love as most young people do, and it
ended. as it generally does, in an I'M
pleasant awakening.
One dav a stage arrived at the hotel
with dozen dashing New Workers for
passengers. The next, one of them OBJ
tanned an introduction to Belle Burton.
There was no doubt whatever that he
was handSomcr than men usually are.
or that his grace and accomplishments
were equal to his personal charms.
handsome Arnold he was generally
called, and girls went into raptures
over his large long-lashed eyes and
blonde mustache, and men feared his
broad shoulders, deep chest and splen-
did proportions. For my part, l hated
him from the first. for no sooner had
he appeared upon the carpet than
Belle seemed utterly to forget my very
existence.
| suppose she had never cared any
thing about me. but she had flirted
with me while there was no better fun
to be had, and | was old enough to
know that the man she loves is the
one no woman ever flirts with. With
Arnold she was rather graver than
with most men, but her eyes sparkled
as he approached her. She blushed
when his name was mentioned, and
cared for nothing in which he had not
some share. In fact, it was as plain
that she was in love with him as that
he was devoted to her; and there was
no doubt in any ones mind that all
this would end in a wedding. 1t was
good thing, said the old people, for
poor Belle Burton had nothing" For
my part, it seemed to me that all the
luck was Arnold's.
had never thought myself very ILL
looking before, but now | was wretch
ediy conscious of all sorts of deticien-
Ges, looked in the glass many times
day. | spent half my time CRITICS
Ing my countenance, and longing vain
u Tor the charms of handsome Arnold.
lcOuld not hope to possess them, even
Nould / use all the hair oil and cos
AleucS OF the advertising columns OF
'le daily paper and bride to my aid
Tue tailor who best understood the art
u padding shoulders; but next to hav-
NY fairy transformation effected for
my oeneht, | should have been pleas
Gu 10 see Arnold lose his beauty. l
NOpe I've been forgiven for it.
scarcely can forgive myself, but
o"iu have prayed that some ban
u'snt fall upon him--that he might
s'VaA MS limbs, or catch the smallpox
" somehow spoil his complexion or
figure. s{NI
was not a wicked young fendaby
'0fe' hut love, which, when it pros
a'S the most humanizing emotion
Oh ue soul, is most likely to develop
VII VII 'Ne evil emotions of ones Tnatare
wen 1t comes to grief. ssEse &ino t'S
.n, should have taken my departure
ha, put myself out of the way OF
wt 1',S torture, but l did, not do so
on ,5'i$' | fingered about the place
ny , o.u small things to spite, the hap
m,n p1'','hlruded on their tete-a-tetes,
evao,r 9gu 10 force the. society of some
xo,,, l''v1' and loquacious matren7 OF
IoaI.S Troublesome child upon them
for,s sa uasSers of contempt at him and
ross 10 pass the butter to her. *sAt
oc.,.,. sEahd chance for annoying him
pr,, leu. lie was a good rider AND
had s accomplishment, and he
he No.. .esoVe, nervous an;msd Which
SELF Used no one could ride but him
ps-f5ot ulla heard him declare himself
had ~ master of the creature " hp
Save ngyeF given him serious trI,c-lble
The, e, Nhen suddenly brought intb
sketc gIsSefiee of an artist who was
sung endera white umbrella.