Barre evening telegram. (Barre, Vt.) 1898-19??, 1899-12-11
NERVOUS MANS TALE
7 ] IS hand shook so violently that third
RI Of his cocktail was spilled before he
could get the glass to his Inns. The


- could get the glass to his lips. The
bartender remarked:
Better slow down bit, old chap. You
are agong it too strong. You'll have pinl,
monkeys and blue snakes if you keep on.
Then will come padded cell and all your
old friends ascending you white grapes and
jelly. I'm 10 reformer, but I've seen too
many young fellows going it like you not to
put my Oar in when it can be done in time"
"You have made mistake in my case,
Mr.. Bartender, but l appreciate your mo-
tives," said the shaky man. 81 am by no
means alcoholic though one might easily
draw that conclusion from the way in which
take my cocktail. That shaking is consti,
tutional, not acquired, assure sou.
1T not only makes my infrmity liable to
misconstruction, but it has proved an OBJ
stacle to my success in other ways. My
acute nervousness and my lasG of botanical
knowledge prevented my marriage to the
wealthy Miss Ham, of Chicago, two months
ago. It's sad tale, and wonder that it
hasn't been published in the newspapers.
The best stories don't get into print. do
they?" And the nervous man though fully
turned his glass upside down and studied its
pattern.
"IIave the next one on the house. What'll
it be? Same?"
"Just little bit dryer than the previous
one, thank you. The sugar is bad for the
stomach"
"Who did you say Miss Ham was?" said
| the bartender, as he made the long handle
of the spoon revolve between his thumb and
his first finger.
Zone of the wealthest girls of Cnicago,"
said the nervous man.
"A good looker?"
| "Um-m, no, but lots of money We were
sympathetic, very. Her father fitted up n
house for her in New York as a studio and
she spent her winters here with an aunt as
chaperone. / met her at an Uncut Leaves
sociable."
CHATS a new one on me-" said the bar
tender pushing the cocktail to the front of
the bar
"Purely literary" said the nervous man.
"Authors who don't publish, and that sort
of thing. Where did I come in? Well, |
qualified on the strength of having lived a
summer in Rochelle Park and attended the
lecture course. Miss Ham and | were very
sympathetic. had talent and she had
money. made sure of the latter, and then
it seemed evident that we were intended for
each other. With money, which would
mean leisure, might have accomplished
something in literature"
The nervous man looked peevish, and then,
as he drank his cocktail, he continued
Miss Ham and sat together at the Uncut
Leaves sociable and she was good enough to
ask me to call l did call four days later
What saw in her studio convinced me that
she was my affinity. Rich hangings, ported
palms and choice pictures contributed an
air of luxury not easily counterfeited.
could hear the silk Innings of her dress rustic
in the hall above as she came down to see
me.
"'You probably think that | am crude
because came from Chicago said she.
"You are different from Chicago girls,
sad l.
"'The study of art and nature have made
me what am,' said she, modestly. i an
merely a student and not an originator
Chicago is so garsh and artificial. | can
bear artificial things; they annoy me.
dearly love nature in all her forms
"She swept across the studio floor ant
tenderly poured a glass of ice water on
palm which stood beside Louis somethih:
or other sofa 1t was one of those palm
with leaves that shoot out like blades
, grass.
II love palms, she said. 4 enjoy seeing
them grow
THAT ended my first call on Miss Ham
but | made many others. felt that sh
ought to be nine She liked me, and
knew that if | only asked her in the prope
way she would be mine
"Neck and neck on the home stretch, eh?
said the bartender, sympathetica.ly.
Thank you," said the nervous man, ar
ent-mndedly pushing his cocktail gas
over for another drink. 1.-TWO months ago,
he continued 81 went to Miss Ham
studio to cast myself at her feet and to paint
metaphorically, a glorious future tor us &c
rether. Sure as | was of her answer, te
more nervous than usual. 1t was crisis
my life Behind me were lorrg years
poverty and disappointed struggle. beio'
me were riches and Miss Ham. | sent M
card up to her and seated myself on IL
Louis something or other sofa. One OF III
nervous peculiarties is that l must COZ
stantly be doing something with my name
The beautiful palm stood within reacL. o!
cherished it and watered it. Natura ~ n
hands moved toward it. On, II had on
paid some attention to botany, or II ma
} learned to keep my hands in my pocket
The palm leaves felt soft to the toAch'
wound them in turn thoughtessV arou.l
nv fingers and ! waited impatiently II
Miss Ham. She was an unusually long I'm
in coming down, and the longer waited u
. more nervous | got. Suddenly the ra't
u of her silkcn skirts announced her presenc
!. arose. My heart was beating Ike u
hammer She stood near the door,
"'My ownr | cried.
"Darling!" said she, responsibility. IL
ewes glanced to the palm beside me. 81
shriekod.
"What is it. my own?' said I, advancin
"Back! you horrid man.
"Tsabe,' said |. This from you to me
. AGO. said she. You have dsgraced
- Look at my palm
"Wel!, say, bartender. I wish you cou
i have seen that palm. In my nervousne
IT, nv fingers had played me a mean trek
had unconscously rolled up each lea1 al
the things stayed rolled like an Ola mai u.
curls Never saw such palm IN my u
Nothing but straight wooden suck WI
" those beautiful leaves in little tight knots
around the top Of it.
- "'You have disgraced me- said lsao
and never want to see your shameiess Id
aein. If you had not known that cal
from Chicago you would never have I, s.
pected that my palm was artllclal:
r have insulted me- You never coulo ma
J fa;tb in me again. It's better that we So
arate Goodnight And as Isabel creak
,,nstars T wandered out of the house
med man. Ruined because of my nervo
ness. and my lack of botanical knowled
Had I known that the palm was take
would have been too fly to touch it. Su
is the story of my life, bartender. lh'
K, ooros INV train. Good night and thank