The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1902-02-21
The Eemakins
OF Mir. Watts
And What It Led To

sion to have to make. but | want to ease
my conscience by setting it down.
One night | was sitting in my little
room in the dull little provincial town OF
Churchly. | was thinking what a dull
little provincial town it was. And yet,
museG phiiosophically. suppose all the
human interests of the big world can be
found in Churchly and all the different
types of human character if one will only
go through the boredom of looking for
them. when they are on such very small
scale. Talk of romance, why there is
poor Watts!
At that moment Watts came in. he
often visited me of an evening. 1t was
not so much that he wanted to see me and
TO hear my sentiments. but | was almost
the only person who would sit patiently
by while he aired his two pet subjects
TO wit. butterflies and Molly Carton.
And Watts wasn't such a bad fellow
either. He had all the markings of a fine
man. | used to think. but unfortunately
he was the only son of silly mother.
And so she had never sent him to school
to he kicked by the horrid, rough boys,
but had kept him at home with a tutor.
who wore spectacles. and had got into the
habit of eternally catching butterflies and
moths and things and killing them and
putting their little corpses in boxes with
their wings stretched out. II he had done
ii in moderation. one would have excused
him. But he didn't. He simply lived for
it and for Molly Carton. And the two
things were Incompatible.
As for Molly herself. had my ideas
oh ha clio lou md
we had been friends from the days when
we had bowled our hoops together in the
High street much to the annoyance of
waytarers' right down to the time of
which | am speaking. when we had many
ride and game Of hockey in each others
company. So | fiattered myself | knew
something of that erratic and athletic
young lady's mind. and had come to the
conclusion. first. If Watts would cease to
he quite such an ass he would make her
an excellent husband. and, secondly. that.
given that change in disposition. she
would not be unwilling to recognize him
in that capacity.
Butterfly hunting was not to the fore
with Watts tonight. 1t seemed that that
day the lady had rejected him for the sec
ond time.
Whereon. seated upon my chair. be
made much moan.
Il didn't think you had the remotest
chance" said. when he had finished his
narrative. lie looked at me blankly.
Unless" | proceeded. you make up
your mind to do several things"
What? What?" he said eagerly.
First" replied. folding my hands In
phiIosophic calm. never to talk of beetles
and bugs for whole six months, never
to let yourself be seen with that long net
of yours in your hand. never to show a
soul those little creatures you have stuck
pins through
He gasprd. but was silent.
Secondly" proceeded. you must be-
come an athlete"
~. An athlete" he exclaimed.
You must play football" | said, land
Re careful to get your shins well hacked"
Tie gaSped again.
And in summer time" proceeded. 81
think it will be well for you to join the
cricket club"
"ImpossihIen' he murmured-
at would be desirable Also" | went on.
paying no attention to the Interruptions
of the silly man. "if you became a hero.
Now, you might save life from drown
ing"
81 can't swim" he muttered feebly.
"Then you must learn TO SWIM" |
shouted with a sudden emphasis that
quite auenched him for time. And.
above ali, you must learn to cycle
"Ohh!
"Do you think" said with much in
dignation, THAT well built. active girl
like Molly Carton wants to spend her life
sewing on the buttons of a wretched fel
low who can only handle butterfly metz
He looked 50 miserable az ! Numbered
these words AT him that felt moved to
genuine sorrow for him. But ! was cruel
only to he kind.
Come now" | said In a gentler tone,
~ have known what love is"-here |
sighed and thought of my own dear Katie
lying under the gras. in the churchyard-
land | know it's worth good effort to
win a woman Let me help you"
How can you?" he said dismally.
"Tomnrrow. | replied decisively. eve
start learning the bicycle in my back gar
lien On Saturday there is pick up of the
Busy Bees. and you come with me to
have your shinS hacked
He sroaned. hut thanked ME and as
sented
All. wha; weeks they were. those sue
cccding weeks in which we toilrd. Watts
and together, to make him an athlete!
will say nothing of the football. save
that he displayed really admirable pluck
IN the presence of his ladyiovP; fighting
with ferncity that called down the re
hukp of the referee md covering himself
with sticking plaster II not with actual
glory But the bicycle. Oh. what weary
hours spent in that garden of mine in
frantic enipavor to teach him to ride
He seemed 10 have positive genius for
doing the wrong thing Time after time
! nearly drspaIred, and yet at last there
came day when he actually wabbled the
whole length IT the garden path without
any assistance and without fall
Molly" said. about fortnight after,
"who do you think Is gong tn join our
bicycling party tomorrow? Watts"
"Why, he can't ride" she answered.
"Oh. can't he" said | 'IIe can ride
like anything He has been learning fol
weeks"
whatever made him do that?" she
asked with the least little self conscious
change of expression.
Wanted company. ] suppose" | an.
swered In my most matter of fact voice
Hes a great friend of mine you know,
nnd"-
She made a slight gesture of annoyance
from which | gathered that had said the
wrong thing.
"You don't mind his coming. poor
chapf" | asked He's getting so tired
uf going about alone"
"IIe can come If he likes" she said
From which being a philosopher.
gathered that she was very pleased he
was coming
And Sc next day Watts turned up with
his bicycle and a splendid pair OF new
Knee breaches and some wonderful thIcl
stockings to cover his skinny calves.
We started for our trip satisfactorily
! Jagged little behind and watched tn
fun. Watts. grasping his handles witt
immense firmness and gazing fixedly a
the road before him. piled his legs witt
great vigor in the effort to keep abreast o
| Molly, who was in a miSchievous mood.
But at last came a catastrophe. Their
was a point where the road forded tol
| erably wide. shallow brook. while by tn
side n couple Of planks and single hand
rail made bridge for foot passengers
! Molly rode in front, and, giving hal
turn of her head. which revealed to me
broad smile and a twinkle of mischief Il
her eyes. she went straight as an arro1
over the p!anl;s. saw poor Watts he's