Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1903-09-24
HOW FOUND
MY WIFE.
n are marriedY'
v " ''Yes, answered,
Uond to thu c1uoo+oc<
BY PETER OUNCE.

Y " ''Yes, I answered,
"and to the sweetest
little woman in the world
"Of course you think so," said my
friend: "but I cannot understand how
one who was such a confirmed cynic
as yourself could be so easily caught.
Pray tell me how it wasp
And so, with my feet on the Old desk,
and myself coZily ensconced in one of
the huge armchairs with which every
lawyers Office is or ought to be
adorned, 1 told my old friend, Harvey
Burt. how found my wife.
You know, Harvey, that was, as
you say. a confirmed cynic, sneering
at all womankind, loving to f1irt with
them. it is true, but only to kill time, or
for little amusement. When the hot
weather came on, did not care a fig
for Long Branch or Saratoga; I had
been to Newport and the Springs, and,
by the way, they bore you horribly;
and so began to look about for some
quiet spot where I could have a
months fishing and shooting. The vii
lage Of N attracted my attention,
and l went at once, rejoiced to think
that | might have quiet and peace, no
matchmaking mammas, with marri-
ageable daughters, no extra toilets for
could do as pleased.
"N-, you know, is on Long Island
Sound, and I rejoiced in the prospect OF
boating and bathing, without the nui-
sances that infest a fashionable water
ing place. But as the numbering old
stage drove up to the door of the Aker-
man House, the only hotel in the place,
l saw at glance that my dream of
peace was dispelled. Young women!
Bah! Harvey-and such young women.
l assure you that I was eyed and COM
mented on for at least an hour by three
or four amiable damsels, who We're on
the lookout for something new l
went to my room and made ready for
supper, as they styled it, and had the
honor of an Introduction to several Of
them at the table. One attracted more
than a passing notice, and in the even
ing l found myself flirting with Miss
Hail. after the most approved fashion.
Such a girl, Harvey! You never saw
the mate for herv'
WAS she your dvinity?"
NO, my boy. Don't interrupt me.
NO, she was not; but she was the most
sel1-satlshed young woman I ever saw
rather good-looking, gifted with a
tongue, and a correct knowledge of its
ose-believing firmly in what Tha acke ray
says OF Becky Sharpe, That any
woman with knowledge Of herself,
ana q little common sense, and per-
slStence, may marry whom she likes
Ihls was Miss Halls creed. To make
Il long story short-we firted all the
ume, and until we were the talk of the
house. But began to tire of the game
ana to wish for something new.
''one night, as 1 rowed Miss Hall to
'he village, we met party OF three
coming up with Tim, our porter-twe
ladles and gentleman-one was al
Invalid. Harvey, that face, with its
look Of utter WEAKNESS, haunted me
1here's no use to describe it. L
wouldn't bear it, but 1 thought it the
sweetest face l ever saw. It was more
than week before 1 saw it again
tnough | had been dreaming Of it con
t1nually.
one night, as came in from bath
vi entering the hall, I saw a pair of lit
ue leet in red slippers. Laugh if yo7
WILL you rascal, but those slippers, o
1a'her, their contents, finished me. A
advanced l saw the same face-th
invalid was at last able to be down
1,'irs-and | was introduced to Ell
neneoh. OF course I dropped Mis-
Ilah' thereby causing much scanda
nad thought to win an easy victor
win the newcomer, but the cool wa
~ Which she repelled my attention
put NE at my wits ends, and I made
nental VOW to drop flirting. By wha
p'r'icular process came to that COZ
1iuslon it would be difficult to explain
- uied everything. felt myself fallin
ioVe, and suppose that I showed
o pioposed on weeks acquaintanc
u sa was quickly refused Nothin
bbaunted, ba, determined on change {
ease' asked her to consider me HI
fenC-and g.. only that, for life-a trr
1;N, .e,io' got that foothold, trusting I
hnuhess h' and little attentions to Wi
out all failed.
x saved her. life, Harvey, taking