The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1903-10-23
AN EPISODE OF
OLD NEW YORK
tOriginal.

M lhai Ill "CiC lCN liouScS
In the city north Of Wall street, and
we lived in the country on the upper.
end of Manhattan Island. The Cur
tees lived near, and as Dorothy Cur
tice was then barely twenty and I but
two years older we naturally saw
much of each other. There was no
man of her family to take her into
town when she wished to go there to
make purchases, so l either took her
down on the river in my boat or we
drove in her mothers coach, or. that
which we liked most, rode on horse
back. 1t was on those jaunts that l
became infatuated with the tones of
her voice. the curve Of her neck, the
dimples on her cheek-what was the
cause doesn't matter so long as l be-
came her slave, and not ever her dog.
which usually scampered ahead of us.
was more easily subdued at sight of
her raised whip than 1 at a single
fash of her eye or n scornful curl Of
her lip. a.s.e 4
A mar is never so stupid as when in!
love. and | gave myself much vexation
because of this same stupidity. There
was one occasion when l failed to see
even what was as plain as the three
corners of my hat or the lace ruf1e at
my cuff. On one Of our visits to the
city Dorothy. instead of going to a
woman's dressmaker, went to a tailor,
ing shop and bought a coat. w%aistcoat,
breeches. hose and shoes for a man, or.
rather, for q boy, because she desired
a suit so small in size that a mans
would not suffice. There was nothing
surprising in this. since we who lived
In the country, especially those of us
dwelling near Hudson's river as far
down as the village Of Greenwich, were
to have an entertainment in fancy
dress, and Dorothy was intending this
suit for herself or some Of her girl
friends. ta,r ~.
1t was the next afternoon that /
rode up to the Curtices' and. hitching
my horse at the gate, went up into the
house. Not seeing Dorothy. l was
about to call a servant when l espied
her through a window out under a
tree with Il man. And as l looked
what should he do but fold Dorothy
In his arms, and in this fashion they
walked together toward the house.
was that Wild l could have killed the
fellow. Rushing into the hall. I went
out through a real door and me- them
face to face.
"Your presence, sir" l said, "is Of
fensive to me. I beg that o leave
this place at once"
"How now, Mr.. Huntingdon cried
Dorothy. incensed at my assumption.
"Who gave you the right to order my
guests away. and in my very pres
ence|' !
II beg your pardon, Mistress Curtice.
I am much panied to have seen you
In such 4 position as you were when II
came up. There is some Reuse for
me in that. l suppose"
What did the cowardly fellow beside |
her do but run like a deer into the |
house. | had half drawn my rapier,.I
which at this contemplate procedure |
I thrust back into It's scabbard, and.
turning my back on Dorothy, snapped
my fingers. saying:
THE girl who can receive the Ca
resses of such Il coward is of no con-
sequence to me whatever" Then sud- |
denly it occurred to me that I was |
taking much Upon myself, since no |
word Of love had passed between Dor
othy and myself; SO I bowed humbly |
and asked forgiveness for having made
so much ado about what did not con-
Germ me. 1t seemed to me from the !
expression of her face that anger was
struggling with a desire to laugh at |
me. This reused my choler all the
more, and I was about to fly into new |
freaks Of temper when she looked at |
M somewhat less angrily out Of her |
soft eyes and said: !
"Edward!'
Dorothy" l replied m%ournfully, |
"why did sou not stab me with steel |
instead Of with this boy OF dough-"
Il have not stabbed you at all, Ned.
Come, let us go back there among the
trees and have it out"
What! Will you have all your lovers
under the same tree?"
"Tut, tut, Mr.. Huntington! I'm not
accustomed to having my conduct thus
criticised. Please measure your words
moiC Sa1SluAS.
She turned and went to the very spot
where l had seen the boy take her in
his arms without looking back to see
If I followed. I did follow, but with
haltfng steps, for, putting one foot for
ward hungrily desiring to make peace,
no sooner was It planted than the other
Jagged, l mindful of the detestable
scene. At last we stood under the
tree. I folded my arms and turned my
back, casting glances up at the sky,
which saw no more than the girl be-
hind me.
"You need not hatter yourself, sir
she said, that there can ever be aught
between us. I could respect a pirate.
but a fool never. You remember yes
terday in town | bought a mans suit Of