Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1903-12-24
a BLESSING
< 4 IN DISGUISE

Incorrectly that the trm with which
hn was a clerk put him on outside
work In this he did So well that he
eventually bccamc managing partner.
Had hc written well he would never
have been more than an accountant
When was young | was the pet
OF au aunt u no was devoted To fash
Ion. was fond OF society myself,
and being popular, my aunt was 80
pleased with me chat she made Il will
ia my favor. bcqueuthing me at her
death "a considerable fortune. | fell
In lowe with young lady who, Ike
myself was in the swim but unfor-
tuuutriy poor Ny aunt, who was very
romantic. was not at all displeased
with my marriage. declaring that she
had quite enough for both Of us. In.
deed She gave me an allowance which
enabled me to support wife aud live
He ut ease.
Wriug the winter al the end OF
vHeh pur hrst child was born | was
Obliged to go into society without my
wife She was very uotional In what
-hr ate and cruyed things usually un.
uttainabIc. one evening she was seized
with desire for some straw berries
IL was in February. and even II the
berries were 10 be had the markets
were closed | was going 10 ball
and was obliged 10 leave my |!fe
pining for the fruit while | danced. II
seemed like 'udiliug while Rome was
burning
What was my surprise TO see on the
supper table Mt the house where the
ball took place splendid dish Of
Strawberries. They had been brought
from I'll, south. Ia, instead of u-.Hg
la~trirSs, as such berries usually are
were sweet and juicy. | ate a pIalefu,
OF them and at the same time was
planning TO purloiu some of them to
take home to my wife | loitercd IN the
supper room till every guest had gone
all the while fearful that the straw
berries would he gone as we'll For
tuuatcly a waiter brought IN a fresh
dish Just as the room was left vacant
Seeing on the floor under Il side Table
some paper boxes In which buuhou-
had been sent 10 the house, ! selected
one about the size of quart straw
berry box and, hastily filling ii, slipped
il unseen into a pocket in th" swallow
tail of my coat Then went To tn,
hostess to bid her good night IN order
that ] might at once carry tn" precious
strawberries To my Wife.
surely you are not going SO early
said the lady. You can't 20 now.
need YOU To- lead the cotillon"
was terrified Lead the cotillon
with my pocket fun Of strawberries,
"C.u yuu not excuse me-" | asked
Il am mot feeling well"
You are looking splendid How
ever. Mr. Ninrrn, will arrive soon.
viii relieve You when he comes"
"But have no partner"
Il WIFI dance the figure with you
Come, the music has begun"
Fancy my feelings at sailing away in
a waltz with my coattails full Of straw
berries Never did | guide a partner
with such drXtcrity gliding over the
walked floor, drradlng especially thai
/ might slip now cXtrlcating her from
between couples closing in upon Us
barely saving my coattuIls from being
crushed, now backing and stopping
within Il few steps To save the precious
berries from being mashed by some
lumbcring dancer who was in every
hody's way. Nevertheless there was ar
excitement in exercising my skill thai
was by 40 means dIspleasing TO me
was devoted to dancing, and, whirlinA
about ON the slippery tioov passing anC
requesting beautiful women IN artistic
costumes gradually forgot my bur
den aud at the end OF the figure, whrr
every one was sounding my praises fol
its originality and the skin with which
| had handled it, / threw myself Oh {,
pale blue dumaSk sofa for a rest
There was hum OF conversation
while preparations were being made
for the next figure, and was think
in- Of some new features l would in
troduce with il when | felt that ! was
sitting on something wet In an In
-tant the presence Of the Strawberries
in my coat pocket ami the fact that
was sitting on them flashed upon me
robins egg danaSk of the sofa wds
strawberry blotcA not unlike the MAJ
OF North America. with the isthmu,