Waterbury evening Democrat., 1904-09-01
Watch for Friday Night's Adv
THE COLONEL cAPITULATED
Couldn't Escape, So He Surrendered to His Pursuer Uncondi-
 tionany.

When Col. Merriher arrived at Mann mago Inn, at Newtogo, he found, to his surprise, bevy of 15 young and pretty girls fairly established, with respec- tive chaperons, and the most effusive welcomes in the way of silent homage he had ever before experienced, not forgetting his various medal presenta- ton days, honorary dinners, campaign speeches, etc, relates the Boston Post. A close friend had told him prior to his going that it was quiet place, but glance through the hotel parlor and along the beach made him wonder just why he had been so informed. Surely my friend, Ames. couldn't have referred to the costum- Ing" he said to himself.
 This collection of girls impressed the colonel as some sort of feminine league against him, and he faced them all at breakfast the next morning much as he would have the enemy's guns-prepared for an advance and full ly armed. He wasn't the only man there, but he was certainly justified in thinking so. Mrs Duane lavished her most select smiles upon him. Miss Dexter undertook his entertainment in her own hands, and Mrs Merriton wanted to know if he would object to chaperoning few of the young ladies on sail down the harbor, it would be such favor to her, as MT. Merriton had been called to New York. The col onel acknowledged he wouldn't mind taking few for a sail, and about ten minutes before it was time to start he suggested that Miss Ashton come along too "As a mascot" he added to him. self, as he caught sight of the droll lit tie mouth and freckled face underneath the unattractive white duck hat
 She came along just as she was, and the colonel pitied her when he com pared her with any of the others in the yacht. It was misfortune for her to be with 15 beautiful girls. It showed her ap badly, he reflected. And for her to be the only seasick one and so horri- ply seasick was a pity.
 A week passed by and Col Merriher had found just about two hours of free dom from. ambitious mammas during that time, and had taken this 20 min- ltes before luncheon to read an army report down on the beach, when he heard scream and espied small row. boat capsize and white duck hat float rapidly out toward him. Whether 1t was the esthetic Miss Barnes, the mine owners golden-haired daughter, or a servant out for a row, he didn't ques- tion, but swan in and rescued her, bedrabbled, stringy- y-haired, shivering mite of humanity Then he came upon the same girl unawares when she was drying her hair in the sun and invited her to go to field day exercises that afternoon, giving her about ten min utes to dress: made a practice of dis covering her in all sorts of unf1atter- ing predicaments, and then proposed to her. Of course 1t was shock to Estabel society. and nobody knew what to make of 1t. Mrs Merriton ventured an opinion, but the colonel was suited and he told Miss Ashton, confidentially of course, that he was sure she never could look worse that he had seen her, and as for the, rest of them, beauty was too common. anyway, and none of the others dared fall overheard face down. ward for fear of coming up too pale, although as far as he was concerned they all might try 1t.