Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1904-11-24
THE COLONEL cAPITULATED
Couldn't Escape, So he Surrendered
to His Pursuer Uncondi-
ttonally.

When Col. Merriher arrived at Man,
mayo Inn, at Newtogo, he found, to his
surprise, bevy OF 15 young and pretty
girls fairly established, with respec-
i've chaperons, and the most ELUSIVE
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 q
quiet place, but a 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 a feminine
league against him, and he faced them
all at breakfast the next morning
much as he would have the enemy's
guns-prepaped 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 a few Of the young ladies'
on sail down the harbor, 1t would
be such favor to her, as Mr. Merriton
had been called to New York. The COL
onel acknowledged he wouldn't mind
taking a few for sail, and about ten
minutes before 1t 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. 1t was a misfortune for her to
be with IL beautiful girls. 1t showed
her up badly, he reflected. And for her
to be the only seasick one and so horri-
bly, seasick was 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
utes before luncheon to read an army
report down on the beach, when he
heard scream and espied small row.
boat capsize and a white duck hat float
rapidly out toward him. Whether Il
was the esthetic Miss Barnes, the mine
owners golden-haired daughter, or
servant out for a row, he didn't ques-
ton, but swan in and rescued her,
bedrabbled, ;ngy-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 unfatter-
Ing predicaments, and then proposed
to her. OF course It was a shock to
Estabel society, and nobody knew what
10 make Of It. Mrs. Merriton ventured
an opinion. but the colonel was suited
and he told Miss Ashton, confdentially
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
90 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
hey all might try It.