The Camden chronicle. (Camden, Tenn.) 1890-current, 1904-02-05
A COMPLIANT HERO.
BY Aphonse cour 'dnder.

DtDSHlCh dC the seaside was
vastly different person from the Mr.
Dlbchick who, frock-coated and top
matted, toiled up to an Office in a lane
somewhere Off the city, and Sat day
arter day frowning at ledgers and
cashbooks, with his short legs coiled
desperately round the long legs of the
STOOL. Mr.. Dibchick at the seaside was
man OF leisure, man of culture $50
every one said in the boarding house
Two minutes from the front, terms
1Erom 25s." and undoubtedly man of
wealth, as the blue haze from his CT
gar testified. And his flannel suit was
immaculate in it's unshrinkable glory.
And his yellow boots made mirrors for
the sun. And his panama-really his
panama might have been 3O-shilling
one from Bond street, instead of a
three and-six-penny Cheapside imita-
ton. If imitation is the sincerest
form of fiattery, never has a headgear
been subjected to more fulsome fiat
terry than the panama hat.
Mr. Dibchick walked gracefully along
the promenade, using the shop win
dows as looking glasses, until the long,
repetition of reflections grew monoto-
nous, and he turned into one of the
squares that led off the Wittlesea
promenade. At No. &c, "Sea View
(the sixth house of that name in the
square,, lived Mabel, and it was for
\ Mabel that he had arrayed himself in
VII his fiannelled glory.
She was standing on the steps of the
house taking the morning." and by
her side was mana most objec-
tionable man, thought Mr.. Dibchick)-
Alking and laughing with her in
more than confidential manner. He
strolled up to them carelessly, and
Mabel said tits you, is it?" as If she
had not been expecting him; as if she
had forgotten all about the appoint
ment made on the pier last night. Mr..
Dibchick glared savagely at the man,
and Mabel introduced them: ''Mr. Dib-
chick-Major Wayte."
Major Wayte curled his moustache
tremendously, and Mr.. Dibchick's
thumb and forefnger rushed to his
upper lip-just to make sure that his
few treasured wisps were still there.
"How-de-do, Mr. Dabchick?" conde-
scended the major.
"Dibchick, sir" scowled the ag-
grieved owner of the name
The major smiled, apologized, smiled
again-this time at Mabel, and with
drew Look here, Mabel" burst out
Mr.. Didchick, who's that BLACKBOARD,
and why didn't you seem pleased to
see me before him?"
ssHow dare you call my friend a
blackguard?" she replied, angrily.
"He's gentleman; and he's hero-a
". c."
'Har! Har!" laughed Mr.. Dibchick,
mirthlessly; Il know those heroes-V.
,C.-Har!" He was tragical in his con-
tempt.
"Oh, yes, you may well sneer-you'd
like to be as brave as he is. l love
brave men!"
A lump entered Mr.. Dibchick's
throat, and he drew himself-the whole
four feet nine inches Of him-up man
fully. ooh, very well, then; suppose
us no good my waiting here to be in
suited any longer. l could see you
wanted to quarrel with me. Good by"
He turned on his heel and strobe |
down the square to the front again. |
His mind was seething cauldron of |
hate against brave men and majors.
AS he reached the corner he looked to |
see If Mabel was still there. Perhaps |
she was crying! He saw her muslin |
clad figure on the steps, and by her
side was mana big nan-and
brave man.
Then Mr. Dibchick said something
o,It loud that shocked an elderly con-
sumptive who was being wheeled past
him in a bath chair into protesting
fit of coughing.
"They're all alike, women" philoso-
phized Mr.. Dibchick. Life is book
to them, and men are the pages, to be
cast aside for new one as soon as the
interest has died out" He surprised
himself as an epigrammatist, and phil
again "Life-ah!-is nut,
and woman Is the kernel-generally
bitter," Then in needless extrava-
gauce he flung down two coppers at the
pier turnstile, and pushed moodily on
to the pier.
The band was playing selection
from my Lady Molly" and the melo-