Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1905-04-20
THE COLONEL CAPITULATED
Couldn't Escape, So He Surrendered
to His Pursuer Uncondi-
tionallY.

When Col. Merriher arrived at Mann
mayo Inn, at Newtogo, he found, to his
surprise, bevy Of 10 young and pretty
girls fairly established, with respec-
tive 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 a
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-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 a few Of the young ladies
on a sail down the harbor, it would
be such a favor to her, as Mr. Merton
had been called to New York. The COL
onel acknowledged he wouldn't mind
taking a few for a sail, and about ten
minutes before it was time to start he
suggested that Miss Ashton come along
too. LAS a mascot" he added to him
self, as he caught sight of the droll lit
tie mouth and freckled face underneath
the unattractiye 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 IS beautiful girls. 1t showed
her up badly, he reflected, And for her
to be the only seasick one and so horri-
bly, seasick was a pity.
A week passed b. and Col. Merriher
had found just about two hours of free
dom from ambitious mammas during
that time, ana had taken this 20 min
utes before luncheon to read an army
report down on the beach, when he
heard a scream and espied a 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- |
ton, but swan in and rescued her. a
bedrabbled. stringy-haired, shiverlng
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 unAatter- |
ing predicaments, and then proposed /.
to her. OF course it was a shock to /
Estabel society, and nobody knew what /
to 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
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
hey all might try it.