The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1906-06-23

a person. He had been a very plain sorl
OF boy and an exceedingly plain sort OF
a youth and now he was most con-
spicuously plain young man.
He had always worked hard and re-
ceived the minimum compensation
therefor. AS boy he did the heavy
end of the chores and his brother got
the holidays and the praise. AS 4
youth he did the hard studying and al
ways remained at the foot of the
classes while other fellows walked away
with the prizes. AS a young man he
was always given the hard and dis
agreeable tasks at the store and when
there was a promotion in sight some
body else got it.
Homer did not complain, however,
but plodded on, living out the law of his
being. He never was jealous of those
who were advanced over him. In fact
he rejoiced in their good fortune. To
be sure he grieved at times that none Of
the gifts of the gods were his, but he
laid it all to some defect in his charac-
ter To be sure he was trifie slow and
not at all brilliant, but he was as steady
and reliable as plow-horse and his
employers knew, even as mis- parents
and teachers had known, that when he
was given task it was sure to be done
no matter how long it took. But the
high places were for those with more
spectacular qualities and nobody ever
really thought Of Homer when they
were to be filed. Truth be told Homer
never thought of going after them HIM
self. In fact Homer never pushed him
self Folks said he was not am
bilious.
But the years with all their toll and
hardships and disappointment brought
one great joy and light to Homer's life.
1t was a woman, of course, and her
dainty, feminine ways gave the love-
starved lad a glimpse into new and
marvellous world. He never ceased to
wonder that she crowned him with her
favors-he who ever had been by
stander in all the joys and softer side
of life.
The result. Isl easy to guess. He be-
lightest wish was law and there was no
sacrifice too great, no endeavor too
strenuous for him to make at her most
simple suggestion. Because she loved
society he plunged into the gayties of
the town, where he cut most sorry fig
ure, as he was only too painfully con-
scious and where he became the butt
of the clever ones, as he was in all the
walks of life he assayed. Because she
approved of religion he smothered his
convictions and haunted the church of
her denomination, studying its creed
with desperate earnestness and blindly
accepting it's code. He even attempted
golf and as last sacrifice joined 4
home study circle where after hard
days work he sternly kept himself
awake.
And the woman. Well, she was a
daughter of Eve, and having failed to at
tract any very big fish and having ar
rived at the period of a maiden's life
when she begins to realize that it is time
to cast an anchor to the windward, she
turned to Homer. Not that she was old
or devoid of charms, but she had set her
standard rather high and the knight of
her dreams had not appeared. Besides
she was young woman Of discrimina-
ton and she saw below the common
place exterior of this simple hearted
man, the true gold of his unselfsh char
acter She appreciated this and she
oh 10 him
would be absolutely queen.
But, ali, ye daughters of Eve, when
ever did reason govern your hearts and
your desires? Whenever did not-and
when does not and will not-the gay
cavalier fire your hearts and magma
tons and make the plain sturdy plow-
boy seem commonplace and impossible?
And who shall say that the fair Agnes
did not accept Homer with a mental
reservation? And who shall say that
the vision of the gay cavalier did not
still abide in her imagination?
Be all that as it may the fact remains
that one glorious evening she plighted
her troth to Homer with dainty gasp
of surrender which so filled him with
JOY and reverence that it must abide
with him forever 1t was many weeks
before he could thoroughly believe that
this splendid creature, this wonderful
being had selected him of all the world
for mate and he bowed in reverence
and thanksgiving every time he
thought of it, which was some thousand
times day.
Always frugal and saving, he now be-
gan 10 lay aside money with more than
misers avarice against the blissfnl
day when Agnes should come to his
arms. He was not impatient, as most
lovers are. 1t was enough for him to
know that she was his. He could wait.
He had been compelled to wait for
everything ever since he was born and
he had learned the lesson Vi patience.
Probably this was mistake because
women like to be sought ardent,y and
mpatiently-but how was he to know
that, this being the only woman he had
ever known?
Well, it was the same old story.
While he waited and toied patiently,