The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1917-08-16
An Embarrassing
Mistake
By OSCAR cox

concert She was listening TO the soft
! strains OF a sonata. There was dreami
! ness in her pose. Her eyes seemed e
be looking Mt heavenly visions. Wheth
er or not she was beautiful, she was
certainly spiritual.
After that he haunted concerts for
months, hoping that he might meet
her. He did not. But one Sunday
morning, passing cathedral, he con.
Guided 10 go In for the service. His
entrance was at the moment OF the
elevation OF the host. All was silent;
then the three soft strokes intended TO
concentrate the minds OF the congre-
CATION upon the solemn service. On
the other side of the church was the
girl he sought. She was kneeling, and
her Madonna-like face seemed 10 glow
In light frsm heaven.
The next time he saw her he was
very fortunate. He was spinning
through the park In his runabout. Sud
denly car coming from the opposite
direction swept past him. AS by q
lightning fash he caught an instanta-
neous glimpse OF his divine face. An
old gentleman sat beside her, and she
was looking at him with the tender
ness Of a daughter who idolized him.
Ricketts, pulled up SO suddenly that
he nearly went through the glass wind
shield, then turned. The road was
narrow, and he was obliged to go for
ward and back several times before
he could get around. He succeeded
barely In time to see the object that
held him In thrall carried around
corner. He went around that corner
on two wheels and at the risk OF his
life. Later he saw the car he followed
pull up before handsome stone front
residence. The girl helped out the
old man and supported him into the
house. Ricketts, noted the number and
drove on.
By this time the worshiper was be- |
side himself with desire to know, to |
possess, the object Of his alteration.
But he was deferred by conventional
ties. There seemed no possible hope
Of an introduction. Might he not act
through her father? He could call at
the house, ask for the old man, tell him
that he had seen his daughter and de-
sired to know her.
Urged on by impatient love, he adopt
ed this plan. One afternoon he ap-
peared at the house where he had seen
his inamorata alight and rang the bell
The Madonna girl answered the sum-
mons. Ricketts, was taken fat aback.
He stammered a query If the gentle
man of the house were at home. She !
said that he was, but seldom saw any
one. II Ricketts, would state his busi- :
ness she would see. Ricketts, said that
be wished to see the gentleman upon a
private matter which might have i'm
oortant results for both Of them and 2
,ne other. The girl went away with
he message and. presently returning. :
invited Ricketts, TO follow her. He did 2
10 in fear and trembling, walking as
hough he feared some one might hear 2
his step.
On entering the room where the old 2
nan was Ricketts, saw him in an easy z
hair, propped up with pillows. The ;
irl handed him an ear trumpet; then, 2
instead Of leaving the two together, 3
he stood near her father, ready to q
minister TO him during the coming IN z
erview.
An old man with an ear trumpet,
lto which Ricketts, must shout his re-
uest for one who was present and Q
Guild hear every word even If spoken :
/ a low tone! Ricketts, was not up |,
, such test. IL he had had his wits Z
bout him he might have invented =
,me reason for his call other than the d
sal one, even IL 1t were only that he Il
adj come to sell plasters for a weak 8
ack. But Ricketts, lost his head COM r,
etely. He could think Of no substi- II
tie for his real object and made a O
ess of the truth. e
II have called, sir" he began. Ito say CT
you
Louder, pleaseF'
II have called, sir, though a stranger
you
81 can't hear you; you must raise /
,ur voice"
Great heavens" exclaimed Ricketts,
How can / prepare him
r what l have to say? Briefness is
rrible In this case. but l must be
ief." Then he dashed at his an
as a regiment Of soldiers
,uld storm fertilization.
4 love your daughter he shouted.
'What?"
L want TO marry your daughter
lied Ricketts,, coming nearer with ev-
: statement to the object he had in
w.
That is the worst OF saying anything
deaf persons; it is so hard to make
I'M hear that one has to cut 1t short.
/ haven't any daughter"
ricketts, started as though a mule
1 kicked him in the abdomen. His
IS darted inquiringly at the Madon-
like creature who was taking this
a. g. II