Preble County Democrat. [volume] (Eaton, Ohio) 1857-1859, 1858-08-26

other. The best he could do would b
to keep guessing at it, and sometimes
you know, even the best guessers jum]
a great ways beyond or behind the rea
line.
Whenever, therefore, the two sister
came into his store to shop a trife, Mr.
Pikey invariably addressed them each
as Miss. "Really, Miss-ah, this il
very cheap at that price, he would say
II don't see how 1 can afford these good:
at any less figure, Miss-ah;" and q
should be very happy to let you have
them lower. should-ah, if could;
it was forever Miss-ah; never Mrs
4 thousand times rather would he call
the married one Miss than the unmar.
ried one Mrs. Married ladies rather
fancy being thought maids yet; wherea:
few girls are over fond of being address
cd as if all their matrimonial hopes and
Ispeeulations were at an end. We ap
peal to their own selves to know if thi:
be not so.
Mr.. Pikey found one of the sister:
in his store, on certain evening, NOV
ing towards the door just as he came in
from down the street. He was wonder
fully glad to see her,-shook hands
very heartily, laughed contagiously to
think of his good fortune;-felt mo-
mcutary perplexity because he could
not tell whether it was the married one
or not-and finally resolved to believe
she must be the Miss Shalott after who
his heart had for a good time been yearn-
ing.
He offered to wait upon her home,
though one Of his young clerks in back
kept up a mysterious dumb show at him
all the while, which he seemed too OBJ
stinate to comprehend. Of course she
would not reject so polite an offer from
a gentleman, and accepted his escort
with many thanks.
On the way he opened the secret
places of his bachelor heart quite gen.
erously to the fair lady at his side, i'm
proving his long coveted opportunity to
the utmost. He was gracious beyond
what he thought he could be himself
everything into pleasant ridicule! What
a gallant carriage he suddenly put on:
as if il were the most easy suit he ever
wore! What gay talk he made on
everJ imaginable scene or circumstance
that came in their way!
Before he -fese41rd h0Inc with her, he
had given her an urgent invitation to
attend the nextfashionable concert with
him; and had, moreover, been made
extremely happy on hearing thai she
would certainly go. 1t was only two
evenings off-how very elatcd it made
him! He took her hand as he parted
with her on the door step, and once
more reminded her of the engagement:
she replied to him with all the gaiety
she could muster, and promised to be
ready and prompt at the hour. And so
he left her.
AS soon as lie got back to his store,
the smart young clerk tackled him
''Wgll, MIR. Pikey," began he, II think
you made little mistake to night
flows that?' asked his employer,
with look of alarm and confusion.
ooh, nothing; only you went home
with Mrs. Chester, when you probably
thought you had Miss Shalott on your
arm!'
''The -" but Mr.. Pikey checked
himself aud looked down on the floor
as if he was just then expecting a mes
sage from China on the other side
"John," said he to his clerk again, ''are
you sure that was Mrs. Chester?''
81 know it was" he answered, II ca n
tell her if nobody else can. l should
be willing to bet my whole years salary
that that was her!"
Mr.. Pikey did mt want to get the
young mans salary away from him ex-
actly; but he would rather have given
four yearly salaries, than have been SO
dreadfully victimized.
"Why could'n she have just set me
right hcrself?'' he asked himself. "I've
good mind to get mad about it!'' But
then he might show his temper to the
wrong one, and that would never do
His hands, he began to think, were tied
But the reader might ask why Mrs.
Chester could not have the kindness
merely to undeceive him. In the first
place, how did she know that his gal
lantry was not intended expressly for
her? and in the second place, we rather
dislike to make such private piece oi
family intelligence public-the sisters
had an understanding about this matter;
and were very desirous to carry the mis-
take as far along as it would go, just fol
the fun of the thing. That was tht
most there was to it. AS for Miss Sha-
lofts seriously thinking of receiving the
attentions of Mr.. Pikey with view tc
matrimony, it was all nonsense.
Well, but Mr.. Pikey was in honor
bound to so to the concert, and did go
But thinking he might rather "com,
, up with Mrs. Chester for her trickish
ness towards him, he went to her hous'
on the appointed evening, and called 70
: Hiss Shalott. She came.
"Will you soon be ready to go ou
) with me?"
"Where, pray?'
: "Why, to the concert, of course!
; have your promise to that effect
mot at all, Mr.. Pikey, returned she
Though 1 am sure l should be yer
: glad to go; but it was my sister whor
: you offered to accompany, and she is a
4 ready this minutc;'' and upon the in
t slant the door opened, and in wake
y Mrs. Chester, all equipped for the even
e ing excursion
i "Punctual, you OBSERVE" said sh
e laughing.