The Tiffin tribune. (Tiffin, Ohio) 1868-1887, 1869-12-03

: what IS the matter with me. Ii
have not the chance of getting yOl
for my wife, l do not care whether
pass my examination or not. That il
sense, 1 hope. "
"But you are so young
I'll bet / am older than you y
80, but that is nothing. And
theu-you are a gentleman
"And SO are you lady," said the
g.; youth. 80, learned all about you
from your father. / saw him leaving
this house one day, and little while
afterward | met him in a smoking
room and We happened to get into
conversation. He told me how he
had lost his property in unfortunate
speculations-on the turf and other
wise-abd how, instead of sitting
down helplessly, as so many young
ladies who have been brought up il
luxury would do, you tried to earn a
living SO plucki!y. And that made
me love you still more.
"Did you tell my father you knew
the shop, and had seen me 2"
"Why, no; I did not like to do
that"
"Why 2-Ah 1 know the reason
he borrowed money Of you !" cried
Annie, coloring with vexation.
"0nly a trife-the veriest trifie.
"And cannot even repay that
You see how hopeless and foolish an
engagement between US would be"
f'No, 1 don't"
II have nothing in the world, and
: no expectations"
"No more have l |" cried the lad,
with exultation. "I have nothing in
, the world and 1 have no expectations.
Why, we were ordained for each 9TH
er."
In the course of further parley, it
transpired that the young mans name
was Edward Winston that he was
articled to a solicitor, and had just
served his time; also, that he had
gained applause in private theatricals,
and had an idea that his real vocation
was the stage-an evident resource in
case Mr.. Johstonne, the father, did
not turn up, and Mr.. Johnstone, the
uncle, refused to receive his niece, a
state of affairs which would render an
immediate marriage prudent. Annie
did not quite see the logic in this, but
owned that her distress at seeing Mr..
Edward Winston (well N-ued) come
in for bad lunch every other day
was caused by a peculiar objection to
receive charity from him, which
would not have occurred to her in the
case of any other human being.
Smith, Brown, Jones, or Robinson
might have killed themselves with
bad pie-crust, and while wondering
at their taste she would have pocket
ed their shillings with rejoicing.
Finally, it occurred to Ned Whis-
ton to look at his watch, and the po-
sition Of the hands drew a whistle of
dismay from his lips. "Nearly threep'
he cried ''and Jenkings is waiting
for my return to 60 and get his din
ner." And with a hurried hand
squeeze he took his departure.
Next day at 10 he reappeared,
followed by a man bearing a tray,
which contained oysters, stout, and
slices of cold beef.
"Since it hurts your feelings TO
feed me with your wares, l have
brought my own luncheon" said Ned,
when he and Annie were alone again.
"There is double what | can eat, l
see will yeu not help me out with
lit?"
1 had always better opinion Of
Ned Winston for divining that An
ME larder mi ght be understocked,
and providing her with a meal in this
diplomatic manner and Annie, who
was faint as we'll as anxious, appre-
ciated it, too. 1t sounds shockingly
unromantic to suppose that eating
and drinking can have any eonnec-
ton with the affections, yet there
seems an ineompleteness about either
the friendship or the love upon which
the digestive organs have not set
their seal.
I do not deny that the more ethe-
real kiss may be the correct sigitlams
amoris, but every corner of the shop
was visible from the street, and as
for asking her lover into the back
pa-lor while her father was absent,
Annie was far too correct a young
lady to think of such a thing, aud,
Indeed, Master Ned had not tbe i'm
pudence to hint at an invitation of
the kind being welcome. So they rat
fled their engagement with oysters
and porter seated opposite to each
other at little round marble-topped
table; and when the meal was con-
cluded, they felt as if they had been
acquainted for months.
On returning so late to the Office
the day before, Ned Winston bad
been subjected to troublesome ques-
tioning as to what he had been doing
with himself all the time so he took
care to leave early to-day, announe-
ing his intention of returning at tho
same hour on the morrow.
| But on the following morning he
was sent off to Chester with certain
important deeds. That was on the
Thursday, and he did not get back
till Saturday night and as he lived
at home, some fifteen miles out of
town, with observant relatives, he
could not get away en- the Sunday
without exciting awkward curiosity ;
so that it was not till luncheon time
on Monday that he entered Dreary
street with a throbbing heart. The
lshutters were up at No. 10. Poor
Ned felt for moment as if his heart
and lungs had struck work. Was
she dead2 No, no, impossible. Her
father, perhaps; he had disappeared
suddenly, and might have committed
suicide. The idea of disturbing a
recent sorrow made him drop the
bell-handle without ringing, and look
round for likely place for informa-
tiou. There was a brush-shop imme-
diately opposite, and the portly dame
, who kept it was standing in the door
way, cycling him with certain Gu
riosity. She had a good-natured
look about her, so he crossed . the
: road, and asked he if she knew what
: was the matter.
D "Lor 70 exclaimed the woman
0 "and 1 who thought you would per
-lhaps tell me sure you were friend