The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1872-01-04

human malice to his manly form. At
| the same moment the sound of footsteps
reached the car.
"Sbe's coming back, as sure as my
name is Paul Popham, she's coming
back !" gasped our hero, struggling
more wildly than ever, 4" and here am
in her closet like Gagged bear !"
He shuilled half way across the room
with the crinoline clinging round his
ankles; but it was too late-Mrs. Mar
tin was almost on the threshold, and he
staggered back, just regaining the friend
ly shelter of the closet as she entered
with the villainous little poodle in her
arms, and young lady following her.
"Come in, Laura" chirped the widow,
and then buried her plump cheeks in
the dogs woolly hair. d" Poor little Pet
sy, did it get frightened and run away 2
Never mind, its own, own mistress has
come back, so she has. There, lie still
on the cushion, like a darling mouscy-
kins as it was, and be good. II are are
the poems, Laura" she added, changing
her tone.
go, thank you," said Miss Vernon,
whose voice Popham recognized from
his sitting retreat. "By the way, Me-
| IleSu, uO YOU kuU" WuhI ldo DGCOhC VI
your fat adorer 1 haven't seen him
on the piazza tonight"
"Do you mean that bald-headed old
bachelor. I'm sure l don't know, nor
care"
Squire Popham broke into chill
perspiration, Notwithstanding the fever
heat of his hiding place. Fat adorer"
d" Bald-headed old bachelor" !" 1t was
enough to set any mans blood circulat
ing to hear himself miscslled in that ri
diculous manner.
The idea of his presuming to ad-
mire you, Melissa !" laughed Miss Yer
non. "Do contrive to secrete me some
where when he makes his declaration
it will be such fun. How Harry will
laugh when he hears of it. By the way,
have you written to Harry tonight"
Harry, indeed - gasped Squire Pop
ham. "No, don't think he will laugh
not if know it."
Here the bachelor changed his cramp-
ed position, and two or three pairs of
CATERS ratified about his ears, down on
the floor.
Mercy upon us, what is that ?"-
shrieked the widow.
Its Popsy," soothed Miss Vernon.
o. No indeed, it's not Popsy, for he's
here on his cushion"
"Then it's ghost !" screamed Laura.
e." It's a burglar" !" shrieked Mrs. Mar
tin. and Popsey added to the tumult by
barking furiously at the closet door.
"Help Murder ! Help! Thieves !!
Help!" shouted Laura at the top of her
voice, while the widow clung round her
| ,,aoly oh - kx,otnr,nallx,
"Ladies, allow me to explain" began
the squire, opening the door three
quarters of an inch, whereupon Popsey
redoubled his barks and the widow
screamed louder than ever.
"Villain stand back" commanded
Laura, dragging two rocking chairs and
an embroidered foot-stool in front of the
door. ooh, thank goodness, here is help
at last. There, there p she waved her
hand tragicslly toward the closet door,
1.-THE band Of desperadoes is secreted
, there"
The gentleman boarders gathered
round with all the pokers, tongs, pistols,
, croquet-mallets and rulers they had been
!, able to collect at such short notice-the
ladies stood back, shrieking in chorous.
"I'll open the door, Jenks," said the
landlord to the head waiter, "and you
be ready to collar the first one that
rushes out. One-two-three-and here
goes !"
But to the surprise-and to confess
the truth, disappointment-of the as
sembled boarders, nobody appeared save
? Squire Popham, in howered dressing
gown and very red face, shrinking
? pack among the widows silk dresses.
, "Why, bless my soul !" exclaimed the
3 landlord, it's Mr.. Popham! How came
! you here, sir?"
"It's--it's a mistake" suffered the
r miserable bachelor, creeping out with
sheepish countenance.
, "It's confounded queer looking mis-
D take" muttered two or three of the more
I belligerently inclined boarders. But
mine host good-naturedly interfered il
/, Mr.. Popham's behalf.
: 81 am quite sure Mr.. Popham is nC
, burglar" he said. "Mrs. Martin, you'll
g bear witness to it's being mistake,
am sure"
g And Mrs. Martin, with " "Popsey still
}. barking irrepressibly in her arms, de-
y clared that "she was so sorry such
S misunderstanding had taken place"
: "And l am sorry too, madam" sale
: the old bachelor, stiffly bowling as h
t marched out between the lines of silen
and amazed spectators.
d "My DEAR" whispered Laura Vernon
e "you may depend he has heard ever!
e word we said p
S But how on earth do you suppose h
i came in there?"
# 81 am sure 1 haven't the least idea,
: said the puzzled young lady.
Nor did they ever discover clue t
: the mystery. Squire Popham resolutel
o kept at bay the curiosity of the Who'll
hotel by obstinately reiterating his frs
n statement, "that it was a mistake" an,
nothing more. And the next morning
: he packed his valise and left the Sea
: weed House.
: We are sorry to record the fact tha
y he is an old bachelor still, and likely t
e remain so, his first adventure in the ser
p vice of the little god having proved 8
d disastrous that he will never pluck u
n courage to hazard another Perhal
8, Leap year may do something for MIN
but it is forlorn hope, at best
? This is the era of, taxing luxurie
It and the constant demand is to raise til
NJ tax on articles of this nature and aho