The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1874-08-08

girl accompanied him, he turned upon
her with words of reproach.
"How could you admit that fellow to.
night when you expected me?"
II beg your pardon DR.. Collins" she
replied her saucy black eyes dancing
"You are very much mistaken. did
not expect you tonight, and that fell
low is one of my dearest friends"
MARY, you are trifing with me.
Have you forgotten what transpired in
the veranda only last night?"
"What veranda?"
"That of Mrs. Goodwin to be sure"
"You must be insane, doctor, or are
laboring under some hallucination. |
was not in Mrs, Goodwin's veranda
with you for single moment last night;
and If you made any engagements with
any young lady at that time and place,
1t was not with your humble servant"
"Not with you'll" he gasped, pale to
the lips. "Who the deuce was it, then,
I should like to know"
"I can't say. You should not BIZ
careless, doctor. No doubt some fair
Brownville girl is this moment looking
her eyes out while you are wasting your
time with me. But 1 must 60 back, or
Charley will be jealous. Yet stay.
have one trihing bit of confidence for
you. We are engaged"
Certainly. Don't know it?" he
exclaimed, seizing her hand, with a
suddenly radiant face.
"Knew it, and had the audacity to
call my Charley fellow and to be an
CRY because did not deny myself to
him on account Of your stupidity in
thinking that under Mrs. Goodwin's
porch you had informed me of your in
tended visit? o, goodnessl what CO.
quette you must believe me to be-"
His hands fell away from hers sud.
denly, and his voice was husky as he
answered:
''I congratulate you. Goodnight"
Out in the silent and dull village
street he ground his teeth, and used
some very intricate and harsh words
against himself, the worst of which per-
haps was that he might be considered
ian ass" He went directly to his Of
fee, and DR.. Peters noticed the change
in his manners, and kindly inquired
what was the matter.
"Any bad news, my boy?" he asked,
jocosely. "You lookas though you had
been having case of double connip-
tions, and did not know what to do with
them"
II am an unmitigated fool, that's all
I've gone and engaged myself
"To be married? Not that, hey?"
eyes, just that, old fellow" and he
sank into chair with a most disgust
ed air.
DR.. Peters looked at him for mo-
ment, and then burst into an uncontroll.
able fit of laughter.
"Why, the deuse take itl"he said, as
soon as he could get his breath, zone
would think you were doomed to be
hung. give you my word that If I had
gone so far as you have, should try
and look more cheerful"
"Good heavensl how can /? Listen
for few moments. AS l said before,
] am engaged to be married, but swear
to you / don't know to whom"
The old physician sat up, his face
suddenly elongated, and he stared at
his partener in pills with open-eyed as
tonishment. Presently he said to him
self:
'The boy is mad as March hare.
''No, am not-wish to thunder l
was" He related minutely everything
that had occurred under the porch and
screening vines at Mrs. Goodwin's and
continued. "Whoever / mistook for
Mary Norris evidently believes in and
loves me. She solemnly yielded herself
to my caresses as my betrothed wife,
thinking that I worshipped her. and
her only" DR.. Collins groaned, and
ran his fingers through his hair until
each particular fibre stood on end. His
partner vainly attempted to control his
risibles. One glance at the disconso-
late visage of his friend was too much,
and Ito use Hibernianism) he let off
roar that shook the very foundations of
Brownville, and 1t was a good half-hour
before he could sufficiently control him
self to give his friend the comfort and
advice he needed.
''No doubt" was the reply, sit is a
laughable matter, and its ridiculous side
exceedingly funnyibutfor the life of me,
doc, can't see 1t. and now, as a gen.
tleman and man of honor, what am /
TO dO?"
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