The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1874-02-05
4 smile as 1 enter@l-"how about the

was good deal embarrassed, be-
cause everybody looked at us and grin
ned and young Saunders, who is my
junior and loses no opportunity of
making nasty remarks about me, hap
pened to be in the room speaking to a
friend, and watched us sardonically.
You've read, daresay-I haven't my
self, confess, but I've heard him men
toned in society--of a monster called
Frankenstein, who haunts somebody
very much. Well, it struck me, this
was exactly my case. William was
Frankenstein, and here was a Miss
Frankenstein, and how many more
heaven only knew Ia monster brood,
said to myself, and bit my lips, and was
very angry.
go, 1 understand" said Annabel,
misinterpreting my silence. "Usual
thing; left your purse at home, eh :?
Or have you just paid heavy bill, and
not farthing in the house All right,
'Enry; don't apologize, I beg. Bless
you, I'm used to it,"
"Well, as it happens" said I, "NIiss
Annabel"-I put the Miss in very strong
to let it appear that we weren't blood
relations-"a as it happens, hare left
my purse at home"
REALLY now," she said. "Without
any kid ? Then look here; I'll go
fetch it for you"
81 couldn't think of that" said I.
"Then fetch it YOURSELF" said she.
But L can't leave here until four
O'clock"
"Then will wait for you," she cried.
go, don't mind me +! can amuse N.Y.
self very we'll. It's rather fun watching
these old blokes pop in and out, like
old rats you know the look of very
old rat when it is worn and gray. Well,
| your men in public offices look Just like
that when they get old-not so cunning
though-O no p said AnnabeI, with a
laugh.
And Cropper, our chief clerk-I be-
lieve Saunders had sent him in on pur-
pose--was standing just behind us, and
well, he does look exactly like an old
rat. But what was to do with this
file terrible ?
"But you can't stop here," 1 said,
" unfortunately, I'm afraid at least,
1T would be thought not the thing, you
know"
go, bother that but look here then,
I'll go and wait for you in the park.
Lend me penny you shall have it
back in a week-honor, you know =
and I'll get a roll and go and feed the
ducks, and I'll meet you. Where shall
L meet you?
go, that won't do at ALL" I said.
"Look here" cried, in desperation !;
"tell your father I'll come up tonight
without fail to see him, and explain
matters to him."
And bring the skiv A.? she cried.
so yes, yes"
Did make a mental reservation,
then? Heaven forgive me if 1 did.
That's promise, then. You'll
come; only you won't see father, cause
he's in quod."
go, DEAR" faltered-Cropper was
listening to every word-"0, dear,
how did that happen ?"
go, it's nothing" she said "only
county-court. But it's too bad, isn't
it? They tell us Imprisonment for
death is abolished, and then look how
they serve us It's a shame ?" cried
Anna Del, looking round for the sympa-
thy of the bystanders.
1t was more than I could endure. I
hurried her out of the building; she
insisted on kissing me on the steps in
full view of the Horse Guards and st.
James's Park, and left me more dead
than alive. L was afraid Cropper would
say something. should have hit him
If he had, was so savage; and there'd
have been pretty row.
went up to Clapham that night, and
a most heart-rending scene witnessed.
I'm not good at pathos, so will leave
that to the imagination, only adding
that L was so overcome that l lent them
the skiv," and promised to see all
Williams creditors on the morrow and
arrange matters with them. And then,
as if by magic, the scene char ged. My
sovereign had set the house a-going
again. There was a nice little supper
-lamb's-fry and new potatoes, and
plenty of capital stout, and bottle of
Irish whisky and, after supper,
Annabel dashed off some jolly pieces on
the old rattle-trap piano and then l
got excited, and wanted to dance and
then mother sat down to the piano and
played to us, and Annabel and 1 waltzed
round the garden by the light of the
moon. o, it was delicious 1 never
spent such an evening in my life. When
the bells struck midnight, was walk
ing up and down that little garden with
Annabel on my arm, and positively l
was making love to her. That was the
beginning of it.
I'd always had the impression that 1
should marry we'll. All my friends had
told me SO. "Henry," they'd say,
"with your position and advantages
you ought to marry WE'LL" But here
was, thlrty-seven nearly, and no nearer
to 1T than when l started. I was be-
ginning to lose the hair on the top of
my head; I'd two false teeth; instead of
making my way in society, L was fast
losing the few friends I formerly had.
And then Annabel was delicious. Once
having made up my mind that 1 liked
the girl, l was soon convinced that it
was my duty as her god-parent to see
that she was nicely dressed, and + pur-
chased her lots of pretty things, for
which she was very grateful, and would
give me most sweet kisses. And as she
came often to see me on her fathers
business, the fellows at the Office began
to talk about her, and chatf me. And
Saunders, too, fell most desperately
spooney over her; and that decided me.
When L found Saunders was looking
after her, went in.
Her father called when 1 was in this
state of mind, and wanted to borrow
twenty pounds for particular purpose
"a purpose that would return the
money fifty-fold to him hereafter. 1
thought this good opportunity to
speak my mind. L told him that I
would lend him this sum for this one
occasion, as l had certain views with re-