Smyrna times., 1875-07-07
gave utterancc to her favoritc ejaculation

little rounded lips of hers were pressed |
together until they appeared quite thin,
and then there came morning when she |
sat over her breakfast reading cutting from
the Timcs of the previous day, which some
anonymous friend had clipped out, enclosed |
in an envelope, and directed to her.
" Who's your letter from ?" said Smith sud
denly. 81 don't know" was the quiet
reply. "Don't know? Why, what's that
bit of printed paper?'' ats a piece of
police news, and the account of one Harry
Stubblcs, whose name was afterwards found
to be Charles Smith, of the Temple, being
drunk and riotous, and assaulting the
police" "Good gracious!'' calculated
Smith. But l won't stand it. Now, isn't
it too bad? But III have an action against
him. against whom?' said Smiths
wife, quietly. Against whom? Why
Stubbles. To add to all the other annoy
ances he has given me by taking my name.
But, thank goodness, there is law i'll the
land-a scoundrel = " But you did not
come home the night before last, Charley"
as I am just now? But believe next that
you viii really think am the man meant
there" he added, in injured tones. "Such
abominable falsehoods when was detained
as | was, and glad to get nap on sofa.
ooh T. said Mrs. Smith, quietly, and no
more was said. Half an hour after, look
ing exceedingly blank, the master Of the
house took his departure.
y week elapsed and there came an even
ing when a couple of friends dropped in at
Smiths chambers to announce that TOmp-
lIins gave his " call supper that night, and
they brought an invitation. "Can't go in
deed, said Smith ~ haven't spent an
evening home this week" "Never, mind, :
saws one. "What does that matter? Stop
at home every night next week to make
up for it," "Really, rather not" said
Smith. "But Tompkins, you know such
. good sort of a fellow" said the other
"Good, indeedr said Smith, fercely, as he
blew out his checks. Ran off like cul
that night of the row, and left me in the
lurch" "Well, really" said the frs
speaker, " | think we were rather shabby
to you that night, but we showed up wei
next morning" "Ycs, and one of you lc
out my name to the police "Ah! tina
was that noodle Duffey we could not fore
see that" "Nice mess it made" sale
Smith, who seemed very sore upon tn
f. point. "Some one, too, was kind enough
| to send my wife the police report-a beast.
/ = How did you get out of it, Smifiy?
;. Said it was some one else exactly like me,
c said Smith, with grin at his own astuteness
u But would Mrs. Smith believe that
g Eyes, of course said Smith. And, yielC
ing to a little more pressure, he accom-
o panied his friends to Tompkins', wher
if Prosser his oysters, Guinness his stou
= and the whisky of Kinahan tended
If what was on all hands declared to be til
IL iolliest evening ever spent. There VIZ
st great disgust evinced though, when, abol
r eleven o'clock, Smith rose, made a shO
n speech of thickly-uttered words, all joine
n together, and then, in spite of all remol
f. STRANGE, went rather unsteadily out on
e. the landing, closed the door lettered N
r. Tompkins," stood listening for a few IN
n ments to the singing of chorus, al
|! lastly put on his hat very far back ov
r. his ears, smiled, and gave it tilt forwal
3. over his eyes. when it fell with an echoii
at bang upon the floor, causing its owner Il
ne most thorough satisfaction, for he stoC
4 4 o4 hoa fOvso n fovv
before making dab at it, and nearly ovC
at balancing himself; but the balustra
1f. Offering him something to hold on by,
h recovered his hat and then himself, al
L.. contriyed to reach the bottom of the sto
ila stairs in safety. The porter winked to hi
pc self as he saw Smith walk in an intense
W straight line out into Fleet street, and
al hansom cabby, who drove him to t
nt Metropolitan Station in Farringdon sire
fuI charged him halfa-crOwn, which was pi
i, without a word and then Smith, as if
,be instinct, made his way down, took
70 place in the carriage, went fast asleep, VIC
DIv up at his own station, and then walk
~. straighter than ever to Bolingbroke 70
/, ~ tellln1 OlHlSeu lOuT IlIllcS OFtI tlldC Io
a., " all right" and then, as if i'll doubt of
~. assertion, repeating it again. lie was |
- '',' fectly ober-perfectly-he asserted as W
'-'l and fit for the company Of any lady in
d, land: and this assertion made, he ST
- still, looked up at lamp, and laughed
~ IL heartily. "Double burners-grea'-
provement,' said Smith, as he went on,
81 only to stop and smile at the next la
ona post
this "Like me to see you home, sir?' sal
like. policeman, who had been following hin
Mt the last few minutes, fortunately for 81
rs ?" two rather heavy-looking men also
hen ing had their by no means pleasing
mis- upon him. "You're impdont scound
II Take you number and report you toll
In, row. said Smith, thickly. "No, w
q l. you're jolly good fer, and heresh Skip
ro.. drink my health "Thanky, sir"
hod the policeman, pocketing halfa-sover'
ha1f and then, walking a short distance be
;ts donor. he saw him safely to the doc