Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1875-12-24
A Co uFtshtp as Il Wasn't.

Prom "Gaoriel Conrou," Bert Harte's Noret. IL,
Scribner's for December
Oily had drawn a small box her fayorfte
seat, between her brothers legs. aud restei
me back Of her head comfortably against
his waistcoat- When Gabriel had lighted
his pipe at the solitary candle he gave one
or TWO preliminary puffs, and then, takin z
ms pipe from his mouth, said gently: "Olly,
IL can't be DONE"
!" What can't be done. Gabeq" queried the
artful Oily, with swift preconceptiou OF the
answer, expanding her little mouth into a
thoughtful smile.
THAT thing"
"What thing, Gabe?,
"This yer marryin' o. Mrs. MarkIe," said
Gabriel, with an assumption of easy busi-
ness-like indifference.
why 2" asked Oily.
"She wouldn't hev We"
What" said Oily, facing swiftly around
Gabriel evaded his sisters eyes, and. look
ing in the fire, repeated slowly, bur with
great firmness: "No; not fur -fur-fur gift!''
"She's mean, stuck up, hOrrid old thing,''
said oily fercely. I'D just like to-why.
Gaber Like her impudence?
Gabriel waved his pipe in the Air deprecat-
lngiy, yet with such an evident air OF cheer
ful resignation, that Oily faced upon hi II,
again snspiciously, and asked: What did
"she said, )" replied Gabe slowly, .thet her
heart~wasLgiven-to another. l think she
struck into poetry, and said
"'My heart 1t is anOther's.
And 1t never can be thine
cial remark, Oily; but you know wimen
alters spout poetry at seech times Emmy.
how that's about the way the thing panned
out"
"Who was it?" said Oily suddenly.
"She Didn't let on who" said Gabriel I'M
easily. II didn't think il the square thing
WELL said Oily.
Gabriel looked down still more emhar
raised and shifted his position. "Well?" he
What did you say?" said Oily.
mo, afore. How did you do il. Gabe?"
said oily, comfortably fixing her chin In her
"Oh, the usual way" said Gabriel, with a
motion of his pipe, to indicate vague and
glittering generalities of courtship.
"But how? Gabe, tell me all about It,"
"Well," said Gabriel, looking up at the
roof, "wimen is bashful ez a general thing,
and thars about only one way ez a man can
get at 'em, and that eZ, by being kinder keer-
less and bold. Ye see, Oily. when KEN inter
the house, 1 sorter jest chuckled Sal under
the chin-that way, you know-and then
der's waist, and kissed her two or three
familiar like"
"And TO think. Gabe. tibet after all she
wouldn't hev ye," said Oily.
Not at any price," said Gabriel posi-
lively.
like TO ketch that Manly hangin' round yer
after that!' she continued savagely. with a
vicious shake Of her little fist. HAnd lust to
think, only today, we give her her pick o.
them pups!''
"Hush, Oily, We mustn't do anything o. the
Sort" said Gabriel hastily. Eye must never
let on to any one anything. It's confidence,
Olly-cOnhdence, ez these sort o. things alIus
ts-atween you and me. Besides" he went
on reassuringly, CHATS nothin'. Lord,
afOre mans married, he haz TO 60 through
this kind O. thing dozen times. It's eX-
pected. There was man as i once kuowed"
continued Gabriel, with shameless mendaci-
ty, "ez went through ii 80 times, and he was
better man nor me, and cOuld shake 81 900
in the face of any woman. Why, bless your
eyes, Oily, some men just like tits eX-
eitement-like pprepectin'.n