The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1876-12-16

kind words " responded Polly, giving mel
father another hearty kiss as she un-
wound the wooden comforter encirelinI
g his neck. Then, after pause, she asked:
70 "Does not that make ninety pounds you
have paid?
ayes, ninety pounds. Its good deal,
amt Il! All saved, too by you and me
20 Polly"
10 father, / don't do much to il. II
you weren't to deprive yourself Of com.
forts, why, we shouldn't have paid of
2 twenty oft"
J. "Don't say that, Polly. II II was not
]. for your earnings, how could put my
wages into the savings bank, as do
! nearly every month"
q "Well, daddy dear, you know i!s only
you I've got TO live for" said the girl
archiY. -.
"What's that you s9yr replied old
i Abel, highly pleased with his daughters
remark, but determined not to be hood
winked. allow about Tom SMITH Dye
mean to say you don't care Tor him "
Hush! Do1t speak 80 loud"
9 Polly blushed, and looked hall fright
| encd toward that corner OF the room
! where the big bureau cast its shadow.
why, there's nobody can hear"
YES, father, the children might; and
children sometimes make q lot Of mis-
ehiei," observed that little wlseacre,
Polly. Then, with desperate intention
OF changing the subject, she said you
must have a great.coat this winter, or
you are sure TO have the rheumatcs, as
you had EN- last year. Oh, l saw
beauty In the Horseierry road, Tonight
so thick, with nice, warm lining inside,
and the price only eighteen shillings.
Secondhand, OF course, but almost rs
good as new"
"oh, l think can do without i, this
year. Leta save the eighteen shillings,
and send 1t to Mr.. Baker, junior
mo, l sha'nt allow anything Of the
sort I'm just as anxious as you are to
pay our debts, but I'd rather work my
fingers to the bones than that you should
suffer another year as you did last"
"And too" added strong; manly
voice, which seemed to issue from Mr..
Webb's sleepingplaee.
Polly gave a shrek, then burst into a
ringing laugh thatseemed to fill the room
with joyous harmony, like the sound Of
bells upon a frosty night; and Abel,
turning suddenly in his chair, saw tae
buriy form OF Tom Smith emerge from
the dusky corner.
"Hallo, Ton" shouted Abel. $50
you've been listening. Well, luckily, you
ain't heard no secrets. l suppose you are
one OF those children that makes mis-.
chief, "a Polly says"
This retaliation upon his daughter
struck Webb as such an extraordinary
masterpiece Of witticism that he fairly
roared with laughter. By and by, Tom
Smith roared, too; and when he had had
his laugh out finding that Abels atten-
tion was still engrossed by the wondrous
joke, seiSed the opportunity to throw his
arms around Pollys waist, at which the
damSel, who did not like being laughed
at, told the devoted lover to "a.done, and
not be so silly"
"Well, what brings you here| In
quired Abel, whose laugh had now sub.
sided into giggle, and winking at his
young friend. l.
"Why, father, he saw me home, and
brought the cucumber for a present"
"My stars, that's beauty! Pm much
obliged to you, Tom, for there's nothing
I like better. Some people say cowcum.
bers amt good, that you ought to peel
'em nicely, and then fling 'em out OF the
window; but taken with little Of the
rind on, bit OF ingun, aud lots OF pep.
per, don't think there's much harm In
en-leastways they don't harm me-"
And apparently cucumbcrs were thor
oughly innocuous 10 Mr.. Webb, who
speedily drew his chair up 10 the table,
and began to ply his knife and fork with
will.
Mr.. Tom Smith considerably waited
until his old friend had completed his
repast, snd then explained the object OF
his visit.
"You know, Mr.. Webb, Polly and I
have been counting a long time, nigh
upon eighteen months, and we're begin.
ming TO think-that Is, Pm beginning to
think" (this alteration in response to
protest from Polly-"its time we got
married. don't like TO see her wearing
her young life out in our hot work.roomS.
Ny salary, as you know, is at present
ESQ year, and | live on the premises.
Now think II were to toll Loostring
tho facts OF the case, and that | wanted
10 live away, he'd give me ESQ. Now
amt that enough to get married on, and
have you any objection TO Folly and
being married Mt once?
Here Tom Smith paused, not because
he had exhausted his subject, but for the
reason that he was out OF breath: Then
Polly took up the parable. Sliding her
stool to her fathers side and resting her
head upon his knee, she said tremblingly:
"Don't think, daddy, dear, that my be-
ing married will make any difference to
you and me, for you are to come and live
with US; eh, Tom"
Mr.. Smith thus appealed TO, vowed
that his father.in.law's residence with !
them was considered quite a settled mat.
ter. AZ In truth It was. A tear stood In 1
old Abela eve. and his voice uuiyered Q
with emotion as, laying aside his pipe '
and taking his daughters hand lovingly 8
within his own. he said: 4
ITom Smith. | know YOU to be true b
and honest fellow. There il no man up. !
on the face OF this earth / would more .
desire 10 cali nv son.in-law; but before | C
a