The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1877-11-22

store with yard-stick in my hand, I'd
I'D dance the tight rope" Ben SEEM
ed to think he was uttering a heroic
and put on his most virtuous
look "But bet I know what you like
merchants for"
Lute's only response was to purse up
her lips and elevate her chin.
cts because Dick Spurr's in store.
What you can see to like in that little
whipper-snapper is mystery to me.
His beard amt one-tenth as long as
Cousin Reuben's." Ben valued men
according to the abundance of their
boards.
"Yonder comes Reuben now," said
grandpa, looking up from his paper.
"And yonr everlasting Dick Spur
with him. II was that fellow, 1 d take
up my board here at once. 1t would be
more decent than spending half his time
here free gratis for nothing"
The two gentlemen came up to the
steps as the candid Benjamin finished
his remark. Cousin Reuben was tall
and reserved-looking. Mr.. Spur was
small and talkative. Both were mod,
erately good-looking.
"Good- evening, Miss Lutte good
evening, Mr.. Farra," cried Mr.. Spur,
in his sprightliest manner. GLOW are
you, Ben? How is your cold Miss
Lutte ?"
"Oh, my cold don't amount to any
thing" said Miss Lutte, smiling in his
face, and making room for him on the
seat beside her. "You all make a
mountain out of mole-hill. You are
determined to have me an invalid"
cts because we love you 80 much, +"
said Mr.. Spur, in tender under-tone,
and pulling his mustache with senti
mental air. Mr.. Spur was much given
to tugging at his mustache, which was
weak and whitish- looking. Ben said he
pulled it to make it grow fast but so
far his efforts had not been crowned
with success.
Lute's only reply was another danger
GUS smile.
Cousin Reuben, who had seated HIM
self off at some distance, now looked up
and said gravley: "You have very
bad cold. You are quite hoarse this
evening. You must let me mix you some
medicine before you go to bed"
" Thanks, no" returned Lutte, coolly.
81 prefer bad cold--to something
worse"
"You needn't fear my giving you dis
agreeable medicine" he said, smiling.
" L wasn't alluding to any bad taste
in your medicine; was thinking of the
effects of it; it might make me worse off
than I am now," she said, looking stu
diously away from him, and whistling q
little under her breath.
He looked at her i'll surprise rs lie
caught the sting of her remark, and his
dark face Redeemed, but he answered,
| quietly, "You will do as you please; I
press my services ON no one"
Grandpa had fallen into one of his
reveries, and had heard nothing that
passed. Mr.. Spur was too we'll bred to
show any surprise at this little passage
of arms; but Ben wasn't. He stared at
his sister for while in markedly as,
tonished and indignant manner, and
then said, in good strong English,
"Lute, you're brute, and deserve q
good whipping" With that, young
Master Farra went his way in disgust.
"Ahem it's a very delightful eve-
ning," observed Mr.. Spur, anxious to
change the subject, and saying the first
thing that popped into his head. "Do
you like the spring, Miss Lutte %
81 do" responded Miss Lutte, taking
her eyes from the tree at which she had
been looking and dropping them on him.
"Likewise summer, autumn and winter
Il like 'em all"
"Most ladies like spring." said Mr..
Spur, gallantly. "'Tis the season OF
flowers, and budding leaves and
and"
Fresh onions and green peas" SAID
Lutte, laughing. "It's a good time fol
fishing, too. Do you ever go fishing
Mr.. Spur Tn devoted to it."
"N-no; I'm not especially attached
to it. I believe Reuben there is. Arent
you, doctor?
eyes, like to fish when I have the
time for it, which never do" replied
the doctor, coming out of q brown-study
"Not that 1 have such an immenst
practice" he continued, hastily, seeing
slight curl on Lute's lips; "but wha
leisure 1 have, I think ought to devot.
to study"
81 wonder you are not studying
now," said Mr.. Spur. 81 never saw
such an old book-worm as he is, Mis-
Lutte. He looks as if he grudges
stopping study to talk to me when L dror
in to see him." The doctor drew hi
long beard up over his lips to hide tn,
smile on them. "Ill be bound. now
he doesn't waste much of his precious
conversation on you all here"
"We rarely see him except at meals,
replied Lutte, indifferently. 81 fee
like taking a walk. Would you like +,
60, Mr.. Spur ?"
~ should be delighted" responded
that gentleman, gallantly, twirling hi
mustache. "You had better put some
thing around you, Miss Lutte
Bring me my shawl out of the hall
then," said Miss Lutte, rising and shak
ing out her draperies. "Grandpa, yol
had better go in now; it is getting COO
"Child, you oughtn't to go out thi
late in the evening"" said grandpa
anxiously. "Reuben, it is too cool TO
her to go out, is it not ?"
"Cousin Lutte thinks she knows wha
is best for her." said the doctor, dis
family.
I'm going to wrap up we'll, grand
pa, said Lutte, taking the shawl
fieecy white thing-from Mr.. Spur
hand, and arranging it around her be
oomingly. Please let me go;" an,
she kissed and hung around him in
way that came near making Richar
Spur crazy.
"Well, go along, then, said grandpa
looking at her fondly. 81 don't Sc
why she lets that young Spur go wit
her 30 much," he continued, as the,
walked off arm in arm. "I hope sh
won't fall in love with him."