Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1878-07-10
A BIIghted Pleasure.


new bliss the other evening. That is
to say, he experienced that exquisite
feeling Of soothing content and ex-
hilarating serenity that makes itself at
home in the youthful breast when its
owner for the first time finds himself
bowing over a mai ble-top table, watch
ing the dancing light in pair Of eyes
brighter than hope. while the most be-
witchlng ofrosy lips wade into the ice
cream, and make the silliest nothings
the most precious gems Of speech.
That's the way 1t seemed to Billy. OF
course he will get over it before the
bleak trosts of autumn nip the potato
vines and make him chatter in his over
worn summer suit, as he wonders why
in cr-r-r-r-eation a woman wants to
make refrigerator Of herself all the
year round; but just at that time he was
undergoing an ecstatic flatter about the
heart that filled his soul with singing
birds and honeysuckles. The boy felt on
good terms with all the world, and
dide't worry about expenses. He
smiled as easy as geIng to sleep, and
said witty things without knowing it
till afterward. Oh, 1t was jolly. They
cooed and chatted and hah -hahed, and
then fell into confidential whispers, oc-
casionally looking IN the direction Of
another couple across the way, but
scarcely noticing them. Not so, how
ever, the other party. The man was
eying Billy with a wicked look, and
when at length he got up and started
fer the cashiers desk the man followed
and tapped him OH the shoulder.
See here, youngster,' he said, with a
thick breath, 4 want a word or two
with you privately. Come this way, if
yoH please and the stranger stepped
outside the dosr.
Billy was in fog, and a little scared
He didn't like the looks Of the fellow
and wondered what he could want with
him, but followed with some relutance.
See here, boy SAID the man, taking
firm hold on Billy's shoulder, L want
to know what sort Of remarks You was
making about my wife TO that gal IN
there. Tell me at onst, or III lar.
rup the ground with >ye! and the
stranger gave him look that made bis
marrow quiYer.
why, bless your life, sir said Billy
in a shaky voice, 1 never noticed your
wife, and dinn't say word about her.
didn't think of such a thing
That won't 60 down, little one. /
had an eye on you, and time and again
l saw you both look over eur way, an
then 60 giglin.' Was you MAXIM fun si
Mariar's clothes? l want to know and
the man gave him cruel shake.
L tell you, sir, 'pon honor, we didn't
once think of your wife. Maybe we
might have looked over that way, but
we didn't notice either enc Of you. We
were talking about something else all
the time, and laughing at our own talk.
Indeed We were. don't go about
making fun of people, sir-I was better
raised
We'll, hang me, if don't half believe
you, bub, an l axes yer pardon. Blow
me, though, if couldn't a'swore you
was passln' remarks about Maria's
clothes, an then titterin' about 1t to
the little schoolgirl ye. 1 know she's
not rugged up as gay as some women,
sonny, an she dou't fam on no great
sight o. style, but she's as good as the
best of 'em, an though she amt to say
purity, she knows how to keep the house
lookin' as neat as show windsr, an she
can make bushel Of pertaturs hold out
in hard times eq'al to anything that
wears calico, an that's what makes me
say, little one, that whoever undertakes
to have a gay time by pOkln' fun at her
when I'm around will wake up the worst
hornets nest he ever stumbled oyer.
Hews'msver, there's no harm done,
Johnny, an I'm mighty glad of it,
You're a bright little feller, an I'd
hate like sin to have to give ye a
thrashin' afsre the gal, which shsald
a'dene had things turned out the way L
thought they was. It's planned good
ieke, ain't it?' and the man laughed a
most aggrayating gufaw as he went
back to rejoin his wife. But Billy felt
bad and put out, and was nearly mad
enough to cry. 1t was too bad-just
when he was feeling so grand and i'm
portant-to have this great burly man
come along and call him 'bub,' and
sonny and crush him to earth by
talking about thrashing' in a voice
loud enough for the angel inside 10
hear every word. No wonder he was
glum and gloomy the rest of the evening
and made no witty speeches during the
promenade to bis charmer's home.
There will be ne gigglIng over the
ff1gid cream next time.
Another way IN which the phone
4. l..