Sharp County record., 1878-07-26

thought of having her cOnnheu 10 hel
chamber by some imaginary indiSposl-
ton, but then it is doubtful If the little
girl would have acquiesced without a
great deal of fuss, and moreover II
might be considered indiscreet to have
no third person present. So she made
ND her mind to make the best OF 1t and
do what she could to insure silence and
correct conduct on the part OF the sen
tant terrible " ,.
Mr.. Worthington arrived about half
past four. His nose certainly was a long.
one. Speaking within bounds it was
about so per cent. longer than noses IN
general, and being very thin besides,
its length was the more prominent and
remarkable. As soon as he entered the
room, Celestina Maria, as if fascinated,
fixed her eyes upon the remarkable or
gan. Perhaps Mr.. WOrthington telt
the gaze, for he raised his handkerchief
three or four times, oStensibly to wipe
his face, but really to conceal his nose
temporarily, or so Mrs. Wilkins
thought
"Drat the child" she said to herself,
81 wish she would have the sense to
look somewhere else than at Mr..
Worthington'S nose. She is the most
peryerse child"
1t would not be interesting to narrate
the conversation, commencing with the
state of the weather, which passed be-
tween the widow and her guest during
the first half hour. At 8 O'Clock
the widow, feeling solicitOuS about
the supper, left the room to give direc-
tions about it, fearing the servant might
not quite understand what was re-
quired. With some misgivings she left
Celestina Maria to entertain her visitor,
That young lady, not being bashful,
edged up to. the bachelor, who, feeling
less difident with a lady of nine than Of
thirty-nine, invited her to a place on
his knee. This she readily took.
"What is your name, my dear"' he
asked.
"Celestina Maria" ." was the reply.
"And how old are yOu?"
"Nine years old. How old are you"
"Ahem!" coughed the bachelor.
=" Why do you ask?"
"iCause | wanted to know whether
you are as old as my ma. She's forty
three, but she tells people she's thirty
three. What makes her do that? |
want to be older so | can be great big
woman, and do as please"
Here was a revelation which would
have made the Widows hair stand on
end if she had only heard it. But for
tunately for her peace of mind she was
engaged with hospitable duties, and
unconscious Of Celestina's remarks.
"Do you go to school?" asked the
bachelor.
"Yes, but I don't want to. l hate
studying"
You ought not to do that. You
wouldn't want to grow up ignorant,
would you?"
"Couldn't I get married if l was ig-
norant?" asked CeleStina Maria.
"Aheml" coughed the bachelor, "you
are too young to think of that
care you married?" asked the child
suddenly.
NO said Mir. WOrthington, some
what embarrassed.
"Well, that's funny. You're old
enough to be, anyhow"
81 will wait for you, my dear"
81 wouldn't want to marry you"
Wouldn't you? Why nOt?"
"No, you're too Old"
eyes, l am too old to marry, my
dear"
81 don't know" said Celestina Ma
ria, Il guess mother would marry YOU"
Mr.. Worthington blushed crimson,and
the blood settled at the end of his nose
which didn't improve his appearance.
"You shouldn't talk SO, my DEAR"
he said. "Your mother wouldn't like
to have you"
81 didn't think" said Celestina.
"But you needn't tell, you know"
"No, | won't"
GLOW many teeth have you got?n in
qulred the lncorrlglbIe child after a
slight pause.
81 don't know, l never counted.
How many have you?"
about 20 OF 50; but mine don't
look as nice rs ma's.n
Your ma has very pretty teeth" :
"Yes, she ought to have" 4
&C Why do VOu say thatPD
"Cause she paid enough for 'em.
Didn't you know she bought 'em from
the dentist, and paid an awful lot of
money for 'em. l wish they didn't cost
SO much; for ma said she couldn't buy
me a new cloak this winter, cause she
had to pay so much for her teeth" n.
"Really," thought Mr.. Worthington
- a perspiration, "this terrible child is
Ikely to reveal to me all her mothers
secrets. wish her mother'd come in
[ don't feel right listening to all she
I L : IL. { .