Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1878-08-23
NO. 1879.
Gales aud Sketehss.
An UNEXPECTED PUFF.
Confined from Yesterday,


| friendship was, to say the least. difficult
| Neither was quite sure OF the other, and
not to be met halfway would be iusult
| uncomfortable. They measured each other
cautiously. The pause was passing be-
yond awkwardness; 1t was growing dan
gerous.
| lou are looking In excellent health,
| Mr.. talbot, said Leslie, in the most lofty
voice, and extending his hand in SO con-
descending way that Talbot would have
given half he was woI th TO have been able
to strike II back, instead OF taking II like
| a sheepish schoolboy.
'Fll be even with you yet," he NUT
| tered, under his breath, as he seated him.
self at the other end of the parlor.
A freer air seemed to sweep through
the room. and desutory coversation be-
gan. that paragraphing of sentences 20
apt to come with momentary expectation
| OF summons.
At tea Nettie and Will were side bv side.
The young mans bliss was alloyed. how
ever, by the other hand. entirely monopo-
lized her. Nearly opposite sat the two
fathers, separated from each other b1
three or four people. Both were watchinx
the pair, but in very different frames Of
| mind.
1diuol WAS ulSuIy Guinea. What
| a sensible girl Nette was to turn the cold
shoulder upon Leslie. Quite chip of the
| old block, the pretty daughter OF his. He
chuckled inwardIy as he detected a look
of chagrin on Wills face. This was an
unexpected pleasure. His cup of enjoy
ment would be perfectly favored if only
| his enemy saw the by-play. And Talbot,
tancying that he did see it, felt this to be
a very comfortable world. whatever might
be SAID against il by the other side.
Will Leslie was very conscious that irri-
| tation was underlying his fathers gentle
| manly calmness. He fancied it against
| himself, but felt sure OF learning on the
| way home
Gossip was busy that evening. Under
her auspices the farms were ranged over,
| the corn stacked, the hay crops estimated,
the stock appraised. the pecuniary re-
sources and domestic life of several Of the
unfortunate absentees discussed.
Then, home news and foreign news get
ting little threadbare, Mrs Wilbur pro-
posed game. The takers finished up
their sentences on the run, or left excel
lent things unsaid in their haste to second
the proposal.
What should it be? Proverbs" was
unknown at Armsley. Nobody had then
heard OF Twenty Questions !" Scandal"
was no game there, but quite thing of
earnest.
"How would it do to play BLOW Out
the Lamp ?" tmidly suggested little Miss
Gilbert. the dress-maker. "A lamp, you
| know. is put on the table. and you have
to find 1t and blow 1t out blindfoldsd."
Capital, Eliza" cried Mrs. Wilbur.
kitty !" to her little daughter, "run and
hi. sNE, 4 m
the mantel-piece in the best chamber"
Kitty flew to obey. while the younger
members OF the party. scarcely less eager
than she, began to explain to some Of
| their elders this unfamiliar or forgotten
game.
Everybody was to make the attempt In
turn. 1t was voted only fair that the
laughedat should have An opportunity TO
laugh.
Will Leslie quely arranged that Nettie
should be bandage fastener.
1t was irresistibly droll to see grave
faced men and sedate women led half
| shrinking to the table, their hands placed
upon the candlestick, themselves told to
go backwards three steps, revolve three
| times. take three steps forward, and in
| three putfs OF breath blow out the candle.
The turnngs, the wandering. unsteady
steps, the absurd places vainly breathed
upon, ELECTED peals OF laughter. viii
Leslie was among the first to try his fort
une. He succeeded no better than the
others. Then Nettie soon grew tired Of
her office. and gave place to the hostess.
Thus far Mr.. Talbot alone had been
happy enough to extinguish the light,
and ut his first attempt. 1t WAS, doubt
less. very childish thing that he should
have enjoyed the applause so much as he
did, or have watched with such interest
for bis enemy's turn to come, that he
should have tet as if be could almost for
give this man his misdemeanors should
he only fall here.
Mr.. Leslie with an air of dignity ap-
preached the table.
Mr.. Talbot inwardly chuckled. 1t would
require absolute success to support that
style.
| Mrs. Wilbur, folding the handkerchief
with great care bound 1t over his eyes.
| Aud now You can't see at all, MIR. Les
lie P she questioned.
Not at all, madam, not glmmer
reaches me-"
"All Iignt. then; here it is,' bringing
his tumblIng fingers into contact with the
candlestick. Now remember. three steps
backward, ETC."
An unbroken silence reigned. It was q
requisite OF the game that nobody should
speak. lest the voice guide the blinded
| seeker.
To do Mr.. Leslie justice, he represented
neither his morality nor his politics by the
| line OF his steps, which was wofully zig
gag. Nor did he exhibit that capacity for
swinging round the circle possessed IN so
remarkable "a degree by some Of our poll
ticians; for at every endeavor he stopped
short OF his destination. SO that after the
third turn he started off in a direction op-
posIte the light.
Mr.. Talbot, sitting breathless and bright
eyed, saw his enemy approaching him
with cautious steps. He had never before
been considered luminary. and although
a desire to extinguish him might be NAT.
ural under the circumstances, still. having
a very keen sense OF the ludicrous, IL was
infinitely amusing to him.
Where would this groper stop9
CONCLUDED on fourth psgs.I