Middletown transcript., 1878-03-23
Srlrtt Storp.
THE IMPUDENT FELLOW.
BY LAUREL.

BY LAUREL.
"They say that Ernest Norwood is
coming back here to live. How diff
erent he is from most Baltimoreans
He has made his hundred thousand by
city lots, an now says that lie has
enough, and longs for the quiet Of the
country
So spake one Old maid to another il
the hearing Of Lena Morgan, who was
concealed from them by a massive pill
lar and clinging ivy Of the old village
church.
Then the other answered, "But the
strangest thing about him is, that he
still thinks he must make love to that
poor penniless Lena Morgan, just be-
cause they had some childish clatter
together about love, when they were
at school.
"And such splendid matches, all
over-ready to jump at him." "And
she sick half the time, and hardly able
to keep herself and her old mother
decent"
"Oh, the baggage! There's my cous-
in Jerusha, has got almost as much
money as he has and she's fine, big
rosy-cheeked girl, and such good
housekeeper."
"And my niece, Huldah, that has
taught school ever 50 many years, and
has forgotten more than Lena will
ever know"
"But mercy, when it comes to that,
he must have seen ten thousand girls
in the city, that would suit him better
than her."
1T is nothing but obstinacyp
"Or he wants people to call him
that eccentric man"
Lena left the church, and started
for home witout further spiritual edii-
cation. Her cheeks were burning and
her ears buzzing.
Ernest, who had been standing out
side Of the church, waiting for the
opening Of the services, saw her walk
ing rapidly away. He followed. His
honest, loving heart was full Of tender
solicitude. She must be sick. How
could she keep her health in that
dreadful damp house? How he longed
to offer her a better shelter! But she
was 50 shy now-different from the
gay frolicsome girl to whom he had
plighted his boyish faith. He over
takes her.
Lena, are you ill?"
u feel very much indisposed, Er-
nest. Mother will soon set me straight" +"
Her face was burning.
"Why, you have a fever" said he.
"Let me feel your pulse"
He was long while doing this
neighborly act. AS far as be was con
cerned, it seemed to "be excellent "
She allowed the liberty very naively.
"You know" he said, q studied med
icine. Your pulse i very rapid-the
hand feverish
1T will be still more 50, if you hold
it thus much longer in the highway, z
and she pulled it way.
"How strangely you act You are
not the same fond Lena"
Il will try to be my own fond Lena. =
"Can't you belong to both Of Us
Why should we not hold hands in the
road 4? Everybody knows that we ar
ranged that matter long ago"
"Pshaw" and she shrugged her
shoulders. "Thst was child's play"
"Well, how shall / play the man to
suit your Must I 60 down on my
knees, in the dust Of the road, like
Don Quixote, when the three maids oi
Toboso came riding along on donkeys,
and humbly crave permission to ad-
dress your serenity, with . view to
matrimony?"
a twinkle Of her old merriment was
in her eyes, as she replied, 'FYou are
very amusing, Ernest, and very gay.
You can afford to be 50; you are sue
cessful.'
"Well, are you not to share my sue
cess?"
"Once for all, I tell you nol ]
have some pride, will not enter into
such one-sided arrangement. I should
wish to feel, when / walked beside my
husband, that we had come together
as equals, in every true sense"
"We are We are! Did you not ex
J ceed me in all our school-exercises
I used to be 50 proud to see my girl al
the head Of 90 many classes"