The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1878-07-06
A Blighted Pleasure.

Billy Spoonaker enjoyed the taste o
a new bliss the other evening. That il
TO say, he experienced that exquisit,
feeling OF soothing content and exhil
arating serenity that makes itself a
home IN the youthful breast when il
owner for the first time finds himself
bowling over marble-top table, watch
ing the dancing light in pair of eye,
brighter than hope, while the most be
witching of rosy lips wade into the ice
cream, and make the silliest nothing,
the most precious gems of speech. That's
the way it seemed to Billy. OF course
he will get over it before the bleak
frosts of autumn nip the potatoe vines
and make him chatter in his over-worn
summer suit, rs he wonders why in
cr-r-r-r-eation woman wants to make o
refrigerator of herself all the year
round but just at that time he was UNI
d, rgoing an eestatic tlutter about the
heart that filled his soul with singing
eirds and honeysuckle. The boy felt ON
good terms with all the world, aud
didn't worry about expenses. He smiled
as easy as going to sleep, and said witty
things without knowing it till after
ward. Oh, it was jolly They cooed
and chatted and hah-hahed, and then fell
into confidential whi.pers, occasionally
looking in the direction of another
couple across the way, but scarcely no
ticing them.
Not SO, however, the other party.
The man was eying Billy with wicked
look, and when at length he rot up and
started for the cashiers desk the man
followed and tapped him on the shoulder.
See here, youngster, he said, with
a thick breath, :" want word or two
with you privately. Come this way, if
you please" and the stranger stepped
outside of the door.
Billy was in a fog, and little scared.
He didn't like the looks of the fellow,
and wondered what he could want with
him, but followed with some reluctance
See here, boy" said the man, taking
a firm hold on Billy's shoulder,
want to know what sort of remarks you
was making about my wife to that gal
in there. Tell me at onest, or I'll larrup
the ground with vel" and the stranger
gave him look that made his marrow
CULVER.
Ditrb yOhi lllt, cdlu Dlliy
in shaky voice, " never noticed your
wife, and didn't say word about her.
| didn't think of such a,thing."
That won't go down, little one.
had an eye on you, and time and again
| saw you both look over our way, an
then go to gigglin'. Was you maxim
fun of Mariar's clothes? | want to
know" and the man gave him a cruel
shake.
| tell you, sir, pom honor, we didn't
once think of your wife. Maybe we
might have looked over that way, but
we didn't notice either one of you. We
were talking about something else all
the time, and laughing at our own talk.
Indeed we we're. | don't go about max
ing fun of people, sir-I was better
raised"
We'll, bang me, if l don't half be-
lieve you, bub, an / axes yer pardon.
Blow me, though, if | couldn't aswore
you was passin' remarks about Marian s
clothes, an then titterin about it to
the little schoolgirl with ye. / know
she's not rugged up as gay as some wo-
men, sonny, an she don'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 IS d show winder,
an she kin 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 under
takes to have a gay time by pokin' fun
at her when Pm around will wake up
the worst hornets nest he ever STUN
bled over. Hows never, there's no harm
done, Johnny, an Pm mighty glad of it,
You're bright little Teller, an I'd hate
like sin to have to give we spankin'
afore the gal, which | should a'done
had things turned out the way thought
they was. It's blamed good joke, amt
it?" and the man laughed with most
aggravating guffaw 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 SC
grand and important-to have this great
burly man come along and call him
bub," and sonny" and crush him to
earth by talking about "spanking," in
voice loud enough for the angel in.
side to hear every word. No wonder he
was glum and gloomy the rest of the
evening, and made no witty speeches
during the promenade to his charmer''
home. There will be no giggling over
the frigid cream next time.