The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1878-05-18
BESSIE,S LITTLE BLACK BOW.


"NO, GEORGE, not under any cir
cumstances. Don't speak or think OF
it again"
81 suppose you're quite sure of the
old boys money, and So
IF | were a man, George, | should
hit YOU" and the tiny white hand
crumples itself up in such a delicious
little caricature of a fist as it would
be quite luxury to be pummeled by.
.' But then," she continues, philosoph-
ically, {" if was a man, you wouidn'
dare say such things"
eff you were Il man, don't suppose
/ should want to marry you"
"You don't want to marry me now,
George. Not one bit"
Don't 1, though! Want it awfully.
Now, look here. Pom my SOUL"
"You want nothing of the kind. You
want to marry Uncle Ralph's money;
and how you can come talking of such
things, with him, poor man, lying dead
upstairs, can't think"
go bother! Besides You know
it is Just what he wanted"
"Pm sorry for it. Though don't
suppose it matters much now"
"Ah, but it does, though. Now look
here, Bessie. Once more"
"Once and for all, George-No."
"Oh, very well, then I'm off. Good
by. You won't see me again for time,
Bessie"
You'll be here for-for the funeral,
of course?"
Funeral be hanged!'
"Georgen'
80 yes, George! | dare say. Shock
ing, isn't it? No, thank you, ma am.
| had quite enough to bother with the
old bear when he was alive. suppose
l must come to hear the will read, all
the same
to the other, You were the only one OF
Uncle Ralph's relations he
"Was ever decently civil to? More
shame for him. And it wasn't easy
work, either, can tell you. But it's
all over now, thank goodness! and il
the old boy has only done the right
thing, why-I say, now, Bessie, just
think it over once more. Hallor'
Which latter exclamation means that
the speaker who, during the former
portion of his speech, has been stand
ing sullenly over the fire, kicking with
the heel of his shooting at the big
Jumps of coal piled up in quite novel
profusion in the dead miser's parloI
CRATE, has in his closing appeal turned
round to face the person addressed.
Thereby discovering that that highly
disguised little person has quietly taken
measures for putting a stop to this dis
tasteful discussion-has, in short, gath
cred up her work and retreated from
the field.
George springs after her. But on the
very threshold of the parlor door he
finds himself face to face with another
member of the bereaved household,
and pulls up with remarkable abrupt
ness.
1t may possibly be taken for granted
that Mr.. George Norton is more or less
familiar with that particularly wise saw
which, in homely but forcible language,
points out the ACCESSIBILITY of being
.off with the old love before YOU are
on with the new" But if so, he most
certainly considered that in this one
particular instance the wisdom of our
ancestors was at fault With Miss Julia
Collette, the handsome daughter OF
dead Rail- phi Netherston's ancient harri-
dan of housekeeper, and prime favor
lite for at least three or four days in
every week of the defunct miser him.
self, George has been in love, or has so
assured her, for good many years
past. Next to his own prospect of the
inheritance there can be, he thinks,
none more hopeful than that of Miss
Julia Collette. Miss Julia Collette be-
ing equally of opinion that, next to her
own chance, there is none so hopeful
as his, the engagement has commended
itself equally to the highest feelings OF
both. 1t was not to be prematurely
broken off merely because one of the
parties had found it desirable to Sc
cure, if possible, second string to his
bow.
So George Norton and Julia Collette
return together into the parlor, through
the closed door of which comes for some
minutes the sound of pretty high words.
They calm down, however, gradually,
and by and by George reappears, filings
his hat iauntily on one side of his head,
sticks his thumbs into the armholes Of
his waistcoat, and swaggers out into
the street, whistling cheerily.
Old Mrs. Collette, hearing subsequent.
ly from her dutiful daughter the sub.
stance of the interview, opines-and
sees no reason for concealing her opin
ion-that her dutiful daughter has beer
fool.
"Don't you be a fool yourself
mother" is the dutiful daughters re
ply. There wasn't no witnesses, was
there? Very well, then"