Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1878-02-26

and Maud and / might have been seen
pensively seated on one of the benches
in the grounds. watching the lively pan
Drama as it passed. / am not remarkable
as talker. and for some time had been
silent-the silence OF rapture.
Il do declare you are the dryest person
ever met, exclaimed this beautiful girl,
suddenly and petulantly. Il shall never
call you anything but Cousin Drybone
again as long as live. You haven't
said nothing for an hourp
My dear Maud. you will excuse me, l
am sure; bnt must recall 10 your mind
an old rule in !he English grammar which
declares that two negatives make an
affirmative. Occasionally | observe you
are little careless OF the proper forms
OF speech, and mistakes OF that kind
CRATE on the ears of educated people like
false notes 10 music
'Humph' she replied, turning upon
me rather luridly; you are very polite,
must say
Maud, broke out, unable to restrain
myself any longer, overcome by the
: splendor OF those eyes, my darling, l
love you! My beautiful darling, | can
suffer in silence no longer. Behold me
at your feet-haye mercyr
What in,the name OF common sense.
do you mean p
4 mean that adore you viii you be
my wiler
She burst out laughing. We'll, |
thought something was the matter with
you; but this amt no place for love
makiug-people are looking at us. Let
US 20 aud look at the machinery, or
something
opposed this eloquently, but pleading
was in vain, and Us fate would have it,
further discussion OF the subject OF my
heart was prevented by the appearance
OF some OF our friends.
That evening, going home, bought a
newspaper and read the following:
The case OF Thomas Burlington VS..
Macintosh ct al, in which the famous
Stony Point property is involved, was de-
cided to-day in favor of the plaintiff
could hardly realize i'll was worth
fifty thousand dollarsl'
A little later | received a telegram
from Blodgers. saying he desired to see
me at once. had but half an hour to
catch the train, so packed up instantly.
There was no opportunity to bid Maud a
private farewell; but cut out the item
from the paper announcing my good luck,
slipped 1t into her fair hand, and bale her
read it carelally. ielt satisfied she
would decide Immediately after It's peru
sal that fate had designed Us from the
beginning Tor man and wife.
Three DAYS after had lie. Philadelphia,
/ / received letter from Maud, which
hasiened to open. Ii began: Dear
Cousin Tommy. have carefully consid-
cred your aatteriug proposal, and have
tried to think OF it iavorably, but without
avail turned faint. The wording OF
the note was exactly like that had in-
tended for Mackintosh-the very same
thing, indeed. from beginning 10 end.
only most of the spelling was wrong.
Accompanying the missive was an in-
vitation TO Maud's wedding with the
rufliap Macintosh.
| determined to attend it and did at
tend it. / witnessed all with the utmost
outward cslmness; but under this ex-
terror was an agitstion which l can only
compare to that OF Niagara. After the
ceremony and at the reception, which
Maud held in her travelling dress, Mack
intosh took me aside and said:
i consider your appearance here in
very bad taste after your insult to my
wife
What insult, rH
why. this scrap of paper, sir y said
Macintosh, savagely.
He handed me the scrap. | examined
it closely. On one side was the item
about the judgment of the court respect
ing the Stony Point property. On the
other. which. also, had not before no.
ticed, was the following advertisement: :
Persons whose educations have been
neglected, and who need instruction in
grammar, ,orthography, etc, may procure
a tutor by addressing note to 'Synta1,
Ledger office. The use OF false grammar
in good society invariably subjects the
offender to sueers and laughter, and is
accepted as mark of ignorance and
vulgarity.'
Perfectly confounded. attempted an
explanation; but Macintosh raising his
finger threateningly, said:
Now, ,sir, don't you ever dare to address
me or my wife again as long as you
liver and he strobe of. So ended my
Centennial romance of three weeks
duration. l have registered an oath
never to visit the City of Brotherly Love
and cousinly hate again.
-"My wife tells the truth three times