The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1879-04-10
ad / am to see you'll May kiss

glad am 10 see you! May kiss
your
"Well, 1 suppose so," said Miss
Croker, casting down her eyelids, and
MIR. Pendergrast took advantage of this
fact to take better look while making
his salute.
She was scraggy. There was 70 doubt
about that. Her nose had developed
marvelously, and she looked fully ten
years older than her actual age. So
much had he been led to expect, but
she did not look amiable. Suppose that
she had become a vixeni He had
heard of such changes. The American
humorists' various versions of in
felicitous domestic scenes thronged to
his mind, and he smothered groan.
:" 1 should think you would have for
gotten me-" said Miss Croker.
ESQ ( should if you hadn't announced
yourself" was his mental conclusion.
Aloud he said, "Not at all. Your
features are quite familiar. haven't
forgotten your eyes, my-ahem! my
dear. Let me see them again."
He entered upon brief business-like
account of his affairs and future pros
poets, but rejecting that it might be in
better taste to reserve this for the lady's
father, broke Off suddenly, taking up
the former thread of conversation.
Forgotten you? Why, no. Ger
tainly not; but you mustn't suppose my
former acquaintance has all to do with
my admiration."'
He was getting embarrassed, and felt
that something must be done to break
the terrible stiffness of the interview.
| He made heroic effort.
"Suppose," he said, playfully, "that
we begin anew. Miss Croker, have
fallen head and ears in love with you.
1 offer you my hand and heart. Will
you accept them?"
"You've taken me SO by SURPRISE"
squealed Miss Croker, and then laughed
shrilly.
Mr.. Pendergrast could not but recall
certain jolly, roguish laugh, once
familiar to his ears, with a certain
melancholy, but the bit tof acting tickled
him nightly. She had not lost her
spirit in all the long years of spinster
life, and he gave her a kiss which was
mere spontaneous than its predecessor.
"I don't know that l ought to say
yes, hesltated she.
"Give me the benefit of the doubt,
then" pleaded he, and he took from his
pocketbook ring which had been pro-
cured from jewelers. many weeks be-
fore, and held it suspended. She made
no response. He lifted her hand.
Don't" said she, with well-affected
coyness.
"But WILL" persisted he.
81 think must 60 now," said Miss
Croker, with blush. had quite for
gotten what came for"
"To tell me where you are living, of
course. interrupted Mr.. Pendergrast.
"Well, yes, Mr.. Pendergrast. You
must excuse me for speaking, but you
know our circumstances are unusual.
You do really like me a littlef"
"What charming modestylp
"And no one else has any claim on
you-no lady, meant"
"My dearp
"Well, that relieves my mind. | will
go now," and go she did, when she had
Informed her affianced that she was not
staying with her parents at the present,
and that they were out of town, but
that she would be happy to see him at
the house of her friends.
He visited her with great regularity
three evenings week, remarkably
pleased with her society, and urged a
hasty union.
I" Let us wait for while until pa and
ma are settled and l 60 home again."
said Miss Croker.
In all these evenings there was but
| one little incident to disturb his serenity
greatly. Their conversations were car
ried on generally in the room with
others, though little apart, and it
happened on one occasion that he
called her Sophie somewhat loudly, per-
haps.
Miss Croker frowned. Her eyes looked
daggers instead of love-darts.
Il don't wish you to call me Sophie,"
said she.
| Mr.. Pendergrast looked up hastily at
| the other occupants of the room, but no
one seemed to be attending to them.
Perhaps Sophie was right, yet he could
not but think her excessive modesty i'll
timed and exaggerated, and he regretted
that she had not expressed her wish
more gently.
"You must excuse me this time" he
said. "Miss Croker, then, if it must be
so; but wish it were Mrs. Pendergrast
already"
The smiles were returning to his fair
ones face when he made the unfortunate
slip again.
dDon'tp she cried, rather more
loudly than he himself had spoken, and
her face and flashing eyes were fearful
to behold.
The scene haunted her lovers dreams
for many successive nights. However,
he did not offend again, and all went
smoothly until he at length prevailed
upon his beloved to fix an early day for
their wedding, and she had invited him
to wait upon his future father-in-law.
Mr.. Pendergrast was about setting out
one evening for the Croker mansion,
when caller was announced gentle.
man this time, and alone. Albert Pen
dergrast went to meet him.
''Can we have a private room p was
the strangers strange greeting.
eyes, sir. Come up .omine."
and Albert led the way upstairs.
"Now, then" said the stranger, 8
STOUT, Sruu-spokth mah, ofiuoHsiy oeoth
, ing with suppressed excitement, "my
! name is Croker"
"Sophie's brother" cried Mr.. Pender
, grast, with hospitable warmth. I'm
5 sure am delighted. Ned, isn't it?"
i edward Croker, sir. And will yol
: inform me what you mean by you
aetions?" s
r He took from his breast-pocket a wea
pom of the pistol species, and, laying i
a on the table beside him, folded his arm
d and waited in grim silence for an an
' swer.
"Actionsl" repeated Mr.. Pendergrast
stupidity.
The other waited.
r "Actionsw said Mr.. Pendergras
: again. What actions?"
10 Let me tell you, sir, that my siste
has protectors"
% Protectors"
le Is this a parrot?''
a. Mr.. Croker's rage oozed out in spite {
e. himself, and he struck his fist iercel
er on the table.