The Indiana State sentinel., 1879-09-03
WITH AN OLD MAID.
BY C. W, EMBREE.

B1 Y. W. EMDnEE.
George Harvey was an enterprising young
man in the boot and shoe business, and kept
a charming little store on a street corner
where all the pretty girls went past and
smiled upon him. Sometimes they would
go in to purchase new boots, and then Mr..
Harvey would insist that two were just the
fit for number four feet, and they would
graciously permit him to button them up,
unmindful of the excruciating pain he
caused. But then how could they be expect
ed to buy::anything larger than three of such
charming young man as Mr.. Harvey.
Mr.. Harvey loved female. but this did
not interfere with his business, or prevent
him from buttoning other young ladies'
boots.y He also hated female, which was
great waste of leather for Mr.. Harvey, as
the hated female bought all her goods at
Mr.. Worth's, and $50 did her sisters and her
cousins and her aunts."
But George said he was delighted with
this state of affairs and often assured Mr..
Foster, who kept bookstore next door, that
he would not fta shoe on her foot for double
price. He described her to Mr.. Foster as an
old maid of the worst type-a miracle of
length and slimness-all bones and saffron
colored skin. But you should have heard
him describe his lady-love-his Lydia.
Such hair, such teeth, such silvery laugh
and s.ich an exquisite form! If you could
but hear him, you would readily excuse me
for not attempting description of this pas
sing fair damsel. His enthusiasm when
speaking of her could only be equalled by
his deep sarcasm when speaking of the old
maid-his neighbor over the way.
George was prejudiced against old maids
in the beginning, and this one was his bette
noir. She had written him an indignant let
ter, beginning with "My Stumpy, Self-Con-
ceited Little Neighbor," in which she laid
an injunction on the trespassing of his ca
nine on her premises, and ended by de-
mand for pay for the poultry the dog had
killed
George answered her thus:
"MY UNGAINLY AND ILL-coNDITIoNED
NEIGHBoR:-Keep your feline on your side
of the inclosure, and I'll keep my canine on
mine
"Yours affectionately, G. H"
On the same evening he penned letter to
Lydia-his loved one. He told her of his
undying love for her, and that it was impos-
sible to live without her. He assured her
that he never fitted shoe on any lady with
out thinking of her shapely foot, longing to
call it his own. Then he besought her, in
words that were glowing and ornate, to re-
ciprocate his unbounded love and consent to
be his bride
=: 'And now, my first and only love, if you
will be mine-mine forever and overcome
to me this evening with kiss, and my hap
piness is made"
Now Mr.. Harvey did not put the wrong
letter in the wrong envelope, as some heroes
would have done, thus turning this story in
another channel; no, he was very careful.
Evensng came on apace, and the enamor-
ed George sat by the open window in a
II, E
grant Havanna and looked forth into the
waning twilight.
Il am sure of her answer" he soliloquized.
"She will accept, the dear grill"
The twilight faded, and his cigar grew
shorter and shorter as he meditated
"Wonder where Jumbo isl" he said, sud-
denly.
Jumbo was the dog which had so offended
his neighbor, and as his thoughts reverted to
her he began to smile. He was thinking of
his many skirmishes with the cats; how oft
in the Silly hours of the night had he risen
from his couch with low, deep imprecations,
and hurled boots, slippers, boot jacks and
flower pots at the undying felines. How oft
had Jumbo been raised from his peaceful
slumbers to attack these same musicians and
bring back his masters property
Bot last night he had succeeded in bring
ing down their leader, and his heart was filled
with Joy. True, he had broken all his land
lady's vases, and thrown a pair of his best
boots into the enemys emcampment; but
what signifed boots? He had plenty more,
and his soul was glad when he thought of
the assassinated Tom. He knew the owner
would be furious, and would wreak her ven-
geance on him in some way, and now it oc-
CURED to him that she might injure his dog
But he would not trouble himself about
Jumbo at present; he had pleasanter thoughts
to dwell on now; so he leaned back luxur-
iously in his soft chair, and, closing his ewes,
meditated dreamily on the future happiness
he would enjoy with sweet Lydia.
How long he sat there he did not know,
but he was suddenly aroused by Jumbo's
jumping through the open window and fall
dead at his feet
"Poisonedl" he calculated, raising his fa-
vorite's head.
His hand came in contact with a piece of
paper attached to his collar, and he opened
It hastily, expecting to find very vindictive
letter from the irate Miss Smith. But what
was his surprise to read these words:
Mr. HARvEY-Forgive every thing and
come to my aid. Three robbers have attacked
the house, and / am alone. am armed
with q butcher knife, and win keep them at
bay till you come to the rescue. / had
captured your dog for the purpose of killing
him, but viii spare him for better purpose,
unless the robbers shoot him. Yours
Miss SMITH.
aP. s. Come in at the window
All past wrongs were forgotten; and the
noble. nature within HIM was stirred at this
woman's danger. Hastily snatching up his
revolver he leaped from the window and
scaled the partition fence. Seeing a window
at the rear of the house was open, he got in,