Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1879-03-25

notwithstanding; and then she was 50
bewitchingly pretty i'm short | deter
mined to make her acquaintance. re-
newed hostilities at the dinner table, and
with redoubled ardor: and though |
gained nothing for my pains but black
looks from this pair Of guardians, and
brief and low thanks from the pink
mouth of my neighbor, vet kept cheer
lily on in the path of duty, and, inspired
by the consciousness of virtue and merit.
braccd myself to 90 in and win. | had
the consolation OF finding out before very
long that was not ignored, at all events.
One night, when had left the table
first and assembled to my room, which adj
Joined the Minot's parlor, left the door
aiar to light me on my way to the match
safe. and had Just successfully fumbled
for that article, when l heard the swish
of feminine drapery on the stairs, and the
voice Of my charmer close at hand. Be
ing human, listened.
Nonsense, Venetia, If man is a
gentleman. what difference does 1t make
whether we become acquainted in board
ing house, or meet him somewhere else !:
He looks nice, and perhaps he belongs to
the Boston Reycres-you don't know. =.
did not catch the answer, for it was
los. in the rattle of the key which Mr..
Minot was applying to their door; but /
heard broken hints thereof from his wife
in the shape OF 'chancc acquaintanceS'
very dangerous" and "boarding house
people" to which Miss Trowbrdge re-
marked, Rubbish"
"Oh. Of course" said her sister, with
q rising infection: "the mans evidently
struck with YOU. and naturally YOU want
to persuade yourself that he's all right. |
never saw such impertincnce, and Robert
saws
Here Miss Fan gigglcd, and l, being
unwilling to let them monoPohze the fun
smote a match with great gusto, and, up
lifting my voice, began to sing quite
gaily:
"Iwish were a married man,
With wife whose name WAS Fan"
and had the satisfaction of hearing a
gasp. and the immediate and violent
opening and banging of the door, followed
bv confusion OF voices and an explosion
of gigsleS inside
Miss Trowbridgc did not appear at
breakfast in the morning, and longcd to
inquire after her health. but wisely alb
stained. as her sister and brother took
their places in their usual silence, and,
with grim. hostile looks As | entered
the room at dinner time, however, | had
the pleasure Of seeing the golden chignon
in is usual post. and the rapture of OBJ
serving blush dawn over the face OF lis
owner. OF course renewed my attcn-
tions without alluding To the episode Of
the night before, carefully supprcSsIng
even a twinkle of the eve that might re-
call it. Nevertheless, was quite as
surcd that Miss Trowbriige bore 1t IN
lively recollection; also. that she did not
consider herself personally insultcd by my
vocal exercises.
Heaven knows how my wooing would
have sped, how long We two, the fair
Fannie and /, would have stood shiycrlng
and looking at each other over the ice,
without daring to advance foot, but for
a merciful and special in,erposition Of
Providence in my behalf. An event oc-
Cured in which the superior powers
caused Mrs.. Minot herself 10 be our good
genius. and al uuwittingly to cast US to-
scthcr 1t happened in this wise:
was descending one evening TO din
ncr. and was just passing Mrs. Wickes'
door, on my way to the subteUanean
apartment where the meal was served,
when heard the voice Of the enemy Civ
ing parting direction of some sort to her
laudlady. and Immediately the door flashed
open. and Mrs. Minot's silk train swept
out. 1t was rather dark IN the hall, for
the gas had not been lit, and | couldn
see the ladv's face. and of course did not
lngcr to identify her or outrage her lofty
feelings by bow. l advanced briskly,
and was two or three steps down the base
ment stairs, when l was physically and
morally staggered by the descent Of q
female form upon my shoulders, and
found that the Boston dame had leaped
bird-hke upon my back, and was holding
on there with infantile playfulness and
freedom.
Give me a ride, dear; There's nobody
else near"
have been in many positions of dan
ger, and, leaving the rebel cannon, and
the various phases Of ''our late unpleasant
ness out Of the question, many awkward
situations, but never in one that required
more nerve. | hope, however, that was
equal to the emergency, for notwithstand-
ing the overwhelming shock of this frank
and confidential proceeding on Mrs. Mi
not's part, l betrayed no sign of surprise.
| only put my hands behind me, so as to
sustain her fairy form in position of
more security and then pranced airily
down stairs into that abyss of darkness,
the basement hall.
Did you notice how glum Fan was
when you came in just now whispered
Mrs. Minot, nesting her nose in the back
of my neck. 1--WE been scolding her all