The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1879-03-07

duced the young actress 10 me who gave
me the highest price had ever received
for embroidering dress. By-tho-by,
the note she sent with the money ended
rather oddly. "As you value sardines
and olives smile sweetly upon old Pop
kins."
"Old Popkins." Only 1--WE and thirty
after all. What was the young lady
thinking aboutp And why did she inn
agine valued sssardines and olives?"
didn't Il don't-and IL did, in what
way would s'smiling sweetly" upon
Mr.. Popkins affect "sardines and
olives?"
And now I'll tell you what Mr.. Pop
kins said the day he--with good-sized
basket on his arm-made his appear
ancc Just as the Doctor slammed the
street door.
"Thought you'd have trouble" be-
ginning TO unpack the basket and lay
the various articles it contained, nam
ing each one as he did so, upon my din
ing-table, ssknew it--always stitching
at that confounded- cheese; hope
YOU like it-embroidery. Shouldn't
have given you any to do myself, only
was confident II l didn't you'd take 1t
from-a jar of Boston gherkins-some
one else. And now the Doctor has or
dered you to 60 into-fancy crackers
the country, and bind over your eyes
flask Of salad ola bandage for
month or more-that's all"
l burst out laughing. How could l
help it, hearing the odd little man mix
me and the groceries up in such comi-
cal wayp
any dear Miss Sprague," said he,
gravely, sit is no laughing matter.
What are you going to do?"
"Obey the Doctors ORDERS" said I.
"Ill begin by advertising for the quiet
country home this very evening"
"Let me take the advertisement"
said Mr.. Popkins. I" know . newspa-
per man-deals with me-who'll have it
done half price,"
"And then, when I've found it."
went on, III ask Mrs. Bairnsfather to
take care Of Spinny while am away,
because. dearly as l love him, can't
take him with me and find perfect rest !"
"I'll look after Spinny," said Mr..
Popkins. Hem! forgot the deviled
tongue, but guess you don't need any,
and" (precipitataiy) "are you in
want of money? II you are"
81 have plenty" l interrupted.
"You have?" with astonishment.
EYES," and l told him about the
young actress, saying nothing about the
last line in her note, of course; and,
much to my surprise, instead of looking
pleased he looked rather glum.
~ was hoping you hadn't" he said
at last.
"Hoping hadn't, Mr.. Popkins?"
"Yes; and then," wiping his brow
with his handkerchief, and speaking
with still greater haste, II was going
to ask you to marry me and let me pay
al your bills in future"
"Oh! Mr.. Popkins," I gasped, 81
am very much obliged to you, indeed, l
am, but couldn't think Of such thing,
under any circumstances.
You object to my hair, perhaps"
said he; "I'll shave my head"
"No-o-o," said /.
ITO my laugh? III never laugh
again"
"No-o-o."
ITO my name? III have it changed
by act OF Congress"
No-o-o.-
ITO my noseP I'd look worse with
ont it,
No-o-o-that is-yes Il mean no."
/ stammered.
"There is some one else?"
"No-o-o."
"And you don't care fig for me?'
~ regard you as q friend-a rcry
dear friend"
"And you couldn't bring yourself to
think of me as husband? Oh, l see
you couldn't. Goodbye. I'll supply
YOU with groceries all the same" And
away he went, looking so woe-begonc
that /, remembering his many kindness
Is to Spinny and myself, felt inclined TO
drop tear or two; but conquered the
feeling and commenced to pack my
trunk instead.
Most Of my answers to Mr.. Popkins,
I must confess, had not been exactly
true, including the one about some
body else" There was q young man
boarding with Mrs. Bairnsfather-Ar-
thur Leroy by name-a very handsome
young man-straight nose-cream-and-
rose complexion--fair hair--light blue
eyes his forehead was rather narrow,
to be sure, and the lower part Of his face
somewhat heavy -who had paid me a
great deal of attention, and IL was not
in love with him, thought was. And
had every reason to believe--short Of
formal declaration-that he was in
love with me. And so, as far as that
goes, there ras " somebody else"
/ advertised at least Mr.. Popkins
did. was astonished to see how little
the advertisement cost; and out Of some
fifty answers, which one Of Mr. Pop.
kins's clerks brought me, l selected
that is, Mr.. Popkins--the good-natured