Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1880-01-09

4
must dine there tonight"
Then go as you are, me buck !" cried the
Magee, with laugh Of fendish scorn.
In vain coaxed and entreated; could
make no impression upon that finty heart.
thought Of trying physical force, but gave
1t up, as knew the shirt would como out
of the fiacas unpresentable. Having ex-
hausted all my Establishments, sat down,
sullen and disconsolste, in my armchair,
and with gloomy majesty babe Mrs. Magee
leave tho room. Thought had done with
her when the door slammed behind her but
was mistaken. | had not fathomed the
depths of revengeful malice in the female
heart.
Well, you may imagine what wretched
evening spent | had not pence to en-
able me TO dispatch messenger with po-
lite fiction to account for my absence.
The next day | was on my way TO the
Pilkingtons to make my apologies, when
met little Roberts, Of the war Office. hap
pened casually to let out whittier | was
bound. There was . curious expression on
Roberts face as he looked al me, and said
II was dining there last night"
"Oh, indeed y replied. 81 was to have
dined there too, hut was unfortunately de-
tanned. am Just going now to make my
apologies"
Roberts still looked very hard at me, with
peculiar expression which made me feel
uneasy. At last he said, with some swk-
wardness and constraint:
Look here, Lscheverel, | have known
you good while, and we've always been
very friendly; will you take hint from
meg Believe me, I, is kindly meant"
Certainly" answered looking and
feeling considerably puzzled.
well, then, do you know, my dear fell
low, Il were you wouldn't call upon the
Pilkingtons to-day"
"Why notf' ashed in surprise
Because ! think you would only place
them and yourself in an unpleasant posi-.
ton"
"How soy" inquired, in Amusement
The fact u.s." continued Roberts, getting
very red, and looking exceedingly uncom-
Portable, there was a disagreeable contretemps
last night, ofwhich you were both tho limo.
cent author and subject"
IN How could that possibly beY"
"Well, I'd rather not say"
But, Roberts, insist on hearing. | shall
take II as very unfriendly act on your part
II you do not tell me. For. upon my honor,
| have not the remotest idea what you can
possibly be abiding 10.
And then, Charley, he told me. / was
wild With rage and modification at the
time, hut hage long since got over that,
and can, hi, i a'the story az heartly nv
kpn.
This Vaa what happened Dinner was
just over and dessert commencing. when a
small parcel, marked Immediate and pres
sing" was brought to old Pilkington. In
stead Of waiting till'at any rate the ladies
had risen, he asked permission 10 open II
then and there, declaring playiully, he was
as curious asa woman about its contents
you know what an Old iackanapeS Pilking-
ton used 10 make Of himself In these re-
spects sometimes. Well, he opened the par
Gel, and, 10 the omazement and amusement
of every one, took out shirt, TO which was
pinned a note. Thinking this was some
capital practical joke, old Pinkington open
ID NJ. ,f., raa1 aloud M, ha aa-
sembled guests. The note run thus:
Muster pilkington--.Ssr Has Mr.. Lat.
chivel owes me three shillin and rs only
this one shirt which incloses and has
would not let he have this ERE shirt till he
paid me eighteenpence which he said as how
he couldn't, sends you the article in ques-
ton 81 as you niayn't be surprised becos he
don't come 10 dinner,
Your humble servant, MARY MAaEE.
IN. B..--Washing done on reasonable
terms and good drying ground"
Would you believe II, Charley, that old
IDIOT went on spelling through that beasty
letter aloud. In spite Of all the "hurms" and
coughs Of his wife Nobody knew exactly
what TO do when il was finished. Mrs.
Pilkington and Mary Campbell were scarlet
with rage, and every one felt extremely I'M
comfortable except old Pilkington, who
laughed till the tears ran down his cheeks.
BY -and-by the idiots merriment became in
fectious, until every ope there roared except
Mrs. Pilkington and Mary Campbell, who
were both too much mortified and humill-
ated too see the Joke.
How got over the shock | can hardly
remember. My first impulse was to stran-
gle old Pilkington and that diabolical wash
erwoman. In the end did neither. sim
ply lay quiet in my diggings and saw no
one. | could never make up my mind to
face Mary Campbell again. Five years later
she married Bostock, the retired egg mer-
chant, and well. luck came TO me at last
and think, old man, you'll agree with me
that have no cause now 10 envy Bostock
or to bear malice against Mrs Magee.--LNm-
don Society.
An Englishman, who did not speak a