The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1880-10-16
HOW SHOCKS GOT OUT OF 1T.

"IF you will take my advice" said
Mr.. Wilding, making last noble but
futile effort to balance the ivory paper
knife on the tip of his first finger, "you
won't go to the Brownrgs' ball"
"And why notP" asked his compan-
ion, irritably.
"Well, | really wouldn't, you KNOW
said Mr.. Wilding, giving up his strug-
gle with the impossible, and laying the
refractory paper-knife upon the table
s'for variety of reasons. Girls play
the very mischief with you, and YOU
know what trouble it gave me to get
you out of your last scrape. There are
four Browning girls, aren't therep And
they are all pretty?"
81 don't see what that's got to do
with it, F." said Shocks, sulkily. "There' S
safety in multitude. / can't marry
'em all, can IP"
"Happily, no! Though, if the laws
of your land did not forbid it, am in
clined to think you might try to accom-
plish even that. Still, be advised,
Shocks, and be conspicuous by your alb
sence at the Brownrigs' 'small and ear
ly.' Papa Browning, when incensed, is
not nice; and you know you are deci-
dedly epriS with Miss Katie"
"No, am not" said Shocks, with
decision; "not a bit of it. Though
allow she is handsome girl and has
lovely eyes. Hasn't she, now?"
81 don't know. As a rule, I never
look into a woman's eyes. l consider
it rudeDess as well as a betise," said
Wilding, earnestly, telling his lie with
out blush. "Never mind her eyes,
IT, warningly, "you must go to this
ball, at least try to forget that she has
any eyes at all. If you don't, you will
propose to her, to a moral"
"One would think that l was q raw
schoolboy," said young Shocks, wrath
fully "Do you think that can't look
at woman without committing MYSELF
Do look like a foolP"
Whatever Mr.. Wilding thought at that
moment he kept it to himself. Before
he spoke next he and his conscience had
agreed to dissemble.
"My dear fellow, do not let us even
hint at such a thing" he said, amiably.
81 only meant that you were slightly
very slightly-susceptible, and that Miss
Katie has a certain amount of pleasing
power, and that positively ao0aM give
up this ball if i"
"Are you going?" broke in Shocks,
impatiently.
"Well, yes, l dare say shall look in
about twelve"
"Then shall look in with you" said
Shocks, defantly.
"Fact is, the fellow wants to spoon
her himself, and don't see the force of
being cut out, >" said he to himself, COM
placently, as he ran down the steps of
Wilding's stairs.
Beyond all question the Brownrigs'
ball was decided success. The rooms
were filed to overlooking, the staircases
were choked, the heat was intolerable.
Sir Thomas and Lady Higgins had &C
tually put in an appearance after all and
the supper, if UNBEATABLE, was, assure
you, very expensive. No pains or mon
ey had been spared; every thing was
what the mistress of the house called
"rug regal" and all the Miss Brown
rigs looked as charming as any one
could desire.
There were four of them. There was
Katie, the second daughter-Snooks's
friend, and the possessor of the lovely
eyes. And they were lovely: large,
'iand dark, and true, and tender," like
the North, according to the Laureate;
s'black as Il res, )" said her fond if slightly
oppressive mother, and of the languid,
melting order.
Then there was Hetty, the eldest girl,
who, if her eyes were not dark as mid
night, had at least the dearest little nose
IN the world. A pure Greek feature,
perfect in every respect, ignorant of
colds in the head, that made one long