The New Bloomfield, Pa. times. (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1877-188?, 1881-08-16

breath was so utterly taken hWhy ny
this assault, that he remained speechless,
but his countenance was probably more
full of expression than II had ever been
In his life. 40 no, | am not mad"
laughed she In reply to IL, although 1
have taken fancy TO such n wonderful
old creature Now, come, II kiss you
again, what will you give mop"
&c shall give you In charge OF the
police madam, the Instant that mr.
rive at Reading"
"Glve me IN charge What for, you
curious piece Of antiquity
" For an assault, madam yes for an
assault. Don't you know that you have
no right to kiss people without their
consent in this manner"
Here the young lady laughed 80 vlo-
lently that tears came into her eyes.
" DO you suppose you poor old dotipg
creature, that any body will ever believe
such a story as that DO you ever use
such thing us looking glass, you
poor dear Are you aware how very
unprepossessing your appearance is,even
when you don't frown, rs you are doing
now, in manner that Is enough to
frighten one? You have, of course, u
perfect right to your own opinion, but
but if you suppose the police will agree
with you, you will find yourself much
mistaken. The idea of anybody want.
ing to kiss you will reasonably enough
appear to them to be preposterous.
=" What is it you require of me, you
wicked creature ?" cried the old bache-
lor in an agony of shame and rage.
{" 1 want payment for my kiss. To
gentleman at your time of life, who
scarcely could expect to be SO favored
surely 1t is worth what shall L say p
five pounds. What not so much p
Well, then here's another for your other
cheek" Like flash of lightning she
suited the action to her words
"There, then, five pounds for the two,
and l won't take shilling less. You
will have to give it to the poor's box at
the police station, If not to me. For /
intend in case you are obstinate to COM
plain of your disgraceful conduct to the
guard, at the first opportunity. | shall
give you in custody, sir, as sure as you
are alive. You will be put upon your
oath you know, and all you will dare to
to say, will be that kissed you, and
not you me. What 'roars of laughter
there will be in court, and how funny it
will all look in the papers!" Here the
young lady began to laugh again, as
though she had already read it there
Mr.. Beardmore's grim sense of humor
was, as usual accompanied by keen
dislike of appearing ridiculous. True,
he hated to be imposed upon; still, of
the two evils was it not better to pay
five pounds, than to be made the laugh
ing-stock of bis bachelor friends, who
are not the sort of people to commiser-
ate one in a misfortune of this kind.
In short, Mr.. John Beardmore paid
the money. Mr. Thomas Wharton found
his guest that evening anything but talk
ative. There was select party of the
male sex invited to meet him, by whom
the old drysalter was accustomed to be
regarded as an oracle; but upon this oc-
casion he had nothing to say; the con-
sciousness of having been 'done'' op-
pressed him. His lips were tightly sealed
his cheeks were still glowing from the
audacious insult that had been put upon
them his fingers clutched the pocket
hpnlr IN, xny hiah thora Hxyn
note less than there ought to be. But
when his host and himself were left
alone that night, ''seeing the old year
out and the new year in," his heart be-
gan to thaw under the genial Influences
of friendship and gin-punch, and he
told his late adventure to Tom Wharton
not without some enjoyment at his own
mischance.
:" could really almost forgive the
jade" said he, for having taken me in
so cleverly. L dare say however, she
makes quite profession of it and that
half score of old gentlemen have been
coerced before now into ransoming Their
good name as did And yet she was
as modest and lady like looking girl as
you ever saw"
" Was she anything like this ?" inquir.
Mr. Wharton, producing q photograph
?" Why that's the very girl ~ exclaim
ed the guest. Ha, ha Tom, so yol, too
have been one of her victims, have youi
Well, now, this is most extraordinary.
" Not at all, my dear fellow. 1 know
her very well and her sister, and hel
mother, and her brother, too. l can in