The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1882-06-03
A STORY OF COUNTERPARTS.

~~N~
A quiet, uneventful life was mine
until / left the shelter of my fathers
roof in Gorham, and accepted the
desk of book keeper in the whole
sale clothing establishment of Shears
& Prescott, in the busy little city of
| Weston.
But there, one fine afternoon in Oc-
tober, just in the midst of the Indian
summer, l invited Lille Prescott.
with whom 1 was very nearly in
love, to walk in the park with me.
Her little hand in its delicate priin-
rose colored glove rested on my arm,
her black eyes were lifted tc my face.
l felt particularly tender and conf
dental, and at peace with all the
world. We were speaking of the
righteousness Of the distant hills.
clothed, as they, were, in their man.
ties of crimson foliage, when | was
brought to a stop by hearing my
name pronounced in a tone neither
sweet nor agreeable.
"Mr. Smith, I'll jest troubleyou to
stop minute"
l looked up. A woman oftifty, or
thereabout, effectually blocked up the
sidewalk before US; indeed her pro-
portions were colossal. Ifever have
seen the pers0nificatiOn of indigna-
tion, saw it in her expressive coun.
tenance.
MADAM !" exclaimed, Ietreating
a little from the battery of flashing
gray eyes, which she brought to bear
upon me.
"You needn't madam me! !" cried
she, waxing redder. "I'll jest trouble
you to settle this little bill !" And
she thrust an OmlnouS piece of paper
before my eyes, which read, sub.
stantially:-
Richard Smith to Juliana Digglns, Dr.
For six months Sl96 90
| For washlng...................... IL OO
Total ............ .s2OS w
/ returned the bill to her.
II owe you nothing. madam. l
never saw you before in my life"
"You needn't lie to me !" cried she,
setting her arms akimbo. II hain't
kept genteel boarding house fifteen
year for nothing, sir! You'll either
fork over on the spot, or I'll take the
law !"
"Take it," remarked -; "you're
welcome to it,"
"You think to sarse me, young
man! Remember what you prom
ised! I'll have you took up for it as
shure as my names Diggins !" I'll
larn you better than to deceive a
trusting widder woman in that way !!
You desateful hypocrite ~ =
"Madam, you insult me! l."
"Oh, it looks well for such as you
to stand nn your dignity! Mighty
lofty. all to once! You've forgot the
cream flapjacks / used to make you.
and the kisses you used TO give me
every evening after the rest of them
was gone to bed! You've forgot the
half dozen shirts l made you, and
meyer charged you a cent! You've
forgot that you solemnly promised
that you'd marry me last Tuesday
morningl You've forgot that, have
you ?"
"Yes-yes-I never! no" stam-
mered l, dropping Miss Lilies arm
in CONSERVATION.
"Do you dare to deny it ?" cried
she, in a rage.
Eyes; forever and a day after
ward ~ | roared out. "Do you think
Would marry an old termagant like
you? I'd sooner wed my grand
mother !"
/ saw the fire fash up.in her eyes.
The widow was waxing dangerous.
! lodged the reticule she aimed at
n head, and fell over back ward rs
charged upon me with her half
lrning parasOl. Miss Lille turn
e md fed. Thought discretion the
better part of valOr, so leaped over
a garden fence near at hand, and was
Immediately attacked by a laree
watch dog that sprung out of ken.
mel near by. / seized dahlia pole,
and hurting it at the belligerent,
made good my escape by fur,ling a
duck pond and reaching the next
street, from which hurried home
at the best pace 1 could command.