Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1882-11-16

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You see am an old bachelor"
And I am an old maidi" pleaded
Matte.
"It makes no difference-no differ
ence at alll'' said Mr.. McCorkindale.
81 am sorry to disappoint you, Mrs.
Sweetclover, but"
"Stopp' said Matte, resolutely.
Mrs. Sweetclover, if either Of your
boarders leaves you it is me. ] came
last, and 1 occupy the least remunera-
tive room. / viii take my departure
on the noon train tomorrow"
And Matte went back to her room
and cried little; for she had become
very fond of her pretty little room al
ready.
cat all events" said Matte, to her.
self, "I will get up before daylight to-
morrow morning and have one good
swim in the surf"
She supposed, when she came out the
next day, in her dark-blue bathing-suit
and the coarse straw hat tied down
over her eyes, that she would have the
coast clear, but she was mistaken. Mr.
McCorkindale was padding, like a
| giant porpoise, in suit of scarlet and
gray, among the waves. He had al
ways wanted to learn to swim, and
here was most eligible opportunity.
"He don't see me-" said Matte, to
herself, as she crept cautiously down
in the shadow of the rocks. eff he
did, | suppose he would issue procla-
nation that the whole seashOre be
longed to him. But 1 hope there is
room enough for us both in the Atlan-
tic ocean,"
And Miss Milfoil struck out scien-
tifcally, gliding through the waves
like new variety of fish, with dark
blue scales, and straightway forgot
all about the troublesome old bachelor.
sits very strange" said Mr.. Nc
Corkindale, revolving around and
around, like a steam paddle-wheel.
A log floats, but I can't seem to
manage it without the help Of my
arms and legs. I've always under
stood that swimming was very easy
business, but ouf-ah-h--whust
-sh-shl Help! help Pouf-f-f !
I'm drowningl The undertow is car
rying me out and can't help myself |
Whush-sh !! Oil ahl help he-e-e-
helpl"
And Mr.. Corkindale's voice lost it
self in bubbling cry, while the deaf
old fisherman upon the shore went on
whistling and mending his net and the
solitary individual who was picking up
shells with his back toward the surf,
never dreaming but that the stout
gentleman was diving for his own
amusement.
But Matte Milfoil, cleaving her way
steadily through the waves, perceived
in a moment that something was
wrong.
Mrs. Sweetclover tainted away when
they laid the toarder on a pile Of
blankets on her kitchen floor.
She was one of those nervous ladies
who always faint away at the least
provocation.
But Matte had all her senses about
her; and, thanks to her courage and
presence of mind, Mr.. McCorkindale's
life was saved.
"What is that rattling on the
stairs?" he feebly inquired, as he sat
up the next day in an easy-chair, with
a curious sensation, as if a gigantic
bumble-bee was buzzing in his head
and cataracts pouring through his
ears.
"It's Miss Milfoil's trunk g6ing
away" said. Mrs. Sweetclover, with a
sniff Of involuntary regret.
"Tell her not to CO." said Mr.
McCorkindale.
"Sir II said Mrs. Sweetclover.
"Do you think I'm going to turn
the woman who saved my life out of
doors?" puffed Mr.. McCorkindale.
"But I thought you objected to
women" said Mattie's cheerful voice
outside the door.
"I've changed my mind" said Mr..
McC Corkindale, with a f1uttering semb-
lance of smile. "A man is never too
Old to learn. And / mean to learn to
swim next week, if you will teach me- I"
He did learn. Miss Milfoil taught
him. And the old bachelor and the
maid spent their month at the seaside,
to use Mrs. Sweetcloyef's expression,
cas- quiet as two lambs"
IL declare" Mr.. McCorkindale pen
sively observed, on the afternoon be-
fore his term was up, 81 shall be very
lonely after / leave herer'
"You'n be going back to the city,
you know cheerfully observed Miss
| Milfoil.
"But I shall miss you r said the
bachelor.
Nonsense r said Matte.
"I wonder if you will miss me?''
said Mr.. McCorkindale.
"Well-a little" owned Miss Mil
foil.
"Did YOU never think of marrying