The semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1882-1886, 1883-05-16
A Curious Complication.

"You won't give me away!" she
exclaimed earnestly, as the Ques-
tions Answered man handed to her q
chair and assumed his most sympa.
thetic aspect. "If mamma knew I
came to you there would be no end of
fuss!" But what could I do? I
want advice, and I knew you would
give it to me-"
"What is it all about?" inquired
the Questions man, kindly.
II am in ever SO much trouble,
and>I want to do what's right" she
sighed. II wish I could see my way
clear"
"Sunday school teacher?" asked
the Questions man, cycling her
keenly.
eyes," she replied, II am Sun
day school teacher, and there are
two young men in love with me.
One is SO good that he makes me cry
to look at him, but the other is
worldly. He smokes and plays
billiards and all that sort of wicked
ness, but he takes me out and gives
me oysters and cream while the
other one is home learning Bible
verses. Every time I 60 with him I
feel so wicked, and when the good
one comes around to 60 over the les
son with me, feel that l am not
do?n
"Don't the good one ever set up
anything?" asked the Questions
man, scratching his chin.
"Oh, no! He says that oyster
houses and cream saloons are snares
and denominations"
"He's right about that" murmered
the Questions man.
|. "And he says that 1 should not
inflame my soul with stews or cool it
off with ice cream"
(which of them has the most
money?". queried the Questions man.
"Oh, the good young man has the
most money!" she replied. But he
never takes me to the theatre or the
opera. We 60 to church together
and he talks 80 beautifully Of "the
hear him!"
"What does the other fellow talk
about?"
"Oh, he always talks about rackets,
and wants to know where I would
like to go next. But must give one
of them up, and I want you to adj
wise me which shall keep"
''It's a plain case, I think" COM
menced the Questions man. "You
should hang on to the bad man who
sets 'em up."
"Think so?" she exclaimed, blush
ing with delight. "Do you really
think I would be happier with
him?"
"Stick to him until you marry the |
good one. That's obviously your
duty as a Christian. A girl never
gets so sick of anything as of pious
loyer who never sets anything up.
You cling to the bad one who buys |
cream and oysters and maybe you'll
convert him. If you don't you've /!
got the other fast for the marry when |
you get ready to settle down."
"That's what ma said," faltered
the beauty, modestly casting down
her eyes, "And if you agree with her |
I don't see what else there is for me
to do"
"Strikes me that's curious advice"
the law reporter, as the
girl went out.
Don't you bother, young man."
observed the Questions man with
severity. '"That pretty little Sunday
school teacher isn't going to marry
either of them. She just wanted my
advice to hold over the pious chap,
and you mark my words, she'll
work both of those fellows for all the
candy, cream, oysters, matinees,
operas and things Of that kind there
are in the City of Brooklyn from
now to the time they all go out of
season."
"And do you call that Christian
advice" demanded the law reporter.
"Don't mind, sonny. She'll 60
around and tell what a nice lot of
fellows we are here and it will in
crease the influence of this paper
among the churches more than any
you can do from now till
that girl gets married, and don't you
forget"
And the Questions man went back
to his work, while the law reporter
looked at him with the awe that
wisdom always inspires in
the minds of the innocent.-BrO0k-
,yn Eagle.