The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1883-03-07
A
Miss Pidgeon engaged" said Mr.

~WeIl, really now
Mr.. Ducketi sat at his little round
table. in the cool shadow of the
vines. breakfasting on buttered
toast, and coffee fragrant as Arabian
gales.
He had his theory about the grav-
itating power of the world, but he
liked fully as well to hear about the
latest quarrel between Mrs. Squire
Allen and her sister, The parsons
wife. =,
"A meddlesome old baboonl" said
pretty Alice Dexter, when she caught
Mr.. Duckett looking in at the WIN
dow one day, to see whether the tall
Young man by the chimney piece
was Henry Lake or Walter Fitz-
william, :,
"a most intelligent person" said
MIR. Mountmorris, when Mr.. Duck
EFT confdentially informed him that
he had overheard, behind the stable
door. an active Irritation between
Betsey. the maid, and Artemus, the
hired man.
II don't believe in all this kissing
and hugging,'' said Nj. Duckett.
"And | thought perhaps you
would like to know"
So that the public opinion Of STAN
dale was pretty equally divided on
the suhiact of old Mr.. Duckett.
He had been up nearly all night,
with a telescope, looking for a new
comet. and consequently was break
fasting rather later than usual, with
Mrs. Hopkins, his land lady, wait
ing on aim, in her very best cap and
apron.
"Yes,n said Mrs, Hopkins, as she
brought in a fresh fried egg on a
piece of toast, its really true this
time-to Nj. Paysley."
And they do say that Dolly Dut-
ton is ferocious enough to kill her,
for every one knows that Paysley
has been playing fast and loose with
Dolly these three years, and has only
thrown her over now because Miss
Pidgeon's old uncle has left her three
thousand dollars, and a set of silver
spoons"
HUM said Mr.. Duckett, be-
tween his sips of coffee.
"Very extraordinary"
Though for my part" said Mrs.
HOPKINS. II never could see what
there was about Alphonso Paysley
to take the fancyof the girls"
"But | should not wonder If Dol
ly Dutton sued MIN for breach Of
promise yet"
Mr.. Ducket was very much inter
ested in all this.
He had seen Miss Pidgeon once
q tail. pale, lean female in specta-
cles. of some four and twenty sauless
summers, and he knew that Alphon-
SO PAISLEY was the clerk in the vii
LACE store, a sort of gay Lothario on
a small scale.
And pretty Dolly Dutton often
came in to help Mrs. Hopkins with
her churning, preserving and house
hold saturnalias of that nature-a
ROSY. pink checked young damsel
with a dimple on her chin, a mis-
chieyous CLEAN under her pearly
lashes. and a mortal fear of the lodg-
er's telescope, which, IN her own
mind. she could not altogether dis
associate from a camera.
Miss Pidgeon engaged repeated
Mr.. Duckett, as he pushed his plate
to one side.
Then there's hope for the Oldest
and ugliest of us all-eh, Mrs. Hop
kins?'
Even me?'
ia. SIR said the landlady, there
ART any reason you should't have
your pick aud choice of the finest la
dies Of the land
DO YOU know of any pretty girls
that would take pity on an ugly old
bachelor like me?'
Plenty of them, sir, said Mrs.
Hopkins.
Then said Mr.. Duckett, sudden.
Nv changing the subject, pack my
bag. Mrs. Hopkins. ii you please
4 am going up in the woods to
follow the course OF the geological
strata that uuderlie this locality
Dear me, sir said Mrs. Hopkins
Il shall be gone two days said
the philosopher.
Very well, SIR
And when the sage was gone, she
sat down to her household mend.
ing with a sigh.
L really do miss that dear old gen
tleman when he's gone
Its rather hard to be left without
even a cat to talk to-
1t was two days before Mr.. Duck
EFT came home, and when be die
come home he bounced into the sit
ting room in a manner which Mrs
Hopkins afterwards remarked, near
lv frightened her out of a year
growth. .
Mrs. Hopkins he cried, where j
the constable's house?
The constable, SIR repeated Mr.
Hopkins.
Its on the corner of the old mil
road-the red, brick cottage with tn,
creepers all over it,
But, begging your pardon, sil
what can you possibly want with tn
constable?
Woman Kissed Mr.. Duckett, be
tween his set teeth, there las bee
a terrible tragedy
1t must be investigated.
STRIP said Mrs. Hopkins, more be
wildered than ever.
is it possible that you hav'n
heard Of itT
Heard WHAT
'0f the murder
Bless and save Us, SIR she said
jumping up.
What are you talking about?'
He looked intenty at her.
Woman said be, have you see
Miss Pidgeon lately?'
We'll, now, that you mention j
L have not said Mrs. Hopkins
wondering greatly.
But I'm told she's gone to Low
ell, a visiting
He uttered a groan.
Look at this he said-'a piece {