News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1884-03-06
ADOubIe misunderstanding

Dark Nora, my rose of Killarney, ashore
ADOubIe misunderstanding
One day in last December Mr.. Hamil-
car Thornlove found his boots soaked
through, and taking them off in his store,
he flung them down to dry. It was an
act of trihing importance to any but a
very discerning mind. Yet it was
fraught with dire consequences to MIR.
Thornlove. But what could he know of
the future, poor soul?
''What poor soles they make now-a-
days % he murmured. 81 will put on
my slippers and step into my neighbor
Justout, and see if he can't settle his
account to-day"
He was a man of his word and did so.
While he was gone, in came his
friend. Paul Hobbleden, and asked
where Thornlove was. He was told to
wait few minutes, and while he was
waiting, as he was only an old bachelor,
accustomed to look only after his own
health he drew off his boots, toasted
his toes for half an hour, and then, an
CRY at waiting so long, hastily shod him
self, and went away grumbling.
Thornlove soon after returned, also
cross. Justout was not in, and now he
heard that Hobbleden was gone out.
This made him doubly peevish.
"Hobbleden gonel l wish he would
stay gone. That man haunts me three
times a week at the house and as often
here. I have known Hobbleden ever
since before was married, and he knew
Ophelia before l married her Perhaps
that's why he never got married. Might
be. Sticks to me ike barnacle. At
ter me so often and nothing particular te
say. Perhaps he comes to see if I am
here, that he can go to see Mrs. Thorn
love. I'll watch Hobbleden! How the
snow stretches boots !' He drew them
on.
When ThornIove went home that even
ing he felt ugly and tantalizing. He
had caught cold from going in his slip.
pers. Ophelia played pathetic air OIL
the piano and sang to soothe him.
"Don't do that, Ophelia. Oh, don't
I'd rather hear funeral ST rmon.
Thought you liked sentiment.
'sHafe If -
s'Shan L sing something funny?"
ssNo. YOU think more of lingering that
old music-trap than you do of me"
"What shall I say?"
Anything nothing would suit m'
better" he growled. ''Tm bound t.
have a row. he reflected.
s'You're as odd as any old bachelor ]
sDon't you like emp" said he. "Hoh
bleden is one of them"
"Bus he's an old friend of ours"
"Of ours ?' emphasized Thornlove
"I should think so. He's here enough.
"I suppose the poor man don't kno'
where to CO." said Ophelia, sympf
thetically.
81 should think he did know where
go-he goes here, that is to say, /
comes here, as regularly as an old oV
to its roost.
cit can't be that you're jealous
Paul Hobleden, can it?-a man tn
you've known for so many years ?" sa
she, curiously.
scNo, it can't, ;" replied he; and the
thought. 'Ah she's trying to pun
me, but she won't"
s'I have to be pleasant when
comes; mustn't be inhospitable, mu
II"
"Of course not. Oh, of course nc
He's something of bore, though. "
$50 are all old bachelors. I wouldl
give you for hundred of him. ID
ha Old Hobbleden %
"She's laughing at my simplicit
Thinks 1 don't know it. I'll keep L
eyes open, night and day."
Paul Hobbleden returned to Thol
loves store in about week. This til
imping.
"a confounded corn kept me away
long"
shouldn't wear tight boots. VIII
a man gets to be dandified it's sign
is in love. Who's to be the happy NJ
Hobbleden ?"
"Don't joke"
'Don't wear tight boots"
'Dont you know any remedy fol
corn %
'fCut your toe OFF,"
seYou are inhuman -
''Any old bachelor who is dan
enough to wear tight boots ought to ha
corns all over him."
"Had-had he? Good morning
cried Hobbleden, exasperated. e17fi
if 1 can't find sympathy somewh'
else." And away he went.
''God bless. the corn p thought Tho
love.
''Why don't Mr.. Hobbleden come
see us. I wonder ?" that evening S
Ophelia to Mr.. Thornlove. 81 decl
it seems lonesome without him."
s'You'n have chance to keep feel
lonesome for some time to come. /
not think he'll ever darken these dc
again"
''You don't mean he's dead?"
'rNot quite, my love; he was hN
enough this morning; he was corr
Ha, ha p
"Intoxicated? Poor fellow Lon
Isuppose."
"Poor fellow That's pretty well.
I had been drunk it would have b
horrid monster. He wasn't intoxica
but had corn on one of his dear t
I ioked about it, but he went off
rage"
''He is very sensitive; corns are p
full. I'm sorry"
'I'm glad. 1t will be company
him, now that he don't see you. +"
"You make yourself so disag
able "
$50 is he. Uncomfortable to
self, too. Wears tight boots to II
his feet look small"
''That was needless; I always not
he had very small feet.