St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1884-04-19

OF course she did not stay 'as she was"
but nearly enough to enable me to throw on
paper the outline which had caught my fam
cy.
as / could.
She simpered and actually forgot to sniffie.
sIa, sirl whatever could you take me
like this for2' she cried at last. ''If I'd
only been in my afternoon frock at least,
and done my hair up bit tidy-if you had
told me; but Ia! now"
Don't name it, said; s'I'd rather not,
in fact. I wanted you just as you are"
The next evening Mrs Maudle came up
smiling-yes, actually smiling with a
cheerful serenity, if not littls excitement
in her demeanor, as she placed before me a
Photographic likeness Of Sophronisba Ann.
(Which Maudle and me, sir couldn't hear
of your putin up with such a sketch like, all
of a hurry: and bein' as our CURL wasn't It'd
led up, as she'd a wished, in course, so Sop
hronisba AIMS been and had this took at
Mr. Daubiey's round the corner if you'll ac-
cept it; and I'm sure good-hearted, we'll
disposed CURL is my girl, though | say it, and
not took up with follies like some, and that
steady, almost too steady for her station in
life, as her father tells her; and I'm sure
both her father and me-but there, sir when
you're a parent you'll know what parents
feelin's are.n
All this was said in one breath, without
any pause whatever. I sat bewildered, Won
dering if it would be objectionable rude to
reject the offer of lady's portrait, and what
l could say in excuse.
''Im AFRAID l began, ''you're very kind
the fact isl think didn't make myself
quite understood. -"
''Oh, yes, sir, yor did. Pray don't name
it. You was all gentleman should be; and
Maudle and me are proud''-here Mrs. Maui
die, without proceeding further, conveyed
herself downstairs, In tremulous condition
between tears and smiles that fairly stunned
me. What could the stupid people think
wanted with their daughters likeness! L
| stuck it on the mantelpiece Gt was not a
very fattering photography, resolving to take
no more notice of the thing; but next time
Miss MaudIe came up l observed she wore a
faring red ribbon in her hair and an asser-
tive brooch in the front of her dress. She
stole furtive glances at the mantelpiece, half
shy, half simpering. l caught her eye by
chance, when, overcoming her maidenly
modesty, with preliminary sniffie, she said,
sweetly: ooh, if you please, sir, about
walkin' out on Sundays after chapel; for
mothers quite agreeable, bein' as you're
such a gentleman, and''-
| ''What do you mean?" I said, sharply
enough, and quite forgetting the ''tender
heartedness'' of Sophonisba Ann in the ex-
cess of my bewilderment; but, instead OF
answering me, that young person flew to the
window crying; If there isn't that man a
crossing the street again. Oh! whatever'll
father doz But Gin is at the door, and you'll
protect poor father, l know" and she rushed
downstairs without further explanation.
Another minute and rapid and, it must be
added stumbling footsteps began ascending
the stairs, accom- panied by the cries OF Sop
honisba Ann and the fainter sobs of heI
mother in the rear, and Mr.. Mau lie entered,
supported by his son and closely followed by
rough-and-ready looking person with a
paper in his hand.
| stared
Mr.. Maudle waved his hand.
s'I-I-my dear friend--sir-'scuse-
abrupt vlsits,'' he cried in hazy sort OF
voice. ''F-friends may-waive shere-
mony."
Here Mr. Maudle swerved suddenly, but
Cincinnatns propped him up again.
''And II believe I'm correct in saying a
friend in needs friend indeed" CThis
very rapidly spoken.) 'Under these shir-
cumstances, lin bound to forego par
ent's feelings'-
Eyes, Maudle, that's It," cried Mrs. NJ.
from behind the apron she held to her eyes;
''we know what you'd say-what we'd both
say, and feel likewise, and thank our stars as
sent you, sir, to our aid, which I'm sure we
never can repay, as its Ga lbs. 6d."-
"e14 IFS. 3D., - interrupted the rough-and
ready looking person, with hoarse cough.
eyes, take her, take my child, and bless
youl' cried Mr.. Maudle, extending his arms
like the ''heayy father,'' in play, "and tell
thish minion of the law, that-that his claim
shatisied and helpless, aged parent saved
from-ruin and-dishtresh.
Here Mr. Maudle broke off, weeping.
'sHappy day'. said Cincinnatus, 81 said
YOU were like brother when first l saw you.
and I'll put it all in my great work, that an
'olow-hearted world may resd and be
ashamed of not doing ikewise!" with which
rather ambiguous speech Cincinnatus again
propped up his swaying parent, whose emo
tons were too much for him.
''May you both-be-happy! murmured
Mr.. Maudle.
go, la, father!' cried Sophonisba Ann,
Historically.
''What does it all mean?" was forced to
ask the bearer of the mysterious paper, who
was the only coherent one of the party.
''Why, sir, this here's distress for the
sum of GA lis. I'd. owing to the parties as
sent me here; and the old gent, he says
leastwise he don't seem to know exactly
what he's sayin' half his time-he says as
you're goin' to marry his daughter and pay
up square, but amt goin' to be gammoned
no more, so if so be, sir, of course have
your word as wellas his'n''-
l waited for no more. "Gracious aliven'
I exclaimed 'are you all idiots or lunatics,
or what? Grant me my senses to get clear of
this Here, take the rent-take week =
take month over for the notice only let
me BECOME" And finging the money on
the table, 1 rushed to collect my traps,
thrusting the things into bag and portman-
teau as if for life or death, and never
pausing till strobe forth-minus two pairs
of boots, an umbrella anda cigar case, left
behind in the hurry-in search OF the first
friendly cab which should bear me far from
the region of Pecl1over street to any destina-
ton under the sun, rather than consign me
in future to the tender mercies of "Meek
Family"
HIS little Joke.