The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1884-05-23

than had ought respectful my own.
said was much obliged 10 her an(
her daughter for their K nd intentions
and wished her good night. She'sighet
audibly. and held the door handle TO
another minute, then. with an air o
resignation, retired.
Morning brought breakfast and So
phonisba Ann, This young person
was, if possible, meeker and more de
pressed than her parent. She carried
her head little on one side and snifIet
with every breath as if from chronic
influenza. Her complexion was pale
not to say pasty, and her hair and eye
brows whity-brown. Sophonisba AIMS
| figure was remarkable Tor depression
where fullness might be expected and 8
curious bulglng tendency wherever the
opposite effect was usual. Her attire
| was chiefly notable for hooks and eyes
with difference Of opinion that ma.
terially hindered friendship, and refrac
tory ha;r-pins, which l found had way
of dropping out into all sorts OF
| odd places. 1 found one. one day,
at the bottom of my jug of porter. al
dinner!
This interesting young person con.
trived to make surprising CHATTER with
the breakfast ware, upset a chair and
threw down pile of my books before
making her exit. attributed this to
the timidity which her mother had as.
sured me was counterbalanced by SO
many virtues. and could not in reason.
complain but when, in removing the
b. eakfast things, the same pile Of books
underwent precisely the same fate and
gave me such start that 1 nearly cut
off finger in mending pen, could
not help saying, rather brusquely:
"For heavens sake, my good girl, be
care ul what you do next" which pro-
duced quite an alta K of shifting and a
hasty retreat en- the part of the unlucky
maiden.
Alittle later in the day. my landlady
knocked timidly at my door.
"Iome in" said |.
She came in, folding her hands and
looking up at the ceiling.
I'm sure, sir, you'll excuse it.
though liberty. but as I'm mother,
which it's nothing ter all, and I've
no call to worrit, I'm certain. but its
my daughter. sir. a takin' on so after
you spoke to her this mornin', and if
you'd be so very kind. seein' as So
phonisba Ann is SO tender-hearted"-
what is 1t about?" l said, as the
fearful lady raused to take breath. Il
don't understand
for to hurt her feelin's, sir, and she
owns it; she's said as much in that
kitchen down be ow to me. His way
seemed harsh, she says. but his hearts
in the right place. she says; I'm GER
tain sure of it, she says, and she's cen
cryin' her eyes out, which Sophonisba
Ann j. rather sterica at times, sir;
and I'm a mother, with, l hope, a
mothers feelin's, as you'll excuse; but
there, don't mind me, sir. l tell her
I'm sure you don't mean nothink, and
likely it won't SO occur sgain."
..Bless me-" said l. this is very
foolish; of course l didn't mean to
hurt your daughters feelings, ma'am;
pray tel her so; I'll remember to speak
less abruptly since you've named it"
She almost wept at this.
''Ohi sir. You re the most feelin'
gent as ever l did see, I'm sure, |
don't know whatever my gurl'll say
and the last gent we had so diff
ferent-so violent in his language;
not to speak of banging the door
q dear, what it is to have a sperret,
which is what me and mine never had,
and SO the world tramples on u.s."
sad Mrs. Maudle.
II hope not" said I. '.You should
take a more cheerful view of life,
Mrs. Maudle."
1 was very busy and wished she
would go, but she didn't.
.sWel, SIR" she observed with q
sigh, Il always was one of the down.
hearted ones; and Maudle's nerves
that low! l never shall forget when
he as ed me to have him that's seven
and-twenty year-ago .Mariar, he says
to me that's my name)-"but there,
sir, don't mind me, which as a wife
hope l have wife's feelin's;" and
Mrs. Maudle shed tears.
| did mind her very much, and de-
voutly wished her at the North Pole,
as she stood in the doorway wiping her
eyes with her apron, and evidently
awaiting my sympathy.
''I'm sure MIR. Maudle's choice does
him credit" 1 said. desperately, ..he
couldn't have done better than take
good wife to soothe the path of lite for
him; wasn't that your door bell?'
"Sophonisba Ann will answer the
door. sir, which l think you was mis-
taken. and it didn't ring" said Mrs.
Maudle. "Im sure | never did meet
with gentleman so thought ul and
fee in; real friend, as one may say,
already. and I'm only thankful
I'm afraid must trouble YOU 10
shut that door. Mrs. Maudle, I gasped.
'I'm subject to ear-ache, and the
draught''-I hope 1 shall be for
given for the tibs that woman caused
me to invent. She slowly withdrew.
murmuring motherly compass ion. and
family suggested pepper pla tiers, and
other mild remedies for ear ache, while
1 took up my pen and tired to CO lect
my scattered ideas.
I had not seen Mr.. Maudle, the state
of whose ''nerves" kept him mostly
confined to an armchair in the kitchen,
but from occasional sounds of melody,
something like feebly rendered CHOIR
uses of a joyial nature, in which a
slight confusion of consonants was per-
ceptible, | concluded that even Mr. NJ.
had intervals of comparative cheerful
ness. Nor over. I discovered that
there was a soa of the house "a tall
youth with whitey-brown hair and skin
and stoop in his shoulders-whose
avocation seemed to be near at hand,
by his punctual return to meals at
stated hours in the day. With this
young man l was fated, alas! too soon
to become acquainted.
. One evening. little before my din
ner Mrs Maudle waited on me with an