The Arkansaw traveler., 1884-12-27

feet of one whom he supposed might be her mother, (for it Is pretty much guess work all around) and awaited the words of praise which he fancied the agoni1ed maternal breast would give vent to. It was a mistake.
 "Drat the hussy, she haiEt none of mine. She's Sixteen'sP'
 Sixteen was present, and calmly took possession.
 By this time the cider himself ~ss CT the campus.
 A pandemonium of voices related the thrilling escape. The elder looked askant at our hero, as if suspicious that he had been present before the fire. He was, however, convinced by the glance ot the manly eye that no deceit lurked therein, and he gave him the blessing of the church.
 Thus Winston Dairympie found him. self suddenly solid with the elder, a, d likewise, if the languishing looks went for aught, with several ot his wives and daughters, including his own Pearl
 Matters moved serenely heneefo1h up to the date of the opening of our tale. Pearl came more frequently to the store, generally bringing a few of her smaller brothers along to make it seem ingenu- ous. Winston was speedily assured by the trembling of her eye-lashes that he was by no means indifferent to her. One day, as he had just despatched an order for a gross of back-combs, which she had been empowered to purchase, he told her how he loved her. She blushed, and he gathered fresh courage. He pressed her hand, and his heart beat tumultu- ously as her soft, white hand shut down on his in response. This told the tale. Oh, happy thought, she loved himl His own Pearl loved him
 The more convinced he became of this fact, the happier he felt; the more he schemed to meet her and to get rid ofher l NAS"0 Os StA yCda Ot0 OtONhCtSy WUOth SuC continued to bring along from the die tates of her modest soul. Then he fell to buying them candy :c Se. :;d Q. them temporarily, and his confectionery bill made such an enormous inroad upon his seven hundred per annum the first week that he had to overdraw his monthly salary.
 This wouldn't do, so he bethought him self to cali on her at her newly repaired cottage in the Fourth ward. He went one evening. He and Pearl withdrew to the sheltering recesses of the front porch Hither also came a bevy of fair young mothers and daughters. By the teach ings of their church, the fact that he loved Pearl was no argument tha; he couldn't love them as we'll. Rather otherwise. Men were scarce Winston was hero he had saved their manifold lives; they loved him, and would nc. be cheated oat of their share of him. The next night he bought and brought with him thirty-ni yards of high-priced ribbon, cut i, into thirty-nine one yard pieces. With this he would buy their absence, he thought The sisters and mothers numbered an even thirty-nine at this cottage. The plan didn't work. They took it as a fresh proof of his loving them all and he had thirty-nine times more love-mak- ing to do than his soul yearned for. The following night he borrowed enough money of a fellow clerk to take his be- loved to the opera. He notified her by note. This would surely rid him of her relatives. Another mistake. His note tell into the hands of No. v, class B, and as a result fourteen opera toilets were prepared for that evening. Our hero pleaded sudden illness, and obtained a postponement. When he once more tried the "present" act; purchased thirty-nine glittefing bracelets at a dis count and m credit of a shop keeper who took him for a Gentile interloper seeking to break up some family circle, and destroy some loving husband and fathers peace of mind. The shop-keeper followed him. Saw where he went, and straightwsy reported the affair to Elder Taylor. The elder was furious. He burst in upon the love-sick swain in the act of distributing the jewelry; administered a pious. sanc- tioning kick, which sent our hero spinning through the window. The fair Pearl shrieked an explanation followed ]; the elder became convinced that it meant matrimony, reconsidered his kick, and as compensation for his rudeness, insisted that Winston should not only take Pearl to be all his own, bnt in addition thereto that he should take unto himself his | 1