The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1884-02-20
INTERESTING STORY.
WHY HE DIDN'T.

bachelor, who had been telling himself for
some years past that it was time to get mar
ried and one day he met his fate-it was
on Sunday, and she sat in front of him,
with her face intently fixed on the minister,
but in such position that Jack had view
of a charming profile, and during the great
er part of the service he couldn't keep his
eyes off it.
The lady was dressed in black she had
sweet, pale, lovely face, and her name
was Mrs Esther Linton, young widow,
with one child, q baby not yet year old.
Her name and her sad story Jack had
managed to ferret ont among his friends be-
fore the close of the day on which she had
first dawned ON his enraptured gaze; and
the facts he bad thus elected only strength
cned his sudden passion.
In due course of time, Jack succeeded in
obtaining an introduction to Mrs. Linton,
and personal acquaintance with his enslaver
only served to rivet his rosy chains He
called almost every day, ON one pretext or
another, till at length he began to hope that
Mrs. Linton really cared for him; and al
though naturally very bashful and timid
man, he was rapidly getting his courage up
to the point of making proposal One
morning he walked up in livelier and more
courageous frame of mind than usual and
he determined to speak the momentous
words that day. He mentally rehearsed the
form in which he should do it, while he
dressed and at about eleven o'clock, is
sued forth IA gorgeous being, all prepared
to speak his little piece.
He reached the fair widows, and rang
the bell; when, to his surprise and delight,
the door was opened by Mrs Linton herself
Then he noticed that the lady had her bon
net on, and seemed to be sll ready to go
out; but she received him with evident
pleasure.
Come right into the pailor, Mr.. Will
lard" she said. Lam SO giad to see you
for know you viii mind baby for me
See-I have her here in her little carriage
in the parlor, and won't keep you ten min
utes. Bridget has gone out, but she must
be back in ten minutes or so and, anyway,
l won't be gone more than half an hour, at
furthest, myself. have business engage
ment of the greatest importance, but it is
only at the end of the street. viii you be
so very kind? know it's great favor,
and there isn't another gentleman in the
world of whom would ask it,"
What could Jack Willard say Had he
not come there to beg the privilege of be-
coming baby's second father, and could he
reasonably refuse to do fathers duty for o
miserable ten minutes ?-4and he accepted
the charge bravely, and declared that moth.
ing in the world could give him so much
pleasure as to take charge Of baby for
week at time, if necessary.
Mrs. Linton thanked him sweetly, and
hastened away. Jack went to the window,
and-baby being asleep-spent the first half
of the ten minutes in watching Mrs. Lin
toms graceful figure as it disappeared down
the street. At the end of that time he was
Suddenly reused from that pleasing contem-
plation by shrill scream.
Jack hastened to soothe the baby, but no
sooner did she catch sight of strange and
masculine face than she sent forth yells of
dismay.
Hush, pretty baby, hush !" said Jack,
plaintively, and wheeled the carriage to and
fro over the carpeted floor. But the more
he wheeled it the louder the baby screamed,
all the while endeavoring to get out of it, to
fling herself over the wheels, and, in every
possible way, to imperil her precious life
In despair the new nurse unstrapped the
carriage, and took her out but at that she
screamed louder than ever. Jack Willard
glared and made faces-tried to sing, and
succeeded in believing tried to whistle,
and nearly put the infant into fits.
An inspiration occurred to him, and he
started off in search Of the kitchen, which
he found downstairs, after nearly falling
into the cellar. Then he rummaged about
till he found milk and sugar ana with
much pride in his own rapidly developing
domestic ability he mixed drink for the
baby. But she instantly struck the cup from
his hand, deluging his shirt bosom and. best
coat with sweetened milk and, by and by,
having accepted buttered crust of bread,
she completed the ruin she had made by
rubbing him with grease and bread crumbs