Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1885-04-02
A KISS In MISrAKE.

Boston dloDe.
The family of Mr.. Benjamin Barby.
gentleman of very close habits, was
alarmed one bright, sunshiny morning
by the venerable old gentleman, whose
voice was heard in all parts of the
house at the same time. He had run
from the garden, crying:
martini Martini Where is that
precious rascal, Martini"
Martin was busting, active servant
in the family, remarkable for his polite
and agreeable manners, which quite
atoned for the ugliness of his vision
not actual ugliness, but ugliness oc-
casioned by black patch over one of
The family of Mr.. Barby consisted of
himself and ward, a young lady of
nineteen, over whom he had been left
guardian by an old friend and school
fellow.
He did not like the idea of being set
as a watch dog over the inclinations of a
young girl, but respect for his friends
memory would Tot admit of his Tefus.
ing to take upon himself the charge.
Seeing the host of suitors addressing
her, and being unable to separate the
wheat from the chat, he resolved upon
discountepancing them all by expressing
his determination that Mile Winters
should not marry at all.
''She shall have no husband at ALL"
he cried. Better be without hus-
band, Mile, than have bad oue."
The wary old man accordingly chose
for Miles maid a remarkably curious
looking, hump-backed old woman,
thinking she would be true to his in
terests.
But Mr.. Barby was mistaken, for
Julie was remarkably fond of money
a f5 note would throw her into state
of delirium during which she continued
oblivious of all that might be going on
around her.
Martin responded not to his masters
summons. But still the old gentleman
cried.
"The precious villain! Oh that my
family should be thus insulted and
disgraced. 1 saw him press his lips to
my wards cheek, and the sound of the
kiss still sounds in my earsp
At this moment Martin appeared and
mildly asked:
"Did you call, sirp"
Whereupon the enraged old gentle
man rushed upon him and cried:
BOUNDS! you scoundrell What do
you mean by kissing my wardp"
II, sirp" exclaimed Martin, with a
surprised and innocent look.
"Villainl my own eyes have not de-
ceived me. | saw you not ten min
utes ago steal behind Miss Minnie and
and"
.'Sir, {sirl" exclaimed Martin, writh-
ing in Barby's grasp, lit is impossi-
'ble."I
And thus saying The struck his hand
upon his forehead. As sudden thought
occurred to him he continued:
"Sir, thought strikes me which
may justify your suspicious. There Is
some strange mystery IN this"
"Mysteryr' quoth the old gentleman
in an enraged voice. 81 think there
So
al confess, SIR" said Martin, with a
tone and look Of shame, 'that did
steal into the garden just now and take
q ohaste salute; but on my honor, sir, /
believed the person to be Miss Winters
mLid, the worthy Julie, to whom have
the honor otpaying my addresses.
william ~ repeated the old man,
stamping his foot, but Martin inter-
rupted him.
"You know what bad sight have,
SIR" he said. Zone eye entirely gone
and the other very treacherous, as it is
now proven to be, seeing that mistook
the mistress for the maid, and have
thus insulted lady and offended q
worthy gentleman, whom my inclina-
ton and duty have ever prompted me
10 regard with profound respect and
veneration."
Mr.. Barby was compelled TO admit
that, owing to the defective sight Of
Martin, it was possible for such q mis-
take to have occurred, and the ''preci-
GUS villain was called q careless fell
low.
Wishing, perfectly TO retrieve hi:
haracter, he explained to his master
that he and Julie wore to be married
that she had obtained Miss Winter
consent, and that he was thinking
of asking Mr.. Barby that very
morning.
The old gentleman expires sod hisIsur
prise that spruce tile dandy lik'
Martin should wish o unite himsel
with the old humpbacked Julie, bu
Martin clasped his hands, and will
rapture declared her the woman of hi
choice and a paragon of womankind
and Mr.. Barby. not wishing to woun'
the honest fellows feelings, contente'
himself with saying:
ssWell there's no accounting 10
tastes"
In the course of the day Mr.. Barb
accidently met Julie in the garden.
"Well. Julie T" he exclaimed, 90
wish you Joy In the new situation 20
are going into"
LA, SIR" said Julie; 81 am goin
into no new situation"
"Why, yes. you are; you are goin
TO be married"