Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1885-07-20

enough. But 1t last she seemed more
| friends ike, and / told her about Aunt
Beriinder and the fOrtin' and the soap
business.
"I've quite snug little shop Of ny
/ own. SEE she, only I'm very lonely.
Then she Civ me one of them meltin'
looks with her eyes that seem 70 make .
fellows heart jest simmer down into
jelly like.
But plucked up courage to say, Its
| yer own fault, mum. ii you're alone. A
charmin' young woman like you must
/ ave ed loads Of chances for gettin' .
companion. "
sob, I'm afeard you're q hatterin',
Mr.. Stokes" she says. a-smiling up at
me, so as / couldn't help stealth Itiy arm
around her waist we'll. il didn't 90 'alf
round, you know-and sayin', ssWell, if
you never 'ad chance before, what do
you say to takin' me for better or Mussg
I'm sure you won't find it wuss. :
She didn't move away from my arm d
bit. She just looked at me with them
black eyes, and says she, s'0h, Handrew!
| I'm hever thine!" And then-it was
pretty dark on deck, so took her in my
arms-that is. as much as could Of her
and stole kiss for to seal the engage
ment.
After that, you know, the days slipped
away like magic. She was a woner to
talk, she was; she had, in fact, the gift
of the CAB very gallopin' But she
seemed rather shy about permittin' any
embraces or affectionate sqneezes. II
don't want TO make spectacle of my
self, " SEE she. 81 don't care If we make
pair of spectacles," SEE 1: and then I
wondered if it was her uncommon cor
pulence as made her awerse to squeezes,
as them stout parties has difficulty in
getting their breath at the best of times.
and ] thought after we was married I'd
try and coax her into takin' anti.fat, or
some of them advertised things as say
they have given folks view of their own
shoe-strings as adn't ad the pleasure of
contemplatin' 'em for twenty years. So
| lad to be contentcd with squeezin' of
her land, which, queer enough, was
slim. and long, and quite thin.
eyer and don't never seem to belong
to yer, Sararann," SEE /. one day.
'sNo, it belongs to you" she SEE, With
quick look and a smile
II know it, nv love, but mean it's
net like the rest of you; it's thin, but
you're as plump as-a-a angelp'
"I'm not always fat, " she SEE.
ooh, amt your seq /, with little
feelin' of relief, must confess, COS she
was leetle too much SO, and | didn't
want wife as Barnum would be covetin'
for his show -
NO, it's the sea voyages as does it. ;"
she says, quite bewitchin' "Perhaps
you won't love me as much when git
/ thin"
ooh, I'm yours through thick and
thini" / makes answer. There's no
changin' in Andrew Stokes, my dear"
noticed, however, that Sararann was
! not altogether easy in her mind. / began
to be afraid as there was another teller
| in the background or somethin', and I
pressed her to name the day. But SD
was very firm on that point.
'eYou must wait till we're on land,
she says. II feel that nervous while Pm
on the water can't settle nothin'. Wait
till we're safe on land
So WAITED. 1t was a hot day enough
when we hove in sight, and really pitied
poor Sararann, she felt it so, with so
much flesh on 'er. She was that fius-
tered couldn't keep up with her, and
actilly, she scarcely waited for the plank
to be put down before she stepped
ashore was hurryin' after her, when
l saw her stopped by two strappin fell
lers. ! couldn't hear wot they said, but
/ know jealousy was like wulture tear
in at my witals. saw her throw up her
lands, and then seemed to ear her cry
''Handrewr' But before / got near 'er
she 'ad disappeared as if the earth 'ad
opened an swallowed Ter up.
You can fancy the feelin's of q fellow
as sees is sweetheart swolIered before
his weirry ewes. tore around here and
there, and asked questions of everybody
in wild way.
At last Custom 'Ouse officer stopped
and eyed me moment.
"A stout partyl" SEE ne.
"0h. yes, stout lady," / answered,
pantin'."
Perhaps you're her pardner?" SEE he.
81 don't mind confessin' I'm goin' to
be. = SEE /, givin' him wink.
ssOh. come now, none of that, SEE
he, quite stern ssWe're incorruptible,
as you'll find. An If you're goin' to be
her pardner, I've word to say to you.
just come in here /"
An II the fellow didn't take me by
the arm IS if was prisoner, an he
walked me into an inside Office. admit
more than got in when / see another
Custom 'Ouse fellow coming out, an
behind i'm came long, lanky beanpole
of female, with Ter clothes 'angin' like
bags on 'er arms. But, the dressl
Surely, knew that garnet merino with
/ the yellow trimmin's an that at with
yellow feather, an the lace shawlI--I
felt as If / 'ad got among magicl An
when / saw Sararann's own face at the
top Of this lanky picture. ] SEE to the
officer, ssPunch me, or stick pin in me,
for believe I'm crazy or drunk. Who
is this woman7'
why, you said you was Ter pardner, !"
says he, with grin. 'sShe's a smuggler
"a first-class onel She's an old stager,
she Is, an they're . takin' 'er of to