Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1886-12-17
TIDD'S PROPOSAL.

"This," said Mr.. p. Livingston Iidd
yesterday morning as ne rose from
restless bed and perched, by the way oi
change, upon the rugged top OF his
trunk, "this is the eventful day. F!ldo
it to day or 90 down to the river anc fall
of a pier. The fact is, you know" he
continued, sliding down from the trunk
and addressing his mirror argumenta-
lively, "rm beginning to look like
Bowery freak, with all this worry and
layin' awake lights, and it might as well
be settled. To day do it,"
1t was said boldly, but there was
sheepish look on the haggard face Of L.
Livingston Tidd as he recalledthe many
previous occasions on which he had be-
gun the day with similar resolution
and failed utterly 10 carry 1t out. lie
turned from the mirror. fell upon his
knees on the floor, and rescued the pho
tograph OF placid looking young wo
man from the dust. He looked at il
tragically for Il moment, and then turned
his eyes upward and said morosely:
"Oh! woman. woman, whether-no
WHITTIER art thou leadin' me?"
After this outLurst he restored the
photograph to its infantile easel and
prepared himself for breakfast.
Mr.. Tidd lived in boarding house
where there were four or five other
clerks and salesmen, = retired grocer,
two "lady stenographcrs'-as they
styled themselvss-a family OF children,
and a misc llaneous assortment OF gluni
and hearlsick relatives of the laudlady.
The relatives devoted most of their time
to accumulating loads of gloom Of vari-
Gus degrees of intensity during the day
and spending the evening in abusing
the landlady on whose bounty they
lived.
(Which, when 1 looks um over" the
landlady said confldentially one night to
Mr.. Tdd at supper, with wave Of her
hand toward the down-cast dependents,
cit amt to be wondered at that gifts an
occasernul jog onto me"
"Jag," interrupted Mr.. Tidd, who
was stickler for correctness in speech.
II mean jag" said the landlady,
blushing deeply at her ignorance Of So
ciety nomenclature. "Oh, dear, they've
all got the doldrums, blue devils, and
dumps, an it amt surprisin' that l
turns at times to GIN"
"It amt indeed" said Mr.. Tide, po-
litely. And as the landlady had maGe
confident of him, what more natural
than that he should contids in her?
Then, as she promptly revealed every
thing 10 the disconsolate relatives and
they told the others, it was pretty well
understood in Mrs. McPherson's board
ing house that 2. Livingston Tidd, of
the lace department of the great dry
goods house of Ellington. Cash & Co.,
was in love, and slowly nerving him
self to propose.
A single glance at the unhappy sales
man as lie staIked 10 the breakfast table
yesterday morning convinced them all
that lie had not declared himself the
night before, and the landlady con- pas
sionately added another piece Of sugar
to his coffee, and skillfully directed the
plate of hot wheat cakes toward him.
This baked the five hungry and alert
statesmen on the other side Of the table.
and wave Of startled resentmentswept
over them. The youngest even went so
far as to remark in hoarse whisper to
his neighbor that "Tidd's heart might
be in n bad way. but when wheat cakes
was foatin' around his stummick seemed
to git there with both feet, so 10 speak. F"
But there is no gainsaying the truth
that all tie world loves a lover, and be-
fore breakfast was over the meagrs APP
petite of the unhappy Tidd had endesr-
ed him To the most rabid whest-cake
eater of them all. There was a set look
about the mouth and CLASSY expires
lion OF the eye when The salesman strobe
out that did not pass unnoticrd.
(which if certain party don't up
and do il to-day" Mrs. Mcpherson re-
marked thoughtiully, AS she leaned her
elbow on the table and tapped her teeth
elegantly with spoon, I'm very much
mistaken, but" with a cutting glance
around. ..if the word of certain stuffy
persnns what suffers uncommon hard
from low sperits is reliable, Pun mista-
ken very often"
Meanwhile Mr.. P. Livingston Tidd
was on his way to "the store" Of which
he always spoke with such reverential
respect. The business of the lace de-
partment was In the hands Of five youna
men. at the head Of whom Mr.. Tied eas
ily held his position by virtue of exPe
rience. untiring industry, and salar!
of slS week. The man who was nom
inally ia charge Of the department ha'
recently shown such skill in selecting
dress goods for importation that his ser
vices were being utilized in that direc
tion, while Mr.. Tidd did all the wor
with his accustomed energy. Afte
this had been going on for some month