The Palatka daily news. (Palatka, Fla.) 1884-1888, 1886-02-18
quite miseraMa about L, but suppose IS too


Cob, nothing, of coCrse. It's Bessie, IL,
fact, that has been bothering me about it.
I'd like to set things straight, if / could do
So"
Yes. But what can you do n
@Now we're coming to it." said Sam.
That's just what we want you to suggest"
Indeed" said Colthurst, not very CRATE
fully
There was silence. At last George Car
stairs, young fellow whom Sam had invited
to the conference said, Find"
Certainly" Colthurst acquiesced Find
who did it-really."
THAT'S capital suggestion" said Sam. "A
quite brilliant one. You're poisoning into a
regular Oracle of Delphi, you are. Would
you mind mentioning how"
"This hadn't occurred TO George He medi-
tated for while, and at last said, efficiently,
Papers"
~They didn't welcome the idea with abso.
Lutte enthusiasm. After a while Colthurst
said doubtingly:
well, we might try. Have you got them,
Sam p
Sam said he had. With some pride, as if it
was an instance of foreth ought not to be ex-
pected from him. So he fetched them.
These were the ballot papers. Not much
information to be had from them. Only OBJ
long slips of paper, fifteen of them, each bear
ing the young lady's name, and ruled in two
columns "Yes" and NO" Fourteen marked
with pencil cross in the column "Yes," one
similarity adorned in the column No"
They passed round this last, each scrutiniz-
ing it carefully, but to no purpose There
isn't much indication of character, or clue TO
personality, in two short lines, intersecting.
Sam was gazing at it forlornly, one degree
removed from despair, when he became con-
scious of a presence. Not an imposing one.
It reached to a height of two feet or so, and
was somewhat uncertain in its equilibrium,
as if unaccustomed to biped progression.
Goldeg was its hair, so much as there was of
it; in9uiring were its blue eyes, and soft its
infantile dabs of hands, wherewlth it at
attempted fruitless plunges at the paper.
Evidently, from its inquisitiveress, and &C
qusitiveness, feminine. Sans niece
Halo, Toddles, how are your said Col
thurst; come here"
But the young lady wouldn't. She wanted
that paper.
"Now, young person." said Sam, holding it
above her head, and speaking in tone of
dignified rebuke, what do you mean!"
Toddles disciained TO reply, but said, Gil
me. II mine"
"It's yours, is it? Have we discovered the
culprit. 1 think you must be mistaken, Tod
dies. You haven't got the club franchise
yet"
The persevering young lady would have the
paper, though, and nothing else. So it was
handed to her, and she proceeded to examine
it attentively, as they had done.
But you're looking at the back of it, my
dear" said Colthurst.
so she Is. Let's look, Toddi.s,r said Sam
drawing her To him and looking over her.
shoulder. One corner of the paper was
adorned with faint pencil sketch, nearly OBJ
liberated now, representing the head of
fiercely mustachoed warrior. 1t was to this
work of art that Toddles, regards We're di-
rected. SHOW it me-" said Sam putting out
MS hand.
But Toddles declined.
its mine" she repeated.
Yours, again. How could it be yours!
Who gave it you:'
Nit Nellie" sha said. calmly
"Miss Nelliel" said Sam
"Do You think the child dreamt it.' said
Colthurst. How could Miss Brenton have
had the paper!"
Don't know; don't understand it, Sam
said.
ASK Nellie, suggested Carstairs.
It seemed the only thing to do. So, as
Nellie was sitting not far away, Mr.. Colt
hurst, accompanied by the juvenile author of
the statement, went over to her.
Miss Brenton," he said
Yes" said Nellie, looking up. "Oh, is it
you, Mr.. Colthurst!
Did you ever see this before!" taking the
ballot paper, and showing her the reverse
size, which bore the drawing. Miss Toddles,
here, will have it that you drew that head
and promised it TO her. It's a paper that was
;sse,l at the ballot last week"
Yes, so l did," said Nellie, coloring at the
Il drew it on the back of my
paper, while we were waiting for them 10
settle something about the voting
Your own paper! And you gave your
vote on the other side of it subsequently,
Certainly did," she said somewhat be-
wildered by these questions, and turning the
paper round.
well, l think you'll find"
She had found it already. One glance, and
-he whole thing flashed upon her. She had
been somewhat impatient at the delay, had
made her cross in a hurry, and-put it in the
wrong column.
So" she began, hesitating and color
ng painfully under the eyes of Colthurst,
who could notquito keep faint smile from
lowering about his lips.
$50, Miss Brenton, I'm afraid YOU Were
for that wretched black bean
yourself. was sure personally, that 1t must
lsve been done by mistake, for none of our
friends But, there, I'm very glad indeed
that it is cleared up" he said, turning away
hastily.
For the poor child, realizing how naughty
he had been, and how much she must have,
lurt the honest fellow that loved her. grew
very pale and piteous, and her sweet ewes
filed with tears
When Professor Essor Sexagon came on
the grounds, and when Cllthrust, treating
me matter lightly as rather absurd trifie,
lad told him how it was, never was professor
% suddenly gloritied with pleasure, IL he had
ha 10tiA ~
minute, instead of merely experiencing it. he
'ould not have been more delighted nor have
the correctness OF that interest
ng thesis more palpably. He looked over at
Nellie, now playing, and clearly had thoughts
'f ut once rushing over, regardless of the laws
II ceremony and OF tennis, to bury the
iatchct, coram pubhco, and effect a new treaty
# peace. That was the the unseltish charm
Of the man. Not a word of reproaeh, not q