The Somerset reporter., 1888-07-05
SELECTED.
The m ERCHAkT.

Il am sure, sir said Mrs. Outwood
with a sort of esthctic claspng of the
hands, 1--WE never can he grateful enough
Tor the honor you think of doing oul
Geraldine
Mr., Southmayed sat mp little straight
or, drew long breath and looked down
| at his neatly trimmed finger nails. with an
air of conscious superiority.
| Shes young said Mr.. Southmayed.
Eighteen next week. apologetically
| remarked Mrs Outwood; but dear me,
sir, she's growing older every day
Your remarks, madam, are character.
lied by truth, said Mr. Southmayed
She is also Uniformed and inexperen-
ced, but time works wonders. am will
ing to take the responsibility. As for
this girlish fancy of hers for young
Apologize
''She will get over it, hurriedly inter-
posed Mrs. Outwood ''IIenry Apologize
never can have the audacity to stand in
your way, Mr.. Southmayed"
And when the fat elderly shipping mcr-
chant had taken his departure. Mrs Out
wood made haste to call Geraldine down
stairs and communicated to her the I'M
expected ray of good fortune which had
beamcd upon them
Outwood, her red lips apart, her soft, vel
vet brown eyes braming unqualified sur
prise "What, old Mr. Southmayed!"
Mr.. Southmayed :" corrected her
mother. Yes, Geraldine; he really and
truly has condesccnded to admire YOU"
"But don't admire him" saucily re
marked the young beauty BALD headed,
long bearded | would as soon marry
the smoky old picture, Noses Blessing
the Children of Israel that hangs in
the back parlor."
"Geraldine,' quoth Mrs. Outwood, i'm
pressivcly, do you want to do fine sew
ing and take in boarders for living, as |
have done ali my lifctime?"
Il needn't do that, mamma" chirpcd
Geraldine, hopefully. Harry Apple
gate"
There CURLY interrupted her mother
81 don't want to hear anything about Mr..
Apologize. Hereafter he will be nothing
to you, nor you to him"
mamma, how can that be, when we
are engagcd?'
Engaged" croaked Mrs Outwood, in
voice like the cry of an astounded raw
en-.
"Gcraldine, if hear any more Of this
boy,and-girl fol-dc-rol shall be seriously
offended with YOU.
But mamma
My dear, he has given me Il five hun
dred dollar bill to get any ncCcssaries as
he generously expresses himself, and we
must 90 out at once
Geraldne's eyes flashed, and her slrn-
der figure Strengthened itself
We are not beggars, mamma"
But for all that, II little ready money
In a.
how much of it will he at your disposal
soon, if"
"lf?" echoed Geraldine. "Mamma, |
never, never viii consent to"
''flold your tongue, miss" sternly
commanded Mrs. Outwood, with bend
ing of the brows which had queled Ger
aldine many Il time during her childhood,
and had not entirely lost its efficacy yet.
you will consent or will know the rca-
son why | am not one to allow you in
your ma folly to let this golden oppor-
tunity slip through your fingers. If Young
Apologize makes any difficulty, send him
To me. | can find ways and means to
settle his scrupleS. Mrs. Southmayed
you shall he before you are three months
older so put on your things and let US 90
out"
Geraldine obeyed in silence; but she
was not entirely subdued, as Mrs. out
wood might have known by the glitter
beneath her eyelashes, and the burning
spots on her checks.
Mrs. Outwood was woman of indom-
table resolution, and Geraldine was
true chip of the old block.
Il won't marry him. Geraldine said, to
herself, mot if | smother him with
pillow, like Othello and Desdemona
lIorrid old wretch, what business had he
come proving and purring about after
young wife. If he wants to marry any
one it ought to be mamma won't give
Harry up for all the rich old bald heads
in New York, so there.