The Warner sun. (Warner, Brown Co., Dakota [S.D.]) 1885-1???, 1888-05-25
OLD Mr.. NICKLEPOD..
BY Il

glaaly give my consent 20 your mar
riage,"
How much money, papa2'
REALLY, Flossie, you are incorrigi-
bic. Say $5.ooo,"
"And that. with his present salary
would take FIVE years at least"
"And you would have reached the
advanced age Of 23."
Pretty old, papa"
''Yes,in the neighborhood Of the'sere
and yellow"
"Pve a good mind to marry Mr..
~Nicklepod."
Excellent idea. He weald doubtless
settle a million on you, and be accom-.
modating enough to die in amonth or
two"
"He's most old enough to die, isn't
hep
Judge Somerton looked up from his
pile Of papers and gave his daughters
speaking countenance a quick exam
nation. There was something in her
manner Of asking this question a little
different from usual, and the judge
was an expert in detecting shades OF
this kind.
"NIr Nicklepod told me one day
that he would give anything if he
could have me about his house all the
time, the girl went on, hall laughing
and hall pouting.
"You would make splendid trump
eter, Floss"
The Judges suspicious were quite
allayed now. and the easiest way out
Of these annoying love complications
was to treat the matter as lightly as
possible.
''0h, my lungs are good" said Flos-
sic; "and / wouldn't mind singing into
the trumpet. Papa somerton, what a
lark Think Of how many edifying
things I could say with my back to
the poor cldgentleman. / could abuse
him to all the furniture in the house,
and he'd never be the wiser. I'll con-
slider it, papa"
"When a woman considers, she is
generally safe"
At this point the Judge resumed his
search among the ~intricacies of chiro.
graphy, and his daughter went on
with her busting and puttIngt to rights.
After q while the silence was again
broken by the latter.
you were poor when you married,
papa2"
''As a church mouse. Flossie.p
why did you do it?"
because | didn't know any bet
ter"
But you and mamma we're very
happy"
difference" and now the kindly,
middle.aged man brought his hand
down hard upon his desk, "if / had
waited until ! had saved some money
your mother would be alive now. Tt
was hardship and poverty that sowed
the seeds OF a fatal disease. In three
years, Flossie, there weretwo Children
born to us. My salary was quite in
adequate for all the added expenses.
Then came frettings and h~eartaches,
and a six months illness OF my own.
We suffered as none can understand
save those who have had similar ex-
periences. Your mother was Is Flos-
sic. She should not have married at
that age. Our love was all rights, but
our marriage at that time was a
fatal mistake. Now you know why i
advise you as / do"
Long after the Judge had left the
house the saddeningeffect ofhis words
remained. but youth is unable to re.
main very long in the shadow Of al
Others grief, and so after q while
Miss Florence doffed her sweeping.cap,
put away her sad thoughts and went
out into the garden. 1t was a warm
April day, and shrubs and grass were
responding in their brightest ann
to natures caressing invitation. Such
a day was too much for Fiossie. She
could scarcely have been sad Under
any p~rovocation, but a look at the
bright, sunny face and the sparkling
brown eyes al enough TO convince
one that the spirit Of mischief was ex-
ceedinglY strong within her. Her co
quettish garden hat was posed at the
exact angle for becomlngness, and her
plump little figure, arrayed IN a dress
shehad cut and madewith her owniair
hands, vas one to be looked after and
admired by every lover of harmony.
There was a gate leading from the
Judges garden to that of his million
ARE neighbor, the latter being possesss
sed Of that genial and generous dispo,
sition which likes to share his pleas.
ures with others. Mr.. NicklepOd, who
was fond OF working with his flowers,
spent much OF his time in his large
lighthouses, and thither the young
woman, cumming and smiling. betook
herself. Mr.. Nicklepod's ear.trumpet
reposed by the side OF bed Of earna-
tion pinks. while its owner busted
himself with some orange trees further
on.
Il wonder how long I could stand
ii to yell into an ear,trnmptt2s' the
visitor soliloquized. "Of Course Icould
hide ii when 4 didn't feel like talking
But then I suppose he'd be maxi
ing signs and iaces at me. ard / should
have to make fnces and signs at him.
and that would be worse than the
trumpet With this the Judge
80 -. ----Lr| 49,. -