Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1888-05-04


$50 came and be and Mary stepped
out in the moonlight to go home.
They picked their way along the side
walk slowly cautiously and in silence.
John did Dot speak for. two reasons.
He was oppressed with the thought
that be bad been particularly stupid
during the whole evening. and he was
repeating the sentence, Mary, let Us
share cur mutual woes" so that when
that when they stood beneath the
light in the little parlor he could put
his arm around her and say il with
out blnndering. Mary was silent
with expectation.
How brief sentence would have
made them suprcmely happy
Johns Observation-Disclosures served to
distract his attention from the icy
walk nl0re than be should have al
lowed, and no less than half dozen
times Mary's feet slipped, but each
time she found herself borne up by
her sturdy lover. Each slip was ac-
companied with little Shrek, and
when she was again safe her soft
laugh was music to him.
A group of boys pulling o sled
turned the corner ahead aud dashed
past them. Mary turned her head to
glance after them. Her foot slipped
"a little shrek, and she was down.
But she wasn't alone. In falling she
had managed to knock Johns feet
from under him, and be lad fallen,
too. Each scrambled to rise quickly,
and their heads came together with q
souud bump.
John was in the throes of mortifi-
cation from his awkwardne when
Mary said naively as he helped her
to her feet:
1--WE seem to be sharing our mu-
tual woes"
He was amazed. The very SEN
tence LIE had been saving 70. under
the gaslighi! . Before he could tske
advantage of his present opportunity,
however, Mary seemed to realize
that she had been immodest, and she
talked necessarily as they walked ou,
as if determined that he should reap
no advantage from her remark. John
made several efforts to recall the op-
portunity. but was baffled every time.
Then he determined to wait until
they stoud beneath the gaslight; but
when they reached the parlor the
light seemed to burn more brig htly
than ever before, and his courage de
parted. Once he made an effort, but
the first word that came from his lips
was "woes" and the consciousness
that he was laundering caused him to
blush and pause before trying again.
But sweet "What were you going
to say" completed his embarrass.
ment, and he answered Nothing, "
and in despair prepared to go.
A moment later, as they stood at
the parlor door exchanging the last
words, and as johns hand Yves on
the knob, Mary turned her blue eyes
to him and said with o laugh:
You'll be sure to get home with
out falling, for you'll have nc one to
drag you down"
Johns face was crimsoned. He
was abont to protest she hadn't drag
ged him down, when be thought of
his lost opportunity after they had
fallen. He had feeling that the SEN
tence be had been trying to say all
the evening would be singularly in
opportune now, but he was determin-
ed not to lose another chance. De.
spite that feeling, and in sheer desper-
alton. he gasped:
MARY, let Us woes our mutual
shares always"
Mary looked puzzled. For d mo-
ment she didn't grasp the purport of
the misquoted sentence. When it
dawned upon her food of crimson
passed over her face, her eyes fell and
she whispered
yes"
And John, with newly acquired
courage, put his arms around her and
drew her to his breast. Then John
was at peace and Mary was at peace.
and Mary was perfectly happy. The
question bad been asked and answer
ed, and she had fittingly blushed be-
sides waving the privilege of leap
year.