The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1888-03-16

cnu- whose writlng - that bold that Il
always makes me blush.''
Ever, body laughed. and Tankerdale
said: AUNT Jane still writes with u fine
old gold pen she used thirty years ago.
A modern rib u 50 broad that II shocks
her.
do you find tho autograph hunters
very tiresome?' said Helena 10 me.
"1hcy are pests" ! answered. "h
they had been numbered amongst the
plaques Of Egypt, Pharaoh would
either have given in much sooner. or
settled the Jewish question by whole
sale massacre"
"Givc me the autograph at the foot
Of a check" murmured Cudgell. in his
coffee-cup. with his eye on the host.
when l was young" said Aunt
Jane, II once had a letter from
Grimaldi, the famous clown. you know.
Long before your time" added the
old lady, looking at pse. LAY, clowns
uere CLOWNS in those days." She
seemed to believe that / was Grimaldi's
successor, and a very poor substitute.
''But | hope you don't think every
one q pest who asks for your auto
graph" said Helena.
by such a request from you,
should feel honorcd." said L But
the general nuisance is SO great that
am obliged to tell these people what
really think Of them" And then ! ex-
planned my glorious scheme for scarf
flying the autograph hunter. and eman-
cipating my brothers in distinction and
distress
"Exccllentr' said Cudgcll; "but
wouldn't il lie rather awkward II you
were to meet some Of them. say at .
table like tnis?"
MIR. 1Fitzphosphorus knows hi
friends foo WE'LL" said Helena
Don't be too sure Of that" laughed
her father. IF you had sem him an
autograph album. you might have had
a whitening quotation like the rest"
At this a curious shiver Of present..
ment ran through me. and | looked in
quiringly at Helena. who had a queer
" mysterious expression in her eyes.
But here the irreprcssible old lady
broke in again.
"When l wa young" she qua
yercd. "shcy used to write verses
about me. MY brother Charles picked
up a piece Of paper one morning. and
said il was dropped by the man who
swept the chimney. / remember two
lines very well indeed
"sQueen OF Beauty. while you sleep.
Dream you Of your chimney-sweeps'".
Don't you know that l sent you
my autograph album" said Helena.
suddenly.
NV blood ran cold. ~ have not re-
ceivcd it," | gasped.
lit was some time ago." she said.
~ had never asked for an autograph
before. and l thought | would try The
effect Of the request on the only emf
ncnt man l know. 1 scarcely knew
you n all. though. when | sent the al
BAN. And TO make the onslaught al
the more formidable, ! sent a book fol
papa and another for Aunt Jane. Blu
OF course you have overlooked them
remembered with horror that only
that very morning I had cleared Of
some arrears Of albums in a great hur'
~ and a very bad temper. that ! had
not examined the names OF the sender
and had left them to be addressed and
posted BY somebody else
Was it a fancy. or did ! hear thu
postman's knock? A few minutes later
q servant entered with three books.
"why. here they are!" cried Hele
ma. glcefully.
snow, we shall see how Mr.. Fitz
phosphorus distinguishes his friends
said Cudgcll. with a malicious smile
never liked that man.
take some more claret and brace
Yourself up" said Tankcrdalc.
But l was far beyond the fortifyins
aid II clarct. I saw Helena glance a
! one II the books. turn pale and the
, fiery red. look At the other albums, AM
( then. with one indignant flash at me
rush from the room.
..Hallor' said Cudgell, lyon hav'
! been pitching " stVonS- Lbs - AAci
ena's quotation: God has given yo'
one face. and you make yourselves an
other Here's a crusher for You. Tan
d kcrdalc: How like . fawning publican
he looks
s.By George. sirl' cried my hos
i bouncing u Of his chair, "this j.
deliberate insultT'
I ..And hercis a sweet thing for Aun
4 Jane continued Cudge. striking
9 dramatic attitude: "sAroint thee
y witch! the rump-fed ronyon cries."
I The old lady was purple with fury
calls me a witch and an onion. doe
hep she screamed. when | wa
) Young. my brother Charles would hav
b broken his head. Now there's no on
10 protect mc-no one-though q vag
4 abond out o. a circus, a monster out Q
4 mcnagerie-"
r Here she broke down aud wept. Al.
a commence has nothing TO do either wit
1 a circus or 4 mcnagcrie, but did no
dwell on that / tried TO convinc
= than that was the victim Of n dis