Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1888-06-13


ears, or keep the rheumatism out of my
knees, or the loneliness from my heart:
But you shall have money. Now 60 and
tell John to cut all the flowers you want,
and then run home and tell your pa of my
offer. think you had both better come
in and take dinner with me tonight, and
We'll talk it all over"
"He doesn't act particularly hilarious,
seems to me-" said Flossie, as she turned
away. "But Pm engaged, any way
plighted to an octogenarian, or ceturlon,
or Something of that kind. Jack'll hate
me, of course !; but when he finds l have
done it for his sake he'll have to reient.
If don't have but million, that Will De
better than scraping and twisting TOR years
to save five thousand dollars. Papa al
ways said that riches would be very De, e,
coming to me. Poor papa! Poor JACK J!
When the Judge returned to his home,
about three o'clock that afternoon, he was
surprised to find his daughter reclining
upon the library-lounge with her head tied
f"what's the matter, Flossie? What
is it smells so?"
"Vinegar, papa. I've had mysteries,
and this is the reaction.
"I hope you are not getting cranky,
and weak, and nervous, like the girl OF
the period, Floss" ,,
"I'm not getting anything, papa; I've
got. I'ye got all l want, and more than
want, and nothing that want. I've got
old Mr.. Nicklepod and his ear trumpet
for my future husband, papa, and there's
millions in it; but where-oh, Where Is
Jack?"
For moment the Judge stood as if pet
rified. and then burst into perfect torrent
of laughter. At this point the vinegar
bandaee was discarded, and the prospecc-
tive millionaireSs came to sitting posi-
ton. o,,
"Isn't it funny? Isn't it very funny?,
she remarked, with flashing eyes. but
YOU are responsible for it, with your talk
about five thousand dollars. I went de-
liberately into Mr.. Nicklepod's, and made
him propose to me. was bound to settle
it to-day. And now, papa, will you break
the news to Jack? We are to dine with
the ear-trumpet tonight, and then exeunt
parties and dances, with Jack so hand
some and lovely in his full dress suit, and
enter long.sleeved gowns and OLD age
without ears" =,
"You'U have ears enough for both,"
said the Judge. ''They seem to have
grown longer since morning."
"But, papa, Mr.. Nicklepod is certainly
over eighty, isn't he" 81,
81 lossie what have you been dolng",
"Truly, papa, just what l said. on,
dear me, how my head aches! Mercy !
how my heart aches!"
"Upon my word I thought better OF
Nicklepod," said the Judge to himself
while afterward. ''But pity the man
young, old or middle-aged--who gets my
Floss V*and then the Judge laughed again,
though there was touch OF something
besides merriment in his heart.
That evening the millionaire was at his
best. Carefully dressed and "valeted,"
as Flossie remarked, he looked much
Younger than when in his garden or on
the street.
"Good for forty years, | should say,
Floss" whispered the Judge, wickedly.
"He is real handsome" was the as
'tonishing reply. "and I shall live to be
proud Of him."
II suppose Blossom has told you of our
compact" Mr.. Nicklepod began, when at
dessert, the servants having left the
dining-room.
The Jugde nodded, the ear-trumpet be-
ing on Flossie's side:
HAre you agreed?" was the next direct
question put BY the old gentleman.
mod up and down." said Flosse.
"Don't you dare do it Sideways"
The Judge reached for the trumpet and
yelled into it.
"We'll talk about that later"
every WE'LL" said Mr.. Nicklepod; II
am, as I told Blossom, an old man, and
perhaps not very good company; but
know how to treat women folks-let 'em
have their liberty, and give them plenty
of money-eh? ?" and now the millionaire's
face was fairly radiant
"That ought to be satisfactory" said the
Judge; "but there are those who would
abuse such broad privileges one OF
them is not so very far off, either" he
added, under his breath.
"Perhaps! but Blossom wouldn't be one
of that kind. No, indeed; am sure Of
Blossom"
The Judge shook his head Sideways"
that time. It seemed an involuntary
movement.
"Can't you circumlocute to how old he
is, papa? ?" said naughty Flossie.
II was telling Neighbor Davis this NOR
ning," the host began, as if in answer to
her question, "that really look older than
I am, being only seventy-two last week."
"You are in for it," the judge remarked,
as the speaker paused moment to fill his
glass. Feel Of your ears, Floss, and learn
IOE yourself IL ILcy lldVCL SlOWu.
"My father" Mr.. Nicklepod resumed,
Lived to be ninety-six, and then died from
an accident. My mother was in her nine
tieth year when she passed away: In fact,
we are very long-lived race, though we
seem to age early"
According to precedent, twenty years
at least" said the judge.
1.-THE reason 1 haven't married again."
the millionaire went on, "is because l
could never bring myself to believe that
any one whom l cared for could ever care
for me; and to have a wife whose constant
wish was for my death would be rather
hard lines-eh, Blossom ?"
"Blossom managed to nod her head,
but her face was turned away from her
host, and her father was surprised to see
how pale it was.
"Why, are YOU like Cesar's wife," the
latter managed to ask, in his old joking
manner. If Flossie lost her grip at this
crisis the consequences would be more dra-
matte than he cared to contemplate. But
happily the change from the dining-room
to the beautiful library caused change
in the conversation, and the victim of her
own folly had a chance to recover herself
It was long, strange evening, and one to
be remembered while life lasted. The two
men played checkers, while the girl guest
wandered about among the books and
pictures, stealing occasionally into the
great drawing rooms and coming back
again as white and scared as if she had
seen q ghost.
"Will it be lonely for you, Blossom ?"
the old gentleman asked, as she returned
from one of these excursions. "I've been
thinking, he added, without waiting for
an answer, "that it'll make things about
right if 1 can persuade your pa to come,
too. He has no one but you, and then l