The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1888-05-26

| uhuRnty GIRL unuer ner Dreatn.
"Hows your par' Mr.. Nicklepod con-
tinucd.
"Qute well, but little crossn said
Florence, bending over the ''porringer" as
She called 1t. II hope you are not cross, Mr.
Nicklepod9'
The smile deepened about the girls mouth
as she wondered what must have been her
expression of countenance when giving ut
terance to these words. She felt 1t to be
the most designing speech of her life
"Cross with youl" protested the old man.
| gallantly; impossible. can't believe the
judge Is ever cross, Blossom; but II he is
you can run right away to my house any
time, and you shall have any thing you
want as long as you live"
~ seem to be travelling by lightning ex-
press. and on the locomotive at that" said
the mink, soto yoce. "But whit would papa
do" she asked of the trumpet.
"You will be leaving him some time, l
suppose, Blossom,"
"Yes, in about fifty years." said the girl
to herself.
"And you see, child" Mr. NiclSlepod went
on, "it would be very handy for your pa IL
he only had to come next door to see YOU"
II never thought of that" said Flossie !:
"and guess I'll come" she said aloud, and
then to herself; II wish dared ask him
how long he thinks he is going to live."
"Fve a good mind to take you at your
word, Blossom. I'm pretty old man, but
hearty yet, and there Is one thing haven't
forgot and that's how to treat women folks
I'm very lonesome old duffcr, zoo, with all
my money, child.
'.The back gate would be real convenient
for papa, wouldn't it." said Flossie into the
trumpet, and in u tone which was just on
the edge of sob. "But by what gate could
Jack come ini' was the next thought, and
now the sob was softly shattered, and the
April tears fell in binding mist.
blossom, what's the matter!' said the
old man, with real concern. SIT can't be
possible that the judge has really been
cross enough to make you cry"
so, no, indced!" said Flossie. II was
thinking how nice it would be to have all
the flowers l wanted"
"You could have had those at any time"
was the somewhat disconnected response.
eyes, Mr. Nicklepod"- was deter
mined to be honest even in the hour of her
greatest deceit-'and all the money"
The scanned and wrinkled face took on n
grave expression, and the old head shook n
little at the mention of this word.
"Money isn't every thing, Blossom" he
said, money won't provide me with ears,
or keep the rheumatism out of my knees, or
the loneliness from my heart. But you
shall have money. Now go 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 din
ner 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 I'm engaged, anyway--plighted
| to an octogenarian, or centurian, or some
thing of that kind. Jacs'll hate me, of
course; but when he finds have done it for
his sake he'll have to relent If dontha
but million, that will be better than
scraping and twisting for years to save five
thousand dollars. Papa always said that
riches would be very becoming to me. Poor
papa! Poor Jack!"
When the Judge returned to his home,
about three o'clock that afternoon, he was
much surprised to find his daughter reclin-
ing upon the library lounge with her head
| tied up.
whats the matter, Flossies What is it
smells so!"
Vinegar, papa. I've had Mysteries, and
this is the reaction"
II hope you are not getting cranky, and
weak, and nervous, like the girl of the
period, Floss"
II am not getting any thing, papa; I've
got-Tve got all l want, and more than
want; and nothing that want. I've got
old Mr.. Nicklepod and his ear-trumpet fol
my future husband, papa, and there's mil
lions in it; but wherc-oh, where is JACKIE
For moment the judge stood as if petri-
fed and then burst into u perfect torrent of
laughter. At this point the vinegar band
age was discarded, and the prospective mil
Tn CIT
"Isnt it funny? Isn't it oe,Y funny?" she
remarked, with flashing eyes. But you are
responsible for it, with your talk about five
thousand dollars. went deliberately into
Mr. Nicklepod's, and made him propose to
me- l 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 to-
night, and then ercunt parties and dances
with Jack so handsome and lovely in his
full-dress suit, and enter long-sleeved
gowns and old age without ears"
sYou'll have ears enough for both," said
the Judge. 'grhey seem to have grown
longer since morning"
''But papa, Mr.. Niclllepod is certainly
over eighty, isn't hes"
''Flossic, what have you been doing!"
''Truly, papa, just what said o, dea,
me, how my head aches. Mercy! how my
heart aches!"
Upon my word l thought better Of
Nicklepod," said the judge to himsel
awhile afterwards. "But pity the man
young, old or middle-aged-who gets my
Floss" and then the judge laughed again
though there was touch of something be
sides merriment in his heart
That evening the millionaire was Mt hi.
best. Carefully dressed and 'valeted," a.
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.
'sHe ia real handsome" was the astonish
ing reply, ''and shall live to be proud o.
him.
81 suppose Blossom has told you of oul
compact" Mr. Nichlepod began, when a
dessert, the servants having left the dining
room.
The judge nodded, the ear-trumpet being
on Flossie's side.
''Are you agreed" was the next direc
question put by the old gentleman
"Nod up and down." said Flossie. "Don'
you dare do it sideways"
The Judge reached for the trumpet ant
yelled into it.:
''We'll talk about that later.''
ssVery WE'LL" said Mr.. Nicklepod; ~ am
as told Blossom, an old man, and perhap
not very good company; but know how Il
treat women folks-lct 'em have thei
: liberty, and give them plenty of money
, eh." and now the millionaire's face wa
, fairly radiant
, ''That ought to be satisfactory" said tn
! Judge; 'but there are those who woul
t abuse such broad privileges-and one o