The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1889-09-07

of him while he stayed.
"Oh!'' said Brown, "I've rich joke
to tell YOU"
"Do let me hear It,"
"As was coming this way tonight,
who do you think / metz"
"Whop"
"Your particular friend Mr.. White. "
"My particular friendP" sneered
Lydia.
"Yes. but never mind that; l amt
afraid of him!''
"But how did you know himw
30, had caught glimpse OF him
before. But he didn't know me. and
.hats the cream of the joke"
"How SOP"
"Why, you see, we fell in with each
other, and as he was coming this way,
we got to talking about the folks in
these diggings. Says L:
"'Old Squire Little lives somewhere
near here, don't hep
eyes, says he, grinning-for the
moon shone, and could see him grin
do you know his daughterp
"Tve heard of her. says 1; she's
pretty, they say
"'Well, she isn't any thing else,
says White, and he looked at me as If
he thought he was pulling the wool
over my eyes completely"
"'She has plenty of beaux, hear,
says l.
Eyes says he, laughing; there is a
fellow by the name of Brown trying to
come in there, suppose you know
go, yes,' says /, but he can't
al looked very closely at him, and
saw he did not mistrust l was Brown,
and could hardly keep from laughing
right out.
"'He can't come in,' says l: there's
fellow by the name of White that's
going to cut him out, hear
eyes says he, "White stands a
pretty good chance, 1 guess. 1 know
White
".Do you, though says /; cant
YOU introduce me some timeP In re-
turn I'll do you the favor to introduce
YOU to Brown, whom am intimately
acquainted with. Browns good sor,
of fellow. although he may be unfortu-
nate in his love affairs. He is a good
natured fellow, and presume that, il
he were in my place now, and you
were White himself, he'd sooner joke
you than quarrel with YOU"
That's just the way with Write,
says he, he wouldn't quarrel with you
if you were Brown
81 talked with the fellow in this way
for some time, and kept my countenance
so well that he'll be surprised, reckon
when he learns l am Brown himself
Wasn't it a rich joke, Lydia?'
"Ah, very!' replied the girl, laugh
ing heartily. "But what noise is thatP
"There are footsteps"
40, it is father!" exclaimed Lydia,
not little furried. "Quick-yor
must gov'
Brown didn't wait for ceremony, but
lodged into the kitchen in hot haste
He would have hastened from the house
in an instant, but he heard voice
which sounded so strangely that he
had curiosity to know if it was in
deed Mr.. Little who had come.
He crept softly back to the door by
which he had made his exit, dropped
on his knees, and applied his ear to the
key-hole.
At that moment he heard noise thai
sounded so much like hearty kiss
that it made his heart come up into hi:
mouth as large as pumpkin.
He looked-and oh, the faithlessnes:
and fickleness of woman! there wa:
Lydia, blsshing and smiling in the
arms of his rival-of his new acquaint.
ance-White!
Browns first impulse was to burst
through the door and eat up his rival
but he soon thought better of it, and
determined to give him a few moment:
reprieve before he demolished him ell
tirely.
oThere, stop!" cried Lydia. "Yor
shan't kiss me again tonight
why not?" asked White.
because you didn't come to see me
at the time / appointed. It's alls o
twenty minutes later. That's why"
"You don't imagine what good ex
cuse I've got" replied White, laugh
ing.
What is itp"
81 met chap who bothered me-"
THAT was me-" thought Brown
still looking through the key-hole. g
did bother him, and ! bluifed him OF
nicely, too 1 wish l had wrung hi
neck for him!'
you can't guess who it was, Lydia,
said White, laughing.
"Do you knowP"
ITO be sure l do! though he didn'
mistrust knew him. 1t was my re
doubtable rival, Mr.. Brown
"The deuce-!'' muttered the lis
tener, biting his lips in perplexitys
"Did you meet that fellow?" asked
Lydia. 20, l wish you knew HOY
much fun I've had with him! Why
the great TOOL hatters himself 1 an
ninny enough to love him!'
Highly complimentary" sai(
Brown. grinding his teeth, and lookin,
harmless daggers through the key
hole.
"You'd have been amused, Lydia
to hear me talk with him and lay o.
the soft soap! got the wool over nj
eyes nicely. He didn't know me, ant