The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1889-06-08

"Your dodge with tho butchers boy
proves you amt such u fool as Jupp thinks
you,n he said generously.
~ am much obliged to you" said dryly.
"Well you know | didn't myself think
you sharp enough to get over Mother Cleg-
sons wariness. She hates the idea of any
feller who's only got lardy-dardy ways
and good looking simper 'anging after
Ady," rejoined Mr.. Plum, while inwardly
resolved that, once the prize was secured, i
would eliminate him and all my uncle's
crew from my list of acquaintances.
At length we came in sight of Violet
Villa, and Plum commenced some of his
vulgar tdcetiu, as comparing me to man in
doubt whether he was to be "turned off, +"
or reprieved, etc, etc, AT last he condo
scended to listen to my request (Which was
an additional proof, in his eyes, of my newly
acquired "smartness'0 that he would decoy
the old lady into the conservatory, by pre-
ceding me, and thus facilitating my momen'
tous interview with Ada.
"a very good notion" he said, "and
really think this time your uncle can't say
but you've scored a success"
Thus conversing we neared the house,
when MIR. Plum went on in front, and en-
tering the gate crossed the lawn, and, with
the familiarity of an old friend, entered by
the drawing room window. gave him time
enough to decoy the old girl into the con-
servatory, and then marched up the drive,
feeling pretty sure all was successful. lrang
the bell. No response / rang again, and
the pretty maid opened it; unusually
smartly dressed and good-looking she
seemed, and colored most vividly on seeing
me. / looked at her admiringly, wishing
that Miss Clegson was as pretty, and she
looked silently and with some agitation at
me.
And then suddenly she threw herself into
my arms, exclaiming; Eyes, darling, yes!
That is the answerl"
"What the deuce do you meant" / said,
struggling with my fair and somewhat
weighty burden. "Why, the girls gone
madl"
80, no dearest, Pm not mad, and love
you with all my heart!" and she pressed a
kiss on my lips that sounded like pistol
shot.
At this moment the drawing-room door
opened, and out came Mrs. Clegson, who
stood petrified. "Well, upon my word, sir p'
she said, with spiteful triumph in her tone:
'but it only iustifies my opinion of you all
along"
"What the doose dye mean, young Les
terleyl" said Mr. Plum. "This is new
game, and not fair to me, you know"
And Miss Clegson, with bitter scorn, said
"And This is your choice, sirl" While Mr.
Cutely said nothing, but showed his teeth
like dentists model.
Meanwhile my fair companion, still cling
ing to me, looked, with pride in her port, de-
fiance in her eye, on the assembled compa-
ny. Then / tried TO explain. And Miss
ClegsoD shrieked with horror at the men
tion of the butcher boy Frantically freeing
myself from the soubrette, said, looking
daggers at the old lady: II asked the
butcher, there being no other way, to give
my note to Miss Ada.n
And got it, DEAR" murmured the ""etty
servant.
'sYoum said /, 'but | meant-aren'S you
Miss Ada Clegsonn / said confusedly &c
the young lady, when the old one acidly
answered:
'DIy daughters name, sir is Hadee, from
her poor fathers Eastern post. o, had at
seen this day!'
Eyes, / told you," said the vulgar Plum
"Ady-you heard me right enough"
"Well, perhaps" interposed the grinning
Cutely, ''we'd better leave this gentleman
and Miss Ada to settle matters" and the
quartette went back into the drawing room
Then we two explained, / and Ada NILSSON
which was the pretty servants name
Then on my disavowing my letter. there
was another scene. She had thrown over
the grocer's young man for me; was 8
cruel man, and so on; and she'd got my let
ter, and she'd see lawyer, etc, etc. And
then, half frantic / fed to my hotel, "tc
drown my sorrows in the bowl"
OF course had to expend some of my
balance in compensating Ada. OF course
Cutely proposed and was accepted. OF
course Uncle Jupp behaved like a mad hip
popotamus, and furiously declared could
go an blunderng through life in my own
way. But, really, do you think it was my
fault or Plum's s!-Belgravia.