The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1889-01-09
M'PELICAN'S WOOlNG.
The Rare Nerve That Carried Hin
Through the POpping Ordeal.

Through the Popping Ordeal.
Shave you ever experienced the
feeling, Mr.. McPelican," said the
young lady, softly, that some great
opportunity was within your grasp,
but you had hardly the presence of
mind, the-the courage, as it were. to
avail yourself of itp"
"Why-er-yes, Miss Quickstep.
have sometimes had kind of feeling
as il I'd been sort of sent for and
couldn't go, you know"
Miss Amanda sighed dreamily, and
there was pause, during which the
two sat in the semi-darkness of the
Quickstep parlor and exchanged pro-
found silences.
The door opened and Miss Amanda
elderly female relative looked in.
1.-The book you are looking for,
auntie," said the young lady, with en-
tire self-possession and some empha-
sis. sis probably in the library"
The elderly female relative with
drew, and Amanda spoke again in the
soft, musical, persuasive voice of a
trained applicant for charity.
"She will not disturb us again, Mr..
Mcclellan"
''She-she wasn't disturbing me
aAy," he protested.
And he sat and looked helplessly at
tine glowing Goals in the CRATE, with
the feeling that every breath he drew
was Notifying and CHASTITY blunder.
"As you were about to say, Mr.. Nc
Pelican" resumed the young lady,
"there aSe times when it seems to all
of us we must speak what is in our
h in our minds
Eyes" vaguely answered the be-
wildered youth, and he tried to re-
member whcr he had started to say
any thing of the kind; "yes,o' course. "
"And while l am not sure that !
ought to listen to you, Mr.. Mcclellan"
she said, with downcast eyes, "when
you speak to me in this-in this per.
sonal manner, yet"
The young man could feel his pulse
beating tattoo on the drums of his
ears, but he sat like a bound boy at a
corn-husking and said nothing.
by the way" exclaimed Miss
Amanda, presently, II have new
book of engravings, Mr.. Mcclellan, that
I am sure you will enjoy seeing. 1t is
large book, and you'll have to move
your chair-why, certainly, you can
sit here with me on the sofa. l never
thought of that!'
The pictures danced before the eyes
of the young man in blurred, confused
images.
"Isn't this engraving of the Court,
ship of Florence Dombey and Walter
Gay perfectly lovely?"
(Which is Waltz" he gasped.
"There! Look closer. Don't you
see himp"
"W-who's he courtingp"
you'll have to come closer, Mr..
Mcclellan. l declare, though" and
she looked archly at the trembling
youth, II am almost afraid to let you
come any nearer. You look exactly
like Walter in the pictured"
And then the arm of that helpless
young man stole in timid, apologize,
sneaking way around the waist of the
charming Amanda Quickstep, hel
head sank on his shoulder, and the
book of engravings fell neglected to
the floor.
Alfred" she said, an hour later, a:
she toyed with button of his coat
''you bold boy! How on earth did YOU
ever muster up the courage to ask me
to be your wifep You know wei
enough never gave you particle o
encouragement"
The young man patted her conde
scendingly on the head and then spoke
proudly, with the voice of an Ajax de
flying the lightning:
when l make up my mind to d.
any thing, Amanda, no obstacle OF
earth can stop mel" Chicago Tribune