The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1889-01-03
TRAPPED.
How AEr. 1TcPeIIcan Mustered Up Courage
EcRAugaR.

How AkF. AIcPelIcaH Mustered Up Courage
Enough.
"Havo you ever experienced the feeling,
Mr.. Mcclellan" said the young lady softly,
shat some great opportunity was within
your grasp, but you had hardly the presence
Of mind, the-ths courage. as it were. to
avail yourself Of itF"
'sWhy-er-yes, Miss Quickstep, 1 hsve
sometimes had kind of feeling as If 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 profound silences
The door opened and Miss Amanda's elderly
female relative looked in
1.-THE book you are looking for, auntie, "
said the young lady, with entire self posses
sion and some emphasis, sis probably in the
library"
The elderly female relative withdrew and
Miss Amanda spoke again in the soft, must.
cal, persuasive voice OF trained applicant
for charity:
''she win not disturb US again, Mr.. Nc
Pelican"
"she-she wasn't disturbing me any" he
protested
And he sat and looked helplessly at the
glowing Goals in the CRATE, with the feeling
that every breath he drew was q morifyin
and CHASTITY blunder.
''As you were about to say, Mr. McPeI
can" resumed the young lady, ''there are
times when it seems to all of Us that we must
speak what is in our b in our minds"
Eyes" vaguely answered the bewildered
youth, and he tried to remember when hs
had started to say anything of the kind;
''yes, O course"
listen to you, Mr. Mcclellan" she said, with
downcast eyes, when you speak to me il
this-in this personal manner, yeti
The young man could feel his pulse beating
q tattoo on the drums Of his ears, but he sal
like bound boy at corn hushng and said
nothing.
SPY the way" exclaimed Miss Amanda
presently, ST have new book Of engravings
Mr.. Mcclellan, that am sure you viii en-
joy seeing. It is large book, and you'll
have to move your chair-why, certainly,
you can sit here with NE on the sofa
never thought of thatp'
The pictures danced before the eyes Of thG
young man in blurred, confused images.
"Isn't this engraving of the 'Courtship Of
Florence Dombey and Walter Gay perfectly
lovelyT"
s'Wh-which is Waltz he gasped.
'"rherei Look closer. Don't you see himP
ssW-who's he courtingP'
''You'n have to come closer, Mr.. McPeli
can. ] declare. though" and she looked
archly at the trembling youth, 'pm almos
afraid to let you come any nearer. You lool
exactly like Walter in the pictured"
And then the arm Of that helpless young
man stole in a timid, apologetic, sneakinl
way around the waist Of the charming
Amanda Quickstep, her head sunk on hi
shoulder, and the book Of engravings fel
| neglected to the floor.
''Alfred," she said, an hour later, as sh'
0p his hrlf
boyI How on earth did you ever muster NJ
| the courage to ask me to be your wife! Yol
| know well enough / never gave you particl
| of encouragement"
The young man patted her condescend
| ingly ON the head and then spoke proudly
with the voice Of an Ajax defying the light
| ming:
''When make up my mind to do any
thing, Amanda, no obstacle on earth ca
| stop mel'
Innocent young Mr.. McPeIcanI-Chicag,
| Tribune.