Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1890-02-05
From the Home Queen.
M OFFER

mine to Miss Marian Lee [ felt that it
was, taken all in all, very tolerable
composition.
1t was warm day, and I had no par
ticular fancy for the long walk to the
post-office, and just then I heard my Sis
ter Augusta call to the nurserymaid.
whom she always addressed as "Bob-
bins" though, of course, she had some
baptismal name of her own.
Take these invitations to the post
office. Bobbins," she said. eff you'll
hurry you'll catch the last MALL
| was not anxious that my sister
should see the address on the letter
and comment on it; so [ waited until
she returned to the house, and then
slipped out of the library and called
Jack.
Jack" said /, ''run after Bobbins
and give her this letter."
Jack snatched it and obeyed me. I
had done the deed, had cast the die.
All could do was to wait. l did
wait. A day passed-two-three-
stances should have called; but with
that letter pending, of course that was
impossible.
endeavored to possess my soul with
patience. Being so occupied with nv
own thoughts, it was some time before
I noticed that Bobbins was behaving
herself in very peculiar way.
At last, one evening, as sat upon the
porch in the twilight smoking cigar,
and wondering when | should get a re-
ply to my letter, Bobbins fiuttered out
Ill a miraculously 1uted cap and apron,
and sided into the corner behind me.
'FIt's Master Jacks hat as he left bout
ere she explained. But though she
found the hat, she still remained in the
corner.
moved my chair that she might pass
more easily; but this was evidently not
what she wanted, for in a moment
small pink claw rested on my shoulder,
and the voice of its owner said: "Oh,
Mister Reginald, 'ow Apply [ nam, to be
sure! %
Tam very glad TO hear it, Bobbins."
said [.
And don't you think, sir,'' said she.
that when young person as not the
pen Of a steady writer, hansWers by
word of mouth is far more satisfactory
to them as is in love and waiting for
them anxious like ?"
| knew that Bobbins had a sweet
heart, who did something athletic in a
sugar warehouse, and was spoken of by
the other servants with admiration on
account of his size, but [ had not ex-
pected to receive her confidence in the
matter. Was it possible that she dis
cerned in me that fellow feeling which
makes US all akin? At all events I
could answer her as one who knew.
Eyes, Bobbins," said I; "never en-
trust to the postman what you can do
with your own tongue"
And if you think so, sir,' said Bob
bins, ''the difficulty of want of hearty
heducation is hovercome, and | kin re-
ply verbatim, as [ heard my master
say the other day, and my reply is this:
Hif you loves me as loves you no
knife can cut our arts in two"
"Both sensible and poetical, Bob
bins" said [.
ooh, what love you are !" said Bob
bins, patting me on the cheek.
Bobbins was an absurd little creature;
but she was a girl and | was young
man. 1t seemed to me at that moment
the proper thing to kiss Bobbins, and [
did it. At that moment the voice of
my beloved nephew Jack sounded be-
hind me-"
where is my hat ?" it squealed.
And Bobbins fed, with much show of
trepidatlon, while [ busted my lips,
SOuGdCb Will DOOO1uS CuOGk udN1u2
proven to them that she was not be-
hind her betters in the use of violet
powder.
That evening Jack distinguished him
self by making statementtha Uncle
Reggy had a mash on Bobbins." for
which vulgarity, I am glad to say, he
WAS promptly sent to bed, explaining
between his sobs, however, that "he
saw him kiss her."
NV sister was very grave with me
that evening; but Bobbins was so curl
ously prim and 80 positively plain, and
my opinion of her appeared so thor
oughly established, that [ was not long
under suspicion, and having escaped
this time l was determined not to;allow
Bobbins TO place me in false position
again. And this was why, when I saw
her the next day "niggling" up the
garden path in more than usually af-
fected fashion, / hid behind the car
rage house.
She had just parted from her athletic
sweetheart, and he was coming toward
the gate in what seemed to be a rather
unpleasant state of mind. However,
that was nothing to me; and [ came
from my retirement in an unconcerned
fashion, whistling, and expected that
Bobbins' young man would be sensible
enough to steer himself OutOt the way.
However, he did not. He came
straight on. bis fist doubled, his brow
bent, his lower jaw protruding, and our
toes met, and my eyes on level with
his scarf pima small golden hogshead.
Then be stood still; and it was my in
tention that he should "turn to the
right. as the law directs" and not I. |
stood still also.
"What do you mean by this here? ?"
said he in low and awful tones. ''Come
now--I want TO know"
"What has happened to you, my good
man ?" | asked in as sarcastic and exas-
perating manner as | could assume.
"Do you know who / am ?" asked he.
81 have understood that your reason
for being about the premises now and
then was Bobbins," | said.
Hop said be, "And amt there
nothing saycrid IN your 'ristycritic