Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1890-03-19
A Bachelors Blunder.

VI BOOu iiNiuR, anu Whcu tuo huSuuuu
of our porter was killed, the widow,
Mrs. Rugby, consented to cook for
me. She did know her business, I can
tell you. never was so happy as
when sitting down to meal she had
prepared, and all would have gone
well if 1 had not engaged a private
coachman.
This fellow Thomas had to make
love to my cook. He wanted to
marry her and / saw that the only
way to keep my cook was to marry
her myself if she was willing.
interviewed her at once and said
she couldn't go.
"But I've promised Thomas and
must not break his heart" said Mrs.
Rugby. "I'm too sensitive a nature
to trife with any one else's feelin's sill" I"
groaned and shut my eyes.
Anything else, sir =" said Mrs.
Rugby.
81 shall starve," said l.
"No," said Mrs. Rugby. "You
won't relish your vittels, but you'll
eat 'em. There's many'll be glad to
do for you."
Again she vanished. This time l
did not see her again. l sent for
Thomas.
Thomas" I said, as he came in
wiping his mouth-doubtle IS Mrs.
Rugby had made him some particular
ly exquisite dish-"Thomas, sit down.
l want you to listen to me. l hear
you are going to rob me of Mrs. Rug.
by. I'm surprised, Thomas. l dis
approve.
"We're both of an age, and we
aint bounded slaves" said Thomas.
"But think of me-" said l.
eve did talk you over" said Thom-
as, "and one spell we thought of stay
ing along with you, but the restaurant
seemed better, and you don't want
your wife to hev other interests, you
know, eff you amt jealous"
Then you won't stay?" said l.
mo, sir, thankee. It's a good
place." said Thomas "but I'm an
Englishman, and I want my home to
be my castle. l did think of marry
ing little chambermaid down the
street. Pritty as picter, and only
seventeen, but she hadn't saved any
thing, and Mrs. Rugby had done
wonderful. What's warts on the nose
and trife of fat to that? If the
other one had her savings, why, Of
coarse-but she hasn't"
"How much has Mrs. Rugby saved!'
/ asked.
He told me, and | allowed him to
60. He could be bought off, perhaps
but what was Mrs. Rugby's price
That evening resolved to discover.
Thomas had gone to see the horses.
Phe mie, the assistant, was away with
her young man. l went down into
the kitchen and found Mrs. Rugby
sitting before the range, with a hand.
kertchief to her eyes. She uttered a
little scream and arose.
"Set down, Mrs. Rugby" said 1.
"I'll take chair. What soup you
made to-day! What roast What
a salad! / cannot live without you
Think of my misery if you go"
81 do" sighed Mrs. Rugby.
"Then stay" said l.
"You can't expect me to break poor
Thomas heart" said she.
"Yon'd rather break mine," said /
ut amt your heart as is injured, it's
your stomach, sir" said Mrs. Rugby.
"Ah, l know it WE'LL"
"They say it's the way to a man s
heart" said 1.
Mrs. Rugby looked at me.
81 have come to make you give il
up" said 1.-THE idea of leaving me
What can l say ?"
"The only thing as you could say
you won t." said Mrs. Rugby. "I'm
offered decent husband. and i shan't
give him up unless am offered a bet
ter"
"But if you were offered a better p
said 1.
"Td consider it," said Mrs. Rugby.
I paused. l struggled with myself.
"But faint likely in a fortnight"
said the widow.
paused. looked at Mrs. Rugby.
She took the cover from saucepan
near by, and looked in. Such deli
cious aroma arose that l quivered in
every nerve.
"A new dish ?" said l.
Original" said Mrs. Rugby.
ceased to struggle with myself.
"Mrs. Rugby, would be better
offer ?" l said.
~ SO consider YOU. sir" said Mrs.