Johnstown weekly Democrat. (Johnstown, Cambria County, Pa.) 1889-1916, 1890-03-21
CROSS CURRENTS.

"You are such very Independent
creature.
~ am not creature, but an able
bodied woman, with all my wits about
me. Why should l make believe to be
the weak knecd specimen of feminine
foolishness that is your ideal woman?"
"Oh, never mind me, do just as YOU
like" cried Mr.. Bartlett testify, as
voice from the inner room called, "What
are you two quarreling about now?"
at is only Mr.. Bartlett talking non
sense, mother" said Agnes, gayly; "he
thinks l can't go up to town for days
shopping without a chaperon."
lis that all? Why, my dear Gus,
Agnes always goes about alone Indeed,
there is no one TO go with her, so she has
to; she has never come to any harm yet;"
and Mrs. Oldham looked up appealingly
from her sofa.
Mr. Bartlett promptly subsided, as he
always did, when any remark of his had
brought Mrs. Oldham's poverty into full
view Neither Agnes nor her mother
ever troubled themselves about the mar
rowness of their income, but it was a
painful subject to Gus, who would will
ingly have shared his abundance with
them. He rnturncd to the charge an
hour later, when he and Agnes were out
in the garden.
You might let Inc come with you to-
morrow" he said. persuasively; IL could
see you over the crossings, at any rate"
''Oh, the policeman does that" an
swered Agnes, merrily You are dying
to know what | do with myself, of
course, but | don't mean to encourage
you in inquisitivc habits, so ! shall go
alone"
II wish to goodness you had some one
to look after you." growled the young
man. Don't you think, for your mo-
theirs sake. you could put up with me?"
he went ON. in pleading tone.
THAT is either the third or fourth time
that you have proposed to me in the last
month, said Miss Oldham, calmly "lf
you do it again before Christmas | will
have you bound over to keep the peace"
Il wish you would not chaff fellow
so. am quite in earnest"
$50 am |! / may marry some day,
but it, or perhaps ought to say he, won't
be you, So be a sensible boy, Gus, and
leave off sentiment 1t does not suit
your figure" and Agnes laughed, mis-
chievously.
Gus was used TO snubbing, and bore it
with a fair amount of fortitude. lie and
Agnes had been playfellows since child
hood, and lie had, as he thought, fallen
in love with her on his return from Ok
ford. lie had lately got into habit of
proposing or half proposing TO her after
every one of her numerous squabbles,
and always met with the same laughing
but unqualified refusal. Agnes looked
on him as "A brother, and was extremely
fond of him, but Gus Barton was not the
sort of man to inspire q clever, practical
woman with any very deep affection,
and she could never even take his devo-
ton seriously, which was depressing for
Gus.
"Florrie, allow me to introduce our
squire, Dir. Augustus Bartlett Of that
ilk-Mss Marsh, Gus!' and Agnes fin
ished the introduction with a sweeping
curtsey.
Mr.. Bartlett looked distressed. Il did
not know you were bringing friend
down" he said, "and I've only got the
dog cart here. suppose you had better
drive, and let me walk?' he added.
"Should you be very much surprised
if you heard that the greengrocers cart |
is waiting for Miss Marshs luggage?'
cried Agnes. Il would have told you
she was coming, only you were so dis
agreeable yesterday. We can pack in
the dog cart all right" and so they did.
Gus invariably met Agnes at the sta
ton when she returned from her visits
to London, but on this occasion he was
much astonished, for she had never
brought friend back with her before,
and this friend was both pretty and
charming. She very much enlivened the
evening at the cottage, whittier Gus
's1mRo