Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1892-03-25
MY LAST SERENADE.

-, -
e"'i'' 7'e nav ",V'' vs.
orphan girl anu noU WISHING w "o Pl"S"e"
with par promptly packed me on TO
boarding school. Here remained, holt
days included, till attained my eighteenth
venr Not till then did Aunt Matilda con-
descend to receive me.
She did not erect mo with much warmth.
She kissed me and then rewarded a fat
poodle which nestled in her lap with the
same attention.
"You hay,. grown very much like your
fool of n father"
pardon me. auntie," said |. astounded
at this Introductory remark; "you men
tioned"-
"Your father. blockhcadr' she snapped.
"Whatever my poor sister saw in such a
match passes my comprehension Moth
ing but a nc'er-do-well. good-for-noth-
ing"-
"Excuse me. aunt" | demonstrated.
'but hadn't we better change the subject?
The weather is very sultry"
She laughed outright.
81 am pleased to find you are not the
same easy going fool he was. | suppose
you are right We will let the poor man
rest. which remark was very charitable
considering poor dad had been at rest for
eight years. Come" she continued, Il
want to introduce YOU to Louise, your flu
ture wife"
stood open mouthed with amazement
Don't stand staring there, YOU BOBBY"
"Nlv Wife" | gasped
ayes: supposp Won may ms we'll know
first as last. will leave you my fortune
600 900 in cousols-but only ON condition
that YOU marry Louise. YOU understand"
Yes. aunt" | responded feeblv. Fol-
lowing her was introduced to Louise and
at once fell in with my aunt's PROPOSALS.
She was lovely. | don't think it would
have needed my aunt's fortune MS an in
centive to falling at once in love with her.
Dark with sDlendid hazel eyes launching
mouth and pure. TRANSPARENT skin. she was
indeed a picture of youth and beauty. She
received me graciouslv, and | could see
that myaunt was pleased with the impres-
sion she had made. A few days after Aunt
Matilda preached NV future.
II don't want to see Won about the house
idly wasting your time" she said. You
must adopt some profession. Now. TO what
do Won incliueY"
II think the army would suit me-" I
suggested.
ooh. YES" she retorted sarcasticallv
"A future field marshal in embrvol No.
no; YOU must learn something useful. not
the art of cutting vour fellow men to
pieces What do YOU say to "A doctors"
THAT'S only another way of cutting nv
fellow men to pieces. | don't think
should make "A good doctor"
"You haven't the necessary gumption to
make a good lawyer. | think the best
thing YOU can do is to enter the civil serv.
ice"
Protest was useless and NV ount had
her own way. So shortly after | passed
my examination and became a member of
her majesty's civil service. | had nv own
quarters which a decent allowance from
my aunt enabled me to keep up. and oc-
casionally visited her at the snug little
Hampstead village.
Thus imagined myself handsomely pro
yided for with fortune, and an amiable
bride in prospective. On the strength of
the former | obtained plenty of credit.
staid out late with jovial companions and
should no doubt have gone to the dogs had
/ not been hauled up shortly by the events
am about to relate.
Out of my first quarters allowance from
Aunt Matilda lent a fellow clerk. Jack
Denton. five pounds, for which he promised
handsome interest | waited patiently
but in vain for it's return. At the end Of
parded it as "A bad debit yentured To re.
mark that should like to see the princi
pal. and would willingly waive all claim
to the interest
INV dear fellow" was his reply. 81
would nav you with all the pleasure in the
world but unfortunately am comnletelx
stumped"
saw no chance of it's recovery. but de
termined to press him little
Couldn't YOU manage to nav So mucb 8
month";"
"Vapue improbabilitv. old chan Ibav.
mortpaped NV next three months, SCREW
RutSa rood idea-I have n Fr, ,ch horn
regular beauty worth ten gninnas an,
dirt cbean Mt thar Now tel a II lika ,
good fellow and cancel tho d.l,r -
"But what on earth do I want with ,
French horns It,s of no use tnmeu
.Thpp create n use for II Ala 70 won,
many ACCOMPLISHMENTS that nf ,n,,sica
amntenr Yau,ve ~ snlendid lin ,, ha non
timed artfulIv. "iust tho cut for tba in
strument Now. old chan maka me ar
I'll, ,,,tof,,I L,, ,ooa,,; ,.te