Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1892-09-16

polntment The fact is dear boy the
girl who was to have taken my place
is sick and l am obliged to 60 to the
Office this afternoon. l am very sorry
to break off our engagement but you
see it is impossible for me to go out
driving today
To say that Charlie Dennison
jumped fully foot from his chair at
this speech would be no exaggeration.
IL beg your pardon" he ex-
claimed.
If Mrs. Mellerby noticed his startled
expression OF countenance she mistook
or pretended to mistake its cause.
Il know it's a shame" she said.
eprecatingly but what can l do?
They are very strict at the central
Office. and am obliged to go. When
you called me up yesterday Charlie
felt sure OF getting of this after
noon. Now am compelled to answer
hellos' from all parts of the city for
six weary hours. After all 1t is just
as hard on me as on you"
By this time Charlie Dennison had
managed to collect his thoughts. But
what thoughts So this old woman
was the Laura" OF his dreams the
fair telephone ingenue whose tiirta-
tions seemed buoyant with breezy girl
ishness How the boys would laugh
If they knew. 1t was a kind fate
which had saved him from this afflic-
ton. In his heart he blessed that
other woman who had fallen sick at
such propitious time.
Please don't be mad about il
Charlie said Mrs. Mellerby.
Charlie was obliged TO say some
thing. "A man c-can't help being a
little disappointed, you know" he
stammered hypocritic&ily. Il really
c-counted on taking you out driving.
Now ! shall have to drive all alone :"
Here with something of his
pristine spirit he contrived TO make
a wry face suitable to the occasion.
Mrs. Mellerby laughed. suppose. -
she said shat / were 20 provide a
substitute. 1t is curious that in all
our long telephone talks l never "a
membered to tell you that ] am a
widow. But j am and have the
dearest little girl imaginable. was
going to ask you. il it would not bore
you to much to take her out for a
short drive in my place. She is just
wild to drive in something else be-
sides a street car"
Poor Charles heart which had al.
most reached its normal condition.
fell rapidly at this suggestion 1t
was certainly a case q. 'out OF the
frying pan" etc. He had only
escaped the horror OF being obliged
to squire Mrs. Mellerby through the
city TO find himself con -ronted with
the even more obnoxious alternative
of playing dry nurse to that ladys
dear little girl" III you are not
afraid Of ny mare, " he said with a
painful effort at looking unconcerned.
Il shall Go most happy. But / fear
the brute is decidedly restive-"
You are ian excellent driver Pm
sure" replied Mrs Mellerby. sweetly.
Yes, l think | can trust my Gertie
to your care. Excuse me for mo.
ment and / will call her."
Whea Mrs Mellerby left the room
ShdtlaC lbCuhlSOh CONCItu his lace
with his hands. This. then. was the
punishment OF his indiscretion. He
could yet escape, but escape would be
cowardly; and besides Mrs. Meller-
by might tell the story to the other
fellows over the telephone. On the
whole 1t was better TO remain and see
the thing out
His thoughts were interrupted by
the melliauous voice Of Mrs. Mellerby.
Charlie, " murmured that lady per-
NIT me ITO introduce you to my
daughter Gertie."
Charlie Dennison almost shouted
when he beheld the dear little girl"
who stood in the door. For the dear
little girl was as fair a specimen OF
eighteen-year-old beauty as ever his
eye had rested on She was not so
very little either. being quite as
tall as her mother and looking. with
her wavy brown hair and great gray
eyes lil7e a wivifed portrait OF that
comeiy parsonage taken many years
before.
Charles system felt by this time as
electric shocks. so that Mss Gertie's
erst impressions Of him were hardly
favorabla 1t is needless to say that
Charlie at once foFeswore any idea of
flight He took Ibis Laura's" daugh-
ter out driving with the lightest heart
in the world. and drove twice beneath
the windows of Lastwill IL Testament.
to the unspeakable ,chagrin OF both
Gubbins and Simpkinson Potter.
Mrs Mcllcrby no longer occupies
her seat ia the central telephone
Office. but wheE she wishes TO send
word to the bows In Lastwill G. Tesla
ments she tells her SON. in law
Charlie Dennisor. about IL at the
breakfast table. IN. I. IPResa
Magnets.
Some very interesting experiments