The Portland daily press., 1893-12-28
ABOUT A TURKEY.

Gfef SiHc0 0iS quarrel with Laura gray III
the summer he had been paying desultory
court to Dorothy Pearson, and now, hear
ing that Dolly had just inherited sweet
little legacy from recently deceased maid
en- aunt, Leopold-or, as his friends were
wont to style him, Poly-had come to the
conclusion that her charms were utterly
irresistible.
If Leopold did occasionally experience
twinges of remorseful regret for the old
delightful days, he carefully concealed his
feelings. and with all the impetuosity of
his nature he resolved to beat George
Speedman out of the running, win the fair
Dolly-and her legacy-for his own. and
live happy ever after.
As Leopold sauntered through the town
a happy thought struck him. He would
send Mrs. Pearson Christmas gift-some-
thing which would influence her to counte-
nance the proposal he intended making to
her daughter at the earliest opportunity.
What should the something" be? A
gooses
Nc. That might suggest odious compari-
Sons.
A turkey?
Yes. That was the very thing; turkey
it should be!
sign into execution, and after examining a
considerable number of obese gobblers he
finally selected fine, fat fellow eminently
qualified to arouse Mrs. Pearson's house
wifely admiration and mellow the heart of
her rotund little spouse.
Just give me scrap of paper, and I'll
write you the address to which I want it
sent'
st(lorrf oiI,lu cir orc f1oI1 ci, nd
the shopkeeper handed Leopold memo
randum sheet.
Now. it CHANGED the poulterer's errand
lad was one of those poetic souls who, in
accordance with the eternal unfitness of
things, are to be found in all parts of the
civilized globe engaged in the most prosaic
and uncongenial occupations, and he had
in an idle moment inscribed upon the back
81 the slip of paper line of Longfellow's
Sc4aich had taken his fancy. This inscrip-
ton, however, escaped notice.
THAT will do capitelly," said Leverton,
and he proceeded to write:
NO II Trotterville terrace, Park road
With Leopold Leverton's compliments"
''There," said he that will do. I'll just
pin it to thu turkey. You'll send it at
once, won't your"
Immediately, SIR" replied the trades
man briskly. mo. II Park road, sir
Right, SIR
BY a curious coincidence-or it may have
been fatality-George Speedman strolled
Ieisurely up. unseen by Leopold, who
walked off light heartedly before him.
mo. Il Park roadl'' said Speedman men
tally. What's Poly been ordering for No.
7ls"
He turned and looked into the shop.
What does this weight" inquired George,
indicating the one Leverton had just pur-
chased and which still lay on the stall
with the scrap of paper conspicuously at
tached-
''That ones sold, sir. Here's one that 'ud
pass as twin brother to it."
All" said George. perusing the lines
which bis rival had penned, well, weigh
me that one."
Oddly enough, the same happy thought
had occurred to him which had been con
ceived by Leverton.
Thank you, sir. Where shall I send it
TOT"
'Oh. I'll take it. thanks" replied Speed
man. And straightway he trudged off to
Park road with his burden.
There was puzzled look on his face as
he picked his way through the crowds of
holiday makers that thronged the town,
and it was still there when having left the
shops and thropgs behind him he stopped
for moment to light cigar.
Hardly HAD he proceeded dozen yards
along Pars- road. however, when the cloud
suddenly lifted.
o by Jove. have It'll" he exclaimed aloud,
with gesture ox satisfaction, much to the
surprise of a young lady who CHANGED to be
passing him at that moment.
After relieving his feelings by the out
burst just recorded George Speedman
quickened his pace and in few minutes
later was standing in the presence of the
far Dolly's maternal relative, presenting
with the iaost graceful and insinuating
manner he could command the unfortunate
bird, which he relied upon to wing him
into a favorable position for laying siege to
The daughters heart
What his success was may readily be
surmised from the faet that when, in re-
spouse to Mrs. Pearson's invitation, he ar
eived later in the evening of the same day
to dine with the family the good lady met
him at the hall and whispered thai Dolly
was alone in the drawing room.
George entered the room with quickly
bsating heart, and what passed there is best
known to Dolly and himself, but it is a
significant fact that when, half an hour
later, the young couple emerged in response
TO the summons Of the dinner gong Dolly's
cheeks were in hue like the deep heart of q
crimson rose and there was an extremely
long sillcn hair clinging to Georges manly
waistcoat.
Just prior to the announcement of din
her, Leopold Leyerton had arrived in CON
dition Ct pardonable anxiety as to the re
suit of his stratagem.
1t Was 3cubt!css very consitierate OF Mrs
Pearson to keep him engaged Ii c9nversa-
ton with herself in order that the privacy
OF the niore fortunate gentleman WHO had
come to WOO might be uninyaded, boz he
was extremely pcrplexed and cftagrircd
that Mrs Pearson made no reference to the
superb turkey
you "il stay and take dinner with us,
Mr. Levertan?" she said, still without men
itching his gift IL was passing strange
''Thanl you" he responded Ausinsly
Then terrible fear took possession Of his
heart Had the dealer forgotten or omitted
70 seIld the bird: He could bear the sus-
pense no longer.
''L-ah-did-Eou-a = receive ga