Middletown transcript., 1893-11-18

For whole week held 1rm, an(
then-I gave up, and came to the con
clusion that would brave the pug fol
the sake of seeing Adele. l loved hel
SO entirely and devotedly, and at time'
she had seemed so fond of me, that
could not believe she really meant t6
refuse me. So l dressed myself II
faultless attire, and armed with bc1
Of candy, as peace offering, started uE
town. She might not receive me,
! trembled when the thought occurred
to me, just as assembled the steps and
rang the bell.
its vibrations had hardly died on the
air when great barking aud yelping
commenced inside. After moment
it ceased, or rather became muf1ed, but
burst out afresh the moment the maid
opened the door and was fairly inside.
In a clinging white silk gown, and
seated on low ottoman, Adele formed
pretty picture with the rosy glow
from the pink lamp shade falling softly
over her. As / entered the parlor, and
she rose to meet me, small fawn col
ored object struggled out of her arms
and ran towards me. 1t was the pug.
If Adele's greeting was exceeding cool
and distant, l cannot say the same OF
the dogs. He barked shrilly around me
aud when l sat down, he shifted cur
iously at my calves with his impudent
lltile black nose in way did not rel
ish. Then he settled upon the toe of
my patent leather, and crouched there,
growing, and straining his jaws to ac-
commodate my shoe.
"My little love.n cried Adele, stoop-
ing and taking him in her arms, ''dont
him chew that nasty shOel Backing
isn't good for little puggins. Come and
nim have some candy.o
sat and silently watched her give
the candy which I had walked seven
blocks to get for her, to that pug.
"Banjo is awfully fond of candy, Mr..
Reed. 1t was exceedingly kind of you
to remember him" she remarked sweet
ly.
$50 that is his name, is itp" l asked.
s'Yes. By the by, how is it that |
nave the honor of entertaining you both
at the same timer" She looked up with
a smile so demure, so exasperating, |
felt for moment that hated her.
But the reaction came instantly. l
seized her hand. Because" I began
passionately. "because l cannot keep
away from you, because 1 want my an
sWer tonight. Adele, do you love me?"
She drew her hand away. "Oh, don't
frown like that, Tom. You look ex-
actly like Mephistopheles."
"Adele,'' 1 entreated "don't trife;
answer me-"
She lifted the dogs little black muz-
lle between her hands, and actually
.rnt and kissed him. | would have
ven worlds for that kiss.
''Oh, puggie,' she said, laughing
fly, isn't this funny MANI"
'Adele,' L cried inn letuously, Il
ave spent two whole years in worship
X you as little below the angels. Nov
see you are only flirt and coquette
,tter all. | am glad you have shown
ne how blind Ihave been. Good night.
rose and was almost at the door when
heard soft, beseeching, "Toml"
turned. The dog was domiciled on
the sofa in close proximity to the candy
oox, while Adele stood with hands out
stretched There was such penitent
look in her blue eyes that l knsw she
mad relented, and I-well, 1 immedi
alely forgot that 1 had thought her
heartless coquette only a moment be-
fore. and fairly flew to her and seized
those little hands in both of mine. She
did not withdraw them this time; at
least, not until | attempted to cover
them with kisses while begging inco-
herently for forgiveness.
"Tom." this time petulantly. "don't
he sillyl'
"Silly?n dropped her hands like hot
Goals. "What on earth did you call me
back for?''
Because I want to talk to you, if you
will listen sensibly. Sit down mo-
ment;" and she waved her little hand
lmperiously toward the chair had va
Gated"
Thanks" I returned icily, 4 would
rather sand"
"As you PREFER" and she sank COM
fortably back on the sofa among the
down cushions.
"Now then, Tom-oh," she sudden
ly broke off," my little doggins will
make himself sick, he mustn't eat SO
much candy" and she seized the pug.
ssPray make haste, Miss Lorrimer.
| have little time to waste.''
''There you go again, Tom. Will
you never be moderate? You are, eth
er perfectly silly, or rediculously grave. "
ut is quite evident I can never suit
you, Adele"
"Yes, you can. Tom. you used to be
lovely before you got all these silly
ideas about love into your head. If you
must be serious, listen. am too young
to marry yet. want to have little
fun before settle down with just one
man. 1t must be prosy, don't you think
su?n
lis that what you called me back
for2" I asked sternly.
"No-not quite. / don't want you
to go away angry. It's really very re-
diculous of you, Tom, when you might
just as well go back to our old friend
ship and be sensible; for cannot mar
ry you, Toni really can't. And as
to your objection to this little angel,