The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1894-06-20
A COMEDY IN GRAPE.

him another FIVE minutes
So far from any result being attained
thereby he might Just as well have kept
the five minutes, for at the end of that
period there was no boy, and the shut
tiers were still blocking out the daylight
Whereupon, vowing vengeance, which ne
was perfectly aware he would never have
the strength of mind TO carry out, ne
proceeded reluctantly to perform the de-
rogatory task of taking down his own
shutters.
He had only just attacked the second
or so when his attention was attracted
by a slight cough, which seemed 10 come
from somewhere. up in the air and turn
ing round sharply he was, as he subse-
quently described it, struck all Of heap
to find that it had originated from
black Brobdingnagian female figure,
which, as il doomed before his startled
eyes, appeared to cut off the street and
the sky and humanity generally, and
leave him solitary, isolated atom be-
meath the shadow Of his approaching fate
Even then, however, there was an in
stants pause before his mind allowed
itself to grasp the full significance Of
that black-garbed form. Then it cOughed
again, a cough that was at once inter
negative and introductory, and Mr.. 1abs-
ley perceived that it wore weeds. Those
weeds seemed to choke his very soul
1t was the sample,
Still grasping the shutter he retreated
step by step until he had gained the
comparative safety Of the shop. The
sample followed.
A third cough Of a more assertive ma
ture than the other two made the little
tobacconist's knees knock tOgether. Then:
IT. Yabsley, l believer" came the in
quiry in an insinuating voice about a foot
above his head.
Yes, no-that is. quite So" he gasped.
I've come about the advertisement"
it went on.
mered Mr.. Yabsley, with intent of gain
ing time. and still making shield of the
shutter.
You know" was the significant an
swer. with a shipper that had the effect
of cold door-key on his vertebrate.
If could only put the counter be-
tween us, was his despairing thought
You know" repeated the apparatiOn-
If the term could be applied to sixteen
stone or so of solid flesh and blood.
The advertisement you wrote about.
oh, you needn't try TO deceive me, you
naughty man. holding up a forefinger
cased in a sanitary black cotton (when
l say sanitary l mean 10 imply that there
was no lack of ventilation. You
naughty, naughty man. She came a
step or two nearer to him. the floor
quivering beneath her tread. It's too
bad of you, that il is.''
She was a fat woman as we'll as tall.
with a fiat, habby face. surmounted by a
rusty Grape bonnet. and she carried a
blOated umbrella and a reticule gOrged
10 repletion
Mr.. Yabsley gazed Up at her as he
might have done at the dome of St
Paufs, while his circulation seemed to
come to d deadlock and the color fade
out Of his necktie.
Suitable for small tradesmen." he
mUrmured.
The face smiled sea-serpent-like
smile that appeared 10 swallow up all
its other features. Then. as though re-
solved TO beat about the bush no longer:
You wants a wife don't you?'
The effect Of this bombshell was to
cause the tobacconist to drop the shutter
/ like a hot potato and make one dive for
( freedom under the counter. He came
up dusty but desperate
No he cried, shaking his head VIC
lentIy, no. certainly not"
"Oh, yes. you do" with unimpaired
cheerfulness; you wants a wife. a nice
sensible wife. one what's been married
before. and SOIL know how to make you
comfortable"
Then. dropping umbrella and reticule
she clasped both hands, and gazing af-
fecuonately round at the stock in trade
exclaimed.
And how comfortable 1 could make
you, there's no telling"
I don't want to be made comfortable .
disclaimed Mr.. Yabsley, eagerly.
"Oh. yes, you do. ducky"
Duckyi That he should have led a re.
spectacle, sober. law-abiding existence
| for hve-and-fifty years only TO be saluted
| as 'ducky" at the end Of it!
My name" he began. righteous indig
| nation momentarily overcoming craver
| fear. my name is"
IT Yabsley." interrupted his charuer
D9n0lnR com tor. Il L.
a box of wax vestas as fiat as a pancake
| with her elbow. And what does T
| stand for? Thomas, or Titus. or Theo-
| dore, or Tobias, or what?"
Tubal CAIN" murmured Mr.. Yabsle,
wildly
And a very nice name. too. You'v,
| never asked me mine"
This with a skittishness that made III,
| lids of the tobacco-jars rattle
| Its Susan, Susan Bundle, though no
/ Tor long, l experimenting the last-bu
| you can call me Susy. if you like" max
I ing playful dab at him across tn,
counter with the blotaed umbrella.
! Mr.. Yabsley lodged the umbrella. ans
pipe. 0-'''
It's mercy she's the size she is
ne thought. Shed stick tight if sh,
tried to get at me round the counter
You can call me Susy and l can cal
| you
''Tiglath Pileser," muttered the IN
bacconist, with sudden upheavaI o
old. crusted, Sunday-school memories.
My favorite name cried Mrs. Bun
die ecstatically. so. Tiggy, dear. wei
look on it as settled"
Woman exclaimed Mr. vabsla,
fired with a sudden resolution. seVVba
do you mean, and who do you take no
for?" -
1T. Yabslev." with sr,irx
But 1 amt. Nothing of the sort
he shouted.
The smirk trailed off at one side of RI
mouth. only to reappear at the opposit
! corner.
Get along with you" with lumberin
playfulness. AS though 1 didn't knoJ
better. Amt there the name T. Yabs
ley over the door? And who else ar
you If you amt him? You're a bad ba
man, that you are, to try and deceive
poor, lone, lorn wilder"
| THAT'S the name, right enough" eS
planned Mr.. Yabsley. But he's gon
away"
The fabby countenance became a trin
elongated.
Gone away-and when's he expecte
back %
Never"
The last traces of the smirk melte
away, and the jaw dropped.
Never, she repeated after hin
Then / should like to know who's 20
ing TO pay me my railway fare? on
and threepence, Parliamentary, it wer
and"
A sudden lifting of the cloud from tn
doughty features showed that she had h
I ha ma fnN H., H.