The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1894-08-18

Now, papa. be reasona bic. To re-
turn the money. it was. Of course,
necessary to know his address"
The ex-merchant finds no suitable
reply to this ingenious reasoning; but
with a gesture indicative Of decided
nl-humor, throws his napkin upon the
table.
II am fated not to dine to-day.
Gertrude. go, engage me q cab by the
hour. I wish to return this young adj
venturer his money at once and tell
him a few plain truths besides"
''Oh. papa. papa, you won't do that2
It would be base inyratitude- Only
think of it. This young man has ex-
tricated me from a very unpleasant
situation
Unpleasant situationl Let me
alonel Shut upl I don't care to be
lectured, especially by a rattle brain,
who loses her pocket book"
The irate parent puts on his boots
and takes his cane and hat. all the
while growing more and more morose-
Gertrude enters.
1.-The cabman is below. but he only
promises to take you there, not to
wait for you
Very well. can get another cab
to bring me back
the door. while Char otte, blushing
and trembling, recounts to her old
friend Gertrude, how she is much bet
ter acquainted with Mr Mason than
she dares TO confess to her father.
That for a month at least she AM he
have taken the Omnibus at the same
time each evening, and that, without
seem ng to do 50. she. Charlotte. has
noticed his evident admiration Of her,
etc, etc.
"A fine affair. indeed" exclairns the
astonished servant all in a tremor of
excitement
William Mason is in his bachelor
apartments, and. in a sentimental
mood, is gazing at the hand that his
charm ng neghbor in the omnibus
has touched while taking the card he
gave her.
Suddenly there comes a knock at
the door, VIII oh opens abruptly. A
large man. out of breath. his hat over
his ears his cane in his fist, enters
unceremoniOus1y.
Sir he exclaims, ''to say the
least of it, your conduct is unworthy
of a gentleman. A gentleman does
not take advantage of the innocence,
the inexperience, the artlessness. the
EN- barrassment of young girl To
profit by the absence of father, and
a pocket book. to brutally offer to q
young person who is alone, not only a
dime. but a visiting card. may be a
good investment but is very bad
manners. But here is your dime. sir.
My daughter and 1 wish nothing
further to do with you
And the large man. after perora-
ting with much volubility, begins to
~11 &c hof
Mason, who is utterly DUN bfounded,
can utter a word, a new actor appears
on the scene. It is the cabman. who
comes in furiously, brandishing his
whip.
This is fnel I tell you I will bring
you here. and not wait for you, and
you accept the terms. You even order
me to make haste; when we arrive you
shoot off like a zebra, as slippery as
an eel, without p 'ying me, and call
ing out to me to wait. That won't go
down. tell youi l mean what 1 say.
One trip means one trip AMI nothing
else Come. hurry up. if You please
l want my dollar, and be quick about
it,"
Mason did not understand; but the
large gentleman, who has precipitate-
~ dived into each pocket. then suc-
cessively turned them all wrong side
out, without apprecia bic result grows
pink and white, then crimson, then
violet, and now sha les off into green
"a rainbow in silk hat and over
coat.
II have forgotten my-pocket-
book"
THAT'S an old trick roars the
cabman; but you can tell that to the
police. 1t won't answer with m -
and he prepared to seize the arm Of
the unfortunate man, who, in despair,
on the verge of apoplexy, meekly
submits. But Mason, a veritable
providence TO the family, gives the
cabman the necessary amount and
orders him away
Permit me-" the young man says,
with exquis- tie politeness to the ex-
merchant, who barely has strength to
articulate.
Certainly. my dear sir, with pleas
ure. but give him only one dollar-not
a cent more"
The father of Miss Charlotte, who
but recently coull not understand
that a pers IN has not always in his
pocket as much as dime to pay IN an
omnibus. now admits that he is very
happy to have some one to advance
the sun of dollar to stop the mouth
of a D tiless cabDan-
Thus, Notwithstanding the diverse
and unusual EN- 5tions he has just ex-
perience 4. it is with an almost gra-
cious smile that he says to Mason:
.'Sr, that makes 81. 10 that 1 owe
you. l believe. II You will do me the
pleasure Of dining with me this even
ing, we will settle this little affair. 4
,-o-.hauf 7oas not II oil 4 q hfs-ha-