The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1895-07-25


"When I am deaf, Hannie," he re-
sponded with laborious and awful po-
liteness, "I shall probably take steps
to acqaaint you with the fact"
He paused, aud fixed her for one
fearful moment with deep and
gloomy stare. Then, waving his left
hand toward the East Cliff and his
right toward Bopeep, he added:
"From 'enceforth, Hannie, we tike
our scp'rate lines"
az agree, with orl my art" she as.
sented, relapsing into dignifed
calm. "What 'as been shall 'ence-
forth be as though it 'adn't been. And
what asn't been shall be 'enceforth
what is"
"Then nm to wish you good.day.
Miss Miller" he remarked, taking off
the new billycock with an annihilat-
ing sweep.
"Sime to you, Mr.. Barnett" she
answered, with simply obliterating
curtsey.
Bill turned west and strutted, with
studied Indifference, toward st.
Leonards, Annie turned east and
strolled with sublime nonchalance
toward Hastings. The quarrel be-
tween the other couple had reached
its climax almost simultaneously.
They. too, walked off in opposite direc.
tlons, reversing the process, however,
for the man walked east in this case
and the woman west.
Two minutes later-he could scarcely
! tell himself how it had come about
Bill found himself conversing with his
charming deserted creature.
At this critical juncture Annie en-
countered the admiring eyes of the
gentlemanly tof.
'I trust that I do not Offend" he
inquired, with an anxious look into
her eyes.
Annie turned them down quickly on
| the shingle, and murmured negative.
The handsome stranger spoke like o
gentleman. His refined voice con-
trasted melodiously with William Bar
nett's harsh and commonplace tones.
"You are without squire" he
pursued.
"Yes." faltered Annie.
"Pardon me for alluding TO the mat.
ter" said the stranger, with II half
apologize air. al could not, Just
now, help witnessing the little-er-
difference which occurred between you
and your-hem-friend."
"He is no longer any friend of
mine" she answered, her eyes flashing
Indignantly, as she glanced westward,
toward where William Barnett and the
painted hussy we're now carrying on n
spirited Irritation.
The strangers eyes roamed in the
same direction. For moment his
brow darkened. Then he said, rather
viciously, 81 see that he has taken up
with a-er- admirer of mine, whom |
am thankful to say, I have just this
minute finally shunted. i
carld endure her no longer. Perh ps
you witnessed the disgraceful scene
which she occasionei?"
Annie nodded.
"a well matched pair" said the
stranger, with scofling smile toward
the subjects Of this criticism.
Exceedingly" assented Miss An.
ME, with incredible venom.
"And | hope" persisted he no long
er scoiliug, but speaking in genuine
ardent tones, "that we two are -er"
(he lowered his voice, caressingly)-
"a we'll matched pair"
"Oh, really. I'LL Oh, you
shouldn't protested the girl, with a
great show of being shocked. And
five minutes later Annie Miller was
promonading upon his arm up and
down the Esplanade. She was rather
frightened and uneasy, but proud and
eluted, too. When she learned that
he, too, was going back to London by
the evening train, and woull take it
rs n great honor if he might escort
her, she WAS charmed.
IL was with great difficulty that the
handsome stranger piloted Annie
through the crowd and found two
empty places in the train. He placed
her in one of the seats, which was
next the door, and stood himself upon
the steps, smoking his cigar until the
train should start.
"By Jove!" he exclaimed suddenly,
al say, Pve--oh, Just keep my seat foi
me, will you please. I'll be back in Il
jih,y."
He disappeared through the crowd
toward the booking office. Annie kept
his seat for him. But he did not come
back. The engine fixed and whistled.
The train started Yet he did moi
come back. Annie Miller never saw
that handsome blade again.
An hour or SO later smartly dressed
couple, n lady and gentleman, were
enjoying an excellent dinner in the
large salon of the Grand Hotel
'It was not the amount we took,
said he to her, with a chuckle, "bu
rather the artistic manner in whicl
the affair was managed, that was 81
commendable. The readiness will
which we twigged the little tiff be
tween Phyllis and Corydon, and thel
played up to it, was, as dramatic
| - un,Narh I nayar ., a.,