The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1895-02-13
Endangered by His False Teeth.

"Thc most charming girl i'm the
worldr' said Mr.. Baltic, emphatical-
ly.
"That's what all of 'em says" said
his friend, Nicholas Peckley, who re-
joiccd in the glaring fact that he was
AN old bachelor past all redemption.
ats quite surprising what number
of most charming girls there are! Well,
Baltic, ! wish you joy, I'm surer'
Mr.. Baltic rubbed his hands cOmpIa-
Gently.
''You see,r said he, ''she is rose, as
one may say, in the full bloom, is my
MyrtilIa-just %"
''She looks all of that" said his
friend obviously.
''Envious dogr thought Baltic to
himself, as he trotted briskly down the
street.
And thus meditating, Mr.. Brutus
Baltic turned his steps toward the
casEset that contained his hearts jewel
in other words the house where Miss
Myrtilla HopkinsOn lived.
The front door was open; 80 Mr.. Bal
tic walked complacently in, with the
air of man who feels himself thor
oughIy and entirely AT home, and tip
toed up the stairs.
''Dear girl. I'll give her surprisen'
said Mr.. Baltic TO himself.
Miss Myrtilla sat at the parlor table,
her back toward the door, busily en-
/ gagged in reading letter, while around
her lay scattered pens, ink, paper and
the paraphanalia of cpistolary occupa-
tion.
zone of my notes." thought the
lOve-smitten swain; but while these
thoughts passed through his mind, a
board in the flooring creaked a warn
ing. Miss Hopkinson looked around
with little shrek.
"My goodness graciousw cried Miss
Myr;illa, jumping up.
II have caught YOU" cried Mr.. Bal
tie, playfully making a grasp at the
/ note.
But Miss H0pkinson evaded his
movement, and thrust the note under a
pile of newspapers.
But a. she did 50 Mr. Baltic perceiV-
ed 20 his inexpressible surprise and dis
may, that the billet, although in an
unmistakable masculine hand, was
none of his penning.
"Myrtilla"' he exclaimed reproach-
fully.
80, BTutus, dear, how you startled
my poor nervesr' cooed Myrtiila, trip
ping forward, with Outstretched hands.
Before Mr.. Baltic could select appro-
pirate words in which to demand an
explanation from his sweetheart, the
tete-a-iete was unfortunately interrupt
ed by the entrance Of Myrtilla's mar
fied sister. But rs they parted on the
staircase Mr.. Baltic said:
"Myrtilla, when | came in this af-
/ ternoon-"
"Yes, DEAR" purred the fair enslav-
er.
''You We're reading letter-a letter
from a gentlemanr'
Miss HOpkinson colOred.
"Brutus, you surely don't doubt
mer'
'Will you let me see the letter?''
NO"
Mr.. Baltic banged out of the house.
Miss Hopkinson dissolved into tears.
80, dear, o, dear. o, dearr she be
walled herself What shall do!''
Mr. Baltic went home in towering
passion of jealous rage, and penned u
note which would have done no dis
credit to any tragedy hero in the land:
"False one, give you p hoars for an eNpia-
nation. II. al the expiration Of that period,
you still perSis; in refusing To show me your
ciandestine correspondence, l shall regard
our mutual relations at an end. b. b."
II rather think that will bring her
around, if anything will" he said To
himself; "and | won't post it, either
I'll leave it at the door myself"
The dusk was only family illuminate
ed by here and there the yellow glean
of an occasional gas lamp when Mr.
Baltic stalked up to the residence oi
Miss Hopkinson once more. Two fig
ures were at the area gate-a woman
and a man-whispering in the twi-
light.
"GoJd"' thought Mr.. Blltic. sit.
Bridget and her young man. I'll give
the note to Bridget
Bat, ~ he approached, the dread
certainty stole over him that it wa.
not Bridget aud her lover, but Myrtil-
da--and-whom?"
Stricken, As il were, to stone, hI
watched Myriilla give the man money.
He heard hurried sentences exchanged
He saw the villain creep away, like 4
serpent, through the dusk.
Now was the moment for action.
"Womlnr he cried, pouneing forth
on the unconscious Miss Myrtilla. Il
have detected your maneuvcrs at las
Q1ick! Give me the packet of letter:
he handed you: saw himr'
II will die soonerr' screamed Mis-,
Myrtilla.
In the conflict the box fell to tn,
ground, its lid separating itself ans
| roIIiuor away something, cIinLel ont
upon the pavement. Brutus stopped
to pick itup. 1t was a double set o
false tooth.
MyTtilla sank on the area step, hid
ing her face in her hands.
''is this all?" asked Mr. Baltic.
"Allr' echoed MyrtiIla. 40, Brutu
| would have perished sooner than le
You know"
"And that-that villain"
"Was the dentists young man,
sobbed Miss HopkinsOn.
"My Myrtilla. And that note?"
"Don't look at me so, Brutus. 1t wa
the dentists bill. And now i know
you hate me-"
"Not at all, my dear" said Mr.. Bal
tic, raising his fearful betFothed. "Ie
me whisper you q secret-mine ar
false, too"
And 50 Cupid, the little god of love
folded his wings psaeefully above th,
empty box, which had once held Mis-