The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1896-03-26
GEORGE ASSERTS HIMSELF.
But Laura Was Right with Him at the
Finish,

/
Finish.
| "All these years, Laura" exclaimed
young Ferguson, pausing in his impa-
tent walk to and fro long enough to
turn the gas trifie lower and resum-
| ing with brisk staccato movement his
march up and down the little parlor,
''all these years l have danced attend
ance at your elbow, and the end seems
as far off as ever!"
THE end of my elbow, George" in
quired the young woman, with grieved
surprise.
mo! The end of my dance. You
know what | mean. How long do you
think I'm going to stand it to"
Doesn't it make you awfully tired,
George" she asked, with tender. yearI.-
ing sympathy in her voice.
Tired? It's driving me mad.
didn't come here to be made fun of
this time. Look here, Laura Kajones,
do you know how long we've been en-
gagged to be married."
Years, 1 should say. Let me see
was it not"
Years? It's centuries! It's an eter-
nifty and half! When 1 think of it
and wonder how much longer"
Wasn't it some time during that hot
summer Of"
"Ges!" he broke in. you remember
it on account of the hot weather, do
you? l was a clerk on SIS a week. [
thought it was a big salary until the
ice cream season hit me. If | was good
enough then"
Il was so young, you know"
$50 was l, but I'm overcoming that
infirmity mighty fast, let me tell you-
And you yourself"
Sir
'Well, of course, you're as young ss
ever. But that isn't the point. You've
put me off year after year because we
couldn't afford it. I'm getting $4,000
year now, with prospect of partner
ship after awhile, and it does seem to
| me"
But think of what it costs for gas
and hired girls, George" she murmured.
Listen to me. I'm doing the preach
ing now. I've been thinking the mat
ter over and I'm going to say my say.
You've had your freedom long enough.
The party of the second part has some
rights. He's going to assert them.
You needn't try to scare me off with
that yawn, either. 1t isn't genuine. L
know spontaneous yawn when | sec
it, and that's a three-ply, cut and dried,
machinemade fraud. You ought to
be ashamed to try to introduce a yawn
like that into good society. 1t gives
itself away every time. Don't do it
again, dear, or I'll say something about
it, This is business. There's a nice
little house down here on Michigan
avenue-it isn't in Michigan avenue
because it's not out in the road, it's
above the ground, and it's 20 feet back
from the sidewalk-and it can be hal
for $40 a month. Yes, I've been mais-
ing inquiries about it. | acknowledge
1T. | have also been posting myself as
10 the price of furniture, the probable
quantity of milk and eggs family Of
two persons will be likely to consume
i'll week, and the desirability of the
neighborhood from a social point of
view There's no telling when 1 may
take notion to speak to the minister.
Don't drive q desperate man too far
proud girl. l don't want to have to
hire couple of ruffians and a cab and
abduct you. 1t would get into the pa
pers and I'd have to dodge reporters for
the next six weeks. Moreover
George Ferguson, if you are going
to talk to me like that I'll simply
mo, you won't. Sit still. If you
make any fuss I'll call your father.
I've got the floor When l have finished
my talk you can agitate the atmosphere
and Eli listen. Don't you see this sort
of thing can't go on forever? It'll have
to stop some day. If l should die of old
age while I'm waiting for you to marry
me you would never forgive yourself
The engagement ring on that finger is
worn almost through. I'll have to buv
you another one if you don't look out.
Who ever heard of such thing as that ,
In all the history of long engagements
L don't believe there's case in which
man has had to get a second engage
ment ring on account of the first one
wearing out Are you trying to break
a record? Great Scott. Sometimes
|
trlflng with me-that you don't mean
to be my wife, and never did. Some
times, when am alone in my own room
and L think of the possibility of such a
thing, and the shadow of the wasted
years rises before me and turn to the
future and see nothing ahead of me but
the gloom and desolation of hopes un-
fulfilled, is it any wonder that walk
the floor in misery" {
George, dear" said Laura, tearfuIly,
and in trembling voice, her hands
clasped together and her whole being
radiant with tenderness and compass
sion, lis it possible you, too, suffer from
corns ?'-Chicago Tribune.
Density of Population In Two Cities.
The density of population in this
London area was 1913 persons to the
acre, against 16S persons to the acre