Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1896-06-09
SHE LISTENED AT THE DOOR.
What She Heard Was Not at all Compli-
mentary, But She Forgave Them Both.

What She Heard Was Not at all Compli-
mentary, But She Forgave Them Both.
1t all came about through listening at the
parlor door.
Without desiring in the least to justify
the breach of good manners committed
when l. Emma Summerford, applied my
ear to the keyhole of our best room door
on a certain important occasion that hap
pened quite recently, I am constrained 10
think, nevertheless, that there was some
little excuse for my behavior.
You see it was like this. Harry Butter
field. the son of Col. Butterheld, of the
British army, was desperately in love
with me.
Harry and l first met at dance given
by mutual friend, and as, in the manner
of the story books, we fell in love with
each other at the start we were not SLOW
in finding out to strike al" acquaintance
ship,
Harry lived with his father, who was re-
tired on half pay at Kensington, and
resided with mine in a little villa at cap
ham, Harry generally managed to spend
three or four evenings a week on the Sur
rey side fthe Thames.
My papa had formerly been in business
in Barbican, but having made his pile"
he sold off his horses, with the exception OF
a favorite gray mare, and bought the
aforesaid villa, which henceforward be-
came our home.
Harry was connected with a riding school
at Knightsbridge, and consequently knew
something about horses, so he used TO
spend part of the time eo1versing with my
papa about matters equine.
One evening, after working himself up
TO the requisite pitch of passion, Harry
made me a proposal of marriage. Al
though I had long seen 1t coming, and
Notwithstanding the fact that / was dying
to say yes" / assured hem that | could
not possibly give him an answer for at
least a week
AsI expected. he was so pressing. how
ever. that I consented without further de-
Law. and fell into his arms In the usual
manner while we whispered vows Of eter-
nal constancy, and so on.
Harry told me before going that he had
some little business to transact with my
father in the morning. and said he would
seize the opportunity thus afforded OF get
ting papa's consent to our marriage.
When. therefore, the bell rang early the
next day. and Harry was admitted ana
shown into the parlor, where papa was
reading the auction news in the morning
paper. of course l knew what his errand
was.
7 was naturally anxious as to the result
of the interview, and when it began to get
undulv prolonged, was on thorns.
The door was just ajar and without
really thinking that / was indulging in an
unladylike action, bent my head Forward
and listened. Harry was talking.
"she enjoys pretty good health sup
pose?" he asked inquiringly
"Capital." was my fathers answer
Never had an hours illness since the day
she was born"
II was kind OF papa to say this, but OF
course his statement was not htegaliy cor
rot As a child I had had whooping
cough measles and the Group, amongst
other infantile complaints, to say nothing
., headache and tic-douloureux since had
grown up. Harry again spoke
as her appetite good?"
II was certainly strange question: ana
7 could not see that it was at all neces-
sary one. but 1 confess do not understand
mems WAYS. Papa answered my lovers
query bv saving that I took my meals reg
ularlv and seemed to enjoy them, which
7 must admit was fact Curiosity now
made me stay for Harry's next inquiry.
.Has she any temper" he asked. almost
directly.
II was preposterous! Temper, I soon
should have, if inquiries such as this were
nersisted in. In fact it was only papa 5
answer. mot the slightest" uttered in
most assuring manner, that prevented my
develoing something of the kind at once.
Although feeling that I had heard
enough. I thought that, as 1 listened to SO
much I might as well hear little more.
| had not to wait long.
81 really must say" Harry went on,
that there are one or two points about
her of which don't altogether approve"
WELL" returned my parent "of course,
7 don't pretend that she's perfection; but.
take her altogether, she won't he easy to
heat All the same, 1 should like to hear
what you consider her faults
Yes indeed, and so should I! Wild
horses would not make me go away from
the door now.
well" said Harry, commencing MS
criticism with deliberation that made my
flesh crawl. "she is passable about the
head and face, I admit, but her neck seems
to me unduly long and her shoulders have
the appearance of being trifie too broad
Could it be possible that the man giving
utterance TO this opinion was the same VINO
had held me in his arms few hours pre-
viousIy and asserted that | was the most
beautiful creature on Gods earth?
"And then. you know" went on my lover
save the marki-'her figure is somewhat
d!sproportionate. and she is decidedly fat"'
1t was gross libel,
I could assert with absolute accuracy
that my las rev blouse was only Is iHches
round the waist, and l was quite comfort
able in it.
felt that my love was fast giving way
10 an altogether different emotion, and it