Santa Fe daily New Mexican., 1897-11-11
AT MR.. SMIFFINS'.

was aDOuG 10 propose 10 Malllutl; anu re-
solved to forestall him. was admitted
when called by the housekeeper and ush-
cred up stairs into the little drawing room
by the old lady, who left me there while
she went to inform her mistress of my ar
rival. was thankful that Matilda was
not in the room to meet me Oh entering,
as her absence gave me little time to
cool down and collect my ideas, which
were getting rather mixed.
Suddenly there came laundering knock
at the street door, which seemed to shake
the house to its very foundations. Who
could it beP Old Smiffins? Irushed to
the window and looked. Oh, horror, 1t
was
AS heard the street door open and old
Smitfins storming away about something,
] became frantic. smiillns, as gathered
from some OF his explosive utterances, he,l
only come back to fetch his spectacles, and
If l could secrete myself till he departed
again no harm would be done.
l crawled under the sofa and waited
with anxious heart tie course of events
Smit1ins did not come straight into the
apartment where | was, but went up stairs
first, where I could lear him stamping
about the rooms overhead and clustering
away in Il terrible manner.
Presently he tore down stairs and burst
into the room where | was, followed by
Matilda, who, to judge from the anxious
expression of her courtenance, had eyi-
IDENTIFY been informed OF my arrival and
was expecting scene
11,., tuntt ttph h1, old
about to lay violent hands upon the sofa
to see if his glasses were underneath when
l was saved from discovery by Matilda
crying out, "Why, you dear old stupid,
there are your spectaclos all the while
right in the middle of the table" There
they were sure enough, and old Smitiins,
having hugged his pretty daughter, start
ed off once more.
/ was just on the point )f emerging from
my hiding place and discovering myself TO
the object of my affections when there
came another knook-not SO boisterous as
the first, but more shart and decided. My
head, which ] had thfust forward from
underneath the sofa, went back quicker
than it came. In another minute who
should be announced but Mr.. Henry Pret-
lyman.
Here was fine state Of affairs. Surely
he, too, had not come to make declara-
ton. He had, though, and he set about
it in that cool, unembarrassed manner pc
culiar to himself. had Wild dark
thoughts of rushing frommy lair and an
initiating my hated rival on the spot
Then l remembered he was head taller
than ! was and might possibly not get the
worst of an encounter, aud as pictured
myself measuring my length ON the floor
in presence of Matilda determined to de-
sst for the present. l must keep still and
wait for the bitter end
had to crouch under that wretched sofa,
rubbing my injured shin, while that
wretch was popping the question. He
was accepted, and was just tenderly insin-
uatipg his arm round the slender waist of
Matilda when there came knock the very
duplicate of the first. There was no mis-
taking it. 1t was Smitins'. AS the re-
verberation of that mighty knock passed
away savage JOY thrilled my heart. My
rival was caught.
Smiffins' hand was on the handle of the
door. held my breath and waited for the
onslaught. Would Smitfins kick Pretty.
man down stairs Or throw him bodily
through the window were the questions
that engrossed my mind at this moment
Smiffins did neither. 10 my disgust,
amazement and despair Smiffins rushed
forward and grasped his hand with effu-
sivo expressions of delight
Well, my boy" he said, sis it all
right? OF course Tilda has said yes. You
haven't lost much time, you young rascal
you, after getting my consent 'Tilda
looked delighted (heartless minx) but
somewhat puzzled, upon which Pretty.
man explained how he had intercepted her
stern parent in oneof his walks and got
his consent to marry his daughter.
All my thoughts were now concentrated
on effecting an escape from my dreadful
position. After some conversation the pre-
cious trio repaired to the garden to inspect
the horticultural arrangements of old
Smifiins.
Now was my opportunity. emerged
from under the sofa, stole softly down
stairs and was just going to make rush
past the dining room, through the hall
and so out into the street when / nearly
fell over old Smiffins, who was arranging
somo plants on the hall table. Fortunate
ly he was so engrossed he had not heard
or seen mo, but what dilemma! could
neither go backward nor forward.
After a moments reflection I stole gen
tly into the dining room (the door of which
was open), trusting that Smiffins would
pass on. He did pass on, but he came back
again. There was no sofa to crawl under,
no cupboard to hide in. The window was
fast.
There was but one resource left, and as
Smiffins came In at the door I popped up
the chimney. Smiffins at once began bel
lowing out for the supper to be brought
in, and then Matilda and Prettyman
strolled in, and they all sat down at the
table.
Presently old Smiffins complained of
feeling cold. Then / heard him rush
across the room toward the fireplace.
There was short pause, and then
sharp click. He had set light to the fire.
l had bumped my head against the brick
work Of the chimney was nearly choked
with SCOT, and now--I was to be roasted
alive. This was more than flesh and blood |
could stand. put my foot upon the flame
and extinguished it, and then wriggled
through the aperture on to the hearthrug.
Matilda screamed and tainted. Pretty |
man went out Of the room hurriedly Ito |
fetch a policeman doubtless, while Smiffins
rang the bell and shouted, ''Fire!" and |
Murderp' rufhed out of the room,
opened the street door, sped through the |
streets, and finally reached home sadder
and tlacker man than issued from it d |
few hours previous.
Tread in the next days papers that the
authorities were on the lookout for dan
gerous lnnatic who on the previous even
Ing had made descent into gentleman's
lining room down the chimney, London
Star.
Clocks That Turn Out the Lights.