Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1898-03-05

I didn't know what to do. AT last
said, 81 can't go, Patty and you must
not 20 alone"
"No," said she, affirmatively.
"No," said I, confrmingly.
"No, " said she; "and there's no
need for me to do so, either, as Seth
Prior has offered to take me with
him."
Wasn't 1 mad And yet you could
have knocked me down with feather.
"Seth Prior take you, Patty!" said
I. "No, never! I'll 60 my myself.
I'll have our best sleigh and the new
trappings."
"Do," said she.
depend upon it," said I, and soon
after this We parted for the night.
Next day asked fathers leave.
"No," said he "not unless you can
be in by half-past ten."
This was impossible. What was l
to do?
When I came home to dinner, said,
"Mother, you were complaining about
the new lock yesterday. Shall l oil it
for you ?"
"Do, Noah," she replied; and I
took the lock off.
"What's that boy doing at the door ?"
said father.
"Oiling the lock-" said mother.
"Well, it doesn't 60 at all slick and
easy" said be, and he went out.
How my fingers itched! Mine was a
case of great extremity and extreme
temptation. Doubtful thoughts of Pat
ty, and dark ones of Seth Prior, were
workin' me just beautiful. At last l
could stand it no longer. took the
wards out of the lock, put them in my
pocket, and then I put the lock back
in its place.
1t acted capital. Any key Almost
would fit it. Mother was pleased to
see it work so easy and father, when
he came home to tea, said a.:
"Noah, you've improved the lock
wonderfully; but it won't do, boy if
YOU take it off a hundred times, you
won't be able to get key that will
pass those wards"
That night 1 drove Patty in the
sleigh to Nineveh. Wasn't it pleas
ant frolic And didn't Patty enjoy
herself! and didn't she cut Seth Prior |!
And wasn't happy! Yes, just was.
When 1 got home I soon turned back
the lock, and soon afterward turned
into bed. Well, father didn't find out
this move for more than month. l
used to get up before him, 60 down
to the wharf, and when he came-and
he was always an early bird-I was
busy at the desk. However, one even
| ing he and old neighbor Proddles, who
lived opposite, were having a glass to-
gether, when I heard father say:
II wonder Noah isn't frozen to death
this cold weather, lying out all night
as he does ?"
"Where does he lie?" said Prod
dies. "Don't you know?"
"No," said father "nor can I learn,
either"
swell, I don't know where he
sleeps" said Proddles, with quiet
grin; "but I only know what my mis-
sus says-that she's seed him come in
at your door several times at deadly
late hour.
"But he hasn't got the key" said
father; land, besides, it's new pat
ent lock-"
"He gets in, though, you may de-
pend upon it," said Proddles.
"Never!" said father.
"True, by Washington p' said Prod
dies.
Father sat quiet for few minutes
then he called me to him.
"Noah," said he, putting his hand
in his pocket, "here's the key of the
house can neither lock you out, nor
nail you out; so now come in when
you like; and, what's more, if you're
sweet upon little Patty Doyle, it shall
not be said that your father hindered
you"
"That's right" said Proddles; but
now that you have got both the key
and the consent-two important mat
ters, as I take it, for the successful
prosecution of courtship-I think you
ought to tell us how you managed to
get in."
Itold them and when they had done
laughing, Proddles said, "'Tis true
saying, neighbor, Love laughs at
|lOcksmiths.
"They have right to laugh that
win," said I, and away l went to tell
Patty that had got fathers permls-
sion.
Her friends had no objections; and
in less than two years after took her
as my wife; and charming little
creature she was, and is now, though
many years older-God bless her!