The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-12-09


of the solid meaty courses down to the
diminuendo of the delicate jalli,s,
fruits, and confections.
The HarmOns as a family were fond
of the good things of life; they were
also fond Of demonstration, of lengthy
speeches, toasts, etc, etc. And upon
such an occasion as this, what could be
more beftting than that the health Ct
the young engaged couple should be
duly pledged in glass of sparkling
champagne? So Mr. Harmon ruddv.
bright-cyed, beaming, rose at the head
of his table and addressed his daughter
and future son-in-law i'm aowry and
! eloquent language. He spoke of the
charms of his dear daughter. of the
manly grace of her lover, of the happi-
/ ness which the engagement had given
to them ALL and he hoped that the fut-
! ure might hold for them both an ever
widening increase of blessings and Joy.
/ But Young Underwood who was unac-
customed to such effusion, failed to APP
! preciate 1t, listened to it nervously,
smiled feebly, pulled his fair, downy
| mustache, and felt vaguely uncomfort-
! able.
you must make a speech now,
| George Susie exclaimed, arChly, as
/ '''ll i9 lltl ldllltI NbS seated.
/ Yes, Mr.. Underwood, you must make
speech" said Aunt Emma. and all the
/ tamily looked at George and waited.
! But the Young man. blushing to the
! roots Of his sleek, brown hair, stam-
mered out a hasty apology. He had
never made a speech in his life. he did
not know how, he really must beg to
! be excused, etc, etc; but his apology
| vas only accented upon the promise
! that next time his speech would be
/ forthcoming. And then to his great re-
/ lief Mrs. Harmon gave the signal 20
! rise, and the family repaired to the
! drawing room where cups OF coffee
were handed round and music pro-
/ posed.
George did not sing? No? Did he
! like music? Then Susie must sing for
them.
Susie's voice was a high soprano with
a Cuavor running through it, and her
Songs were all of the very sentimental
die-for-love order, and intensified by
! the fact that she sang them directly to
! George.
1t was trying. George shunled his
feet, blushed a little. turned away his
/ head and tried to look uncons ,ious:
but the family gaze was fastened on
him, and he could not get away from
| it. Would the song never come to an
| end? The perspiration was standing
out on his forehead IN large drops, and
his hands had turned cold. All, there
was the last verse! He breathed more
freely, and screwed up his courage t.
glance at his fancoe. She had just
given the final note of her song and
was now gazing upon her lover with a
rapturous warmth which seemed posi-
lively to enveop him.
bravo, susie" her father exclaimed,
at the same time applauding her vigor-
ously Nov give us that little thing
about the DYING soldier"
| do you mean The Warrior Bold
papa?" Susie asked in her sweetest
voice.
Yes, give us that. We haven't had
half enough yet; have we. George"
George assented with sickly smile,
and the song proceeded.
Wild thoughts of making a precipi-
tate rush from the room, or Of finding
SOM urgent excuse for sudden de-
parture rushed through his mind, ard
it was only by a desperate effort that
ne MANAGED to control his emotion
He glanced at the cock. oh, Lord,
1t was only half past nine. and in COM
mon dccency he could not rise till ten
How was he going to stand it? He gave
a furtivc glance at Susie only to find
out to his dismay that her "appeallrg
brown eyes were still seeking his.
Would that Warrior Bold never die &?
would he go on protesting his undevi-
ating devotion to the end of time? All,
ne has reached the battle field now;
MS demise cannot be very far off "The
pnShted ring he wore was crushed and
wet with gore George felt distinctly
grateful to tn" enemies who had slain
MN. Now the last note of his diving
speech has sounded, and with fervent
sigh young Underwood Joined in the
applause.
Susie" her father rcmonst atod.
You must not leave the piano vet.
We haven't had half enou"h."
"Oh, papa" Susie replied. with 4
little simper, II am afraid we shall tire
George out, and besides I want Aunt
Emma to sing"
So Aunt Emma sang, and the BOYS
all sang in turn, and then George
glanced at the clock and found to his
relief that it was half past ten. 1t
would not, no 1t certainly would not be
impolite to say good-by now He arose
nervously, and shook hands all round
Il will come to the door with YOU"
Susie whispered as she gave his hand 4
parting squeeze.
BY this time she was loving him in
tensely, unaffectedly. with the bottled
up enthusiasm Of thirty unloved years.
She loved him with her eyes, her lirs,
her chiffon sleeves which she threw
airectionately around his neck She
loved him unreservedly, unblushnGly
and publicly with tender words, and
still more tender glanCes.
George was fairly saturated with
love, and as he walked swiftly home
wards that night he drew his breath
out with a rush, while vague, half
formed thoughts fitted through his
brain. Was twas it really the usual
thing for a young lady to do-well, 20
do more than half the love-makng? &?
At least, he had always heard not. But
as he was a guieless young man, and
did not know much about such things,
he bore it all very Loyalty and maHfully
for a whole week; he called quite often
to see his ladv-love; he took her for
walks in the afternoon, allowed her 10
cling lovingly To his arm i'm broad day
light, and to kiss him unreservedly on
the doorstep I'm view Of all the neigh
bors, and he expended his small saw
ings on the purchase OF a handsome
diamond ring.
The next week, however, reaction set
in; he began to feel very much like a
fly who has unwarily crawled into IA
honey pot, and whose one object in life
Is to escape from the sweetness which