The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1899-11-09

| worm marry1n, TOT Wnen we re gone
she'll ave all there is. Now, if you'll
say yes I'm ready to make the business
over to you, for I'm thinkin' of takin'
things bit easier, an you can be mar
ried Directly. Come, what do you say|
"Well, could only stammer an 'um
an 'aw.
"'Ah, l see I've taken you by sur
prise e ses, so III give you bit to
think il over. Let me know by to-mor-
row mornin'.'
Il didn't sleep much that night, I'll
tell you. A poor beggar at 25 bob week
l shouldn't ave hesitated a second if
it 'adn't been for Polly. The business
was good one. an when the old folks
pegged out l should drop in for big
lump, | knew, for the old chap 'ad
money hinvested in more than one con-
Germ. was in two minds, as you might
say. l liked Polly the best; but then,
when you can get wife with bit of
tin! Well, I'd always plenty of COM
mon sense, an the next day told the
old man l was willin'. And then.
bless me if e didn't take me by the
arm an drag me to the parler!
"'Loos ere by 'erself,' e ses. Go in
an settle it at once and there was
nothin' for it but to do as e said, an
when l came out of that parler l was
engaged to two girls.
Pretty pickle, wasn'tit? An made
| IN ~, y, wind I'll he ont - II G cno,, 7
could, for if old Flint got TO know l
knew ed cut up rough.
well, / soon found this wasn't so
easy. In the first place, Loo was one of
the jealous sort, an grew suspicious If
l couldn't spend every evenin' with 'er
| which was impossible when thece was
| Polly to see. 1t was a queer game l
carried on for bit. / used to send
Polly notes, sayin' l was workin' late,
an on Sundays l said I'd to see huncle
who was very bad.
This acted all right for awhile, but,
of course, there soon came time when
Polly got suspicious, an one day gets
note from 'er, askin' me to come up
on Sunday night. She said she'd some
thing particular to say to me, an that
If L didn't come she should come for
me. Well, l told Loo the story about
the uncle who was bad this time, an
wrote to Polly tellin, 'er I'd be sure
to turn up an / decided I'd settle the
affair one way or another, for l was on
quicksilver. as you might say.
"Poly opened the door an led the
way into the parler. l couldn't 'elp
wishin' that she 'ad the tin instead of
Loo, for when it came to looks Loo
wasn't in it. On this particular night
she looked better than ever, an l
couldn't 'elp kissin' 'er, though I'd
meant not to. 'Owever, she soon stopped
me at that.
Ere, don't be kissin' me- she
ses. Il want an explanation, do. What
| about this Miss Flint you're a-mashin'?'
"'Who told you was mashin' 'er?'
ses.
"'Oh, come, Joe, that won't do she
ses. 4 know all about it. You cant
deceive me. l suppose it's 'er money
you're after?"
We'll, POLL / ses, IN be plain with
you. 1t is 'er money. You see, I've
been thinkin' matters over bit lately,
an I've come to the conclusion that
I'm doin' wrong in askin' you to wait
for me, seein that 'aven't no reason
able prospects Of gettin' married, an
you can SO much better for yourself
/ 'ope you'll see this in proper light,
an let us part friends
I'D found it jolly ard work to say
there'd be scene, but to my surprise
she took it better than thought.
~ don't want to spoil your chances
in life, joe she ses, only tell me one
thing: you don't care for 'er as you
do for me, do your
"'Care for 'er as do for you!' ses.
You wouldn't ask that If you could see
'er. Err airs the color of carrots, an
she's as freckled as butterwoman.'
"As l spoke there was curious noise
in the corner behind screen.
Its only the cat Poll ses. She's
after a mouse. See, 'ere's all your let
ters an presents; you'd better take
EN- Win you, ana sne dnOeu me Il l1ttle
parcel ready done up.
"'You seem to ave known what l
was comm about / ses.
~ 'ad an idea,' ses she, AN there's
nothin' like bein' in time. l think
you'll find 'em all right. An now 1
won't keep you any longer.
well, to say that 'er GOODNESS stag
gered me is to put it mildly, but l did
my best to carry it off in the same fash
ion.
You're sensible lass, Poll, l ses,
AN I'm glad to see you look at this
matter in proper light
"It's snouse cryin' over split milk. she
ses. "Aveyou got your at? III let you
out. AN she led the way an opened the
door, just for all the world asif she'd been
lettin' out son.e ordinary visitor in
stead of the man she loved an might
never see again. AS shook 'ands was
about to kiss 'er, but she wasn't 'aviR'