The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1899-11-09
Teaching Him a Lesson
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
ssT'HANK Heaven for that!"
ho1 ircf 10 Ion INV SCAT In
BY J. w. Mayall.

"1NHANK Heaven for that!"
had just taken my seat in a
"third smoker" and was opening my
evening paper when the above exclam-
nation caused me to look up in sur
prise The speaker--who when got in
had hidden behind stained and crum-
pied newspaper-was sallow-faced
yong man of the ''out-at-elbows' de-
scription, and he spoke in tone of
such fervency that l concluded he
must have some pressing appointment
and was impatient at the trains stop
page. / was about to ask him if this
was so when he anticipated me.
Pardon my hagitation, SIR he said,
wiping his brow with colored hand
kerchief, but if you only knew what
I've endured this last 'arf-hour."
Then / smiled, for l remembered that
q plump, good-looking young woman
with three small children, each armed
with monster stick of gaudily striped
''toffee," had got out of the carriage at
the last station; indeed, had given the
young woman lift with the children,
with the result that there were five dis
tinct impressions of sticky fingers on
my coat-sleeve.
"You don't care for childrenY'
said.
ut wasn't the childer, bless you" my
companion returned. 1T was their
mother. / nearly 'ad a fit directly saw
'er maxim for the door, an I'D only time
to 'ide behind the noospaper, when hin
she gets with the kids"
The young man paused here and drew
out short clay pipe.
IL used to know 'er, you see, sir" he
resumed, helping himself to my tobac-
co. ''In fact, we were sweethearts.
Lemme see, it'll be eight ear ago now.
I'd good job at the time as assistant
to pawnbroker, an l should ha' been
there yet, an master of the shOp-for
old Flint's dead-if it 'adn't been for
'er," and he frowned gloomily.
She-treated you badly?" l OBJ
served.
mo, don't suppose you'd say that.
What she did, she did simply out of re-
venge All, she 'ad me proper. You
see was always what you might call
a practical chap. l looked after num-
ber one, an on one thing I'd made up
my mind--I meant to marry well. I'D
good job with prospect of rise. l
was smartish young feller. | could
cut most of 'em out with the gals, an
saw no reason why l shouldn't marry
some one with bit of property, or even
with money in the funds. That was
what meant to do. What did do was
to get regular gone on 'er directly | set
eyes on 'er, which was one bank 'oliday
at Blackpool.
at was at the Tower l dropped across
'er. She was standin' in the ballroom
splendid place that. amt it?-watch-
in the dancers. She took my fancy at
once, for she was one of the plumpish
sort, with rosy cheeks and bright eyes
az such fringe, right into 'er eyes, an
she was dressed all in white, with row
of pearls round 'er neck, big at
trimmed with red roses, an yellow sand
shoes. / was no end of toff myself, for
I'd just bought myself reg'lar flash
Jacket. crimson and black, an a new
straw at.
''Well, edged near 'er, an after a bit
i caught 'er eye. Then l smiled, an
well she smiled back. You know the
way Then went up an raised my at,
an asked 'er if she'd ave turn, an she
said she didn't mind an in another
minute we was trippin' on the light
fantastic.
after it was over | took 'eT to to ave
a small lemon. Then we'd another
dance, an after that we went an sat
down to cool. l asked 'er 'er name, but
she only laughed an said she 'adn't got
one.