Akron daily Democrat. [volume] (Akron, Ohio) 1892-1902, 1899-05-20
First.
Love.

see now, my actions were inspired rather
| by Mollie's excellent cheese cakes and sue
culent jam rolls than by her buxom figure
and applelike checks.
When l informed my ''chum, Buffers,
of my resolve, he looked at me queerly,
thrust his hands into his pockets and said
"Oh, Lor'! Have you thought of this Sc
riously? Have you thought what a hear
of things people want who get married.
"What sort of things?"
"Oh, chairs and tables and-and frying
pans. Where do you expect to get 'em
from? They cost an awful lot.
was silent. To tell the truth, 1 had
not considered the practical side of the
| question.
My action was above all sordid details.
There house, too, ~ Buffers pursued
"Where are you going to live?'
"Oh-er-we shall go on as we are for a
bit"
Buffers stared
"You mean Mollien stop at the doctor S
and you'll go ON having lessons2"
Eyes"
''Oh, but that's rot, you knowl We
can't have a married man in the school.
The doctor won't stand it. -
HE'LL never know, fat head. It's 60
ing to be a secret marriage"
''Oh, crikeyl At the registry Officer"
nodded.
81 wonder how much it costs ! shall
have to ask"
You'd better ask Mollie first, !" Buffers
returned. "She may object to secret
marriage Therell be no calling her name
out before the congregation, or cake, or
presents. 1 say, old chap, fancy avoiding
without cake or presents. Why, people get
heaps of nobby things when they're mar
ried-silver cigarette cases and walking
sticks. -
kicked the gravel ruefully.
''It can't be helped, answered regret
fully AFTER all, it'll be more romantic. :"
"Why, yes; there is that about it. You
might elope with her, you know; get her
through the window and have rope lad
der and a coach and four waiting in the
lane. Only she's rather a lump to pull
through a window 1 say, what a lark it
would be if she stuck and the doctor nab
bed you. My, what a wopping you'd getl"
am afraid 1 betrayed some symptoms
of uneasiness here.
you'll tell me how you do it?" Buffers
added.
How l do what?"
why, propose, you know"
"Oh-er-yes.
"Shall you kiss herr"
"Shall I?''
''They generally do, only you'll have to
stand ON stool to do it, for she's good
head taller than you, and, mind, when you
propose, you'll have to go down on your
knees.
''On my knees?"
Its the proper thing, know, because
1 saw young Evergreen propose to my sis
ter Flo. She refused him, though. By
the bye, you'll want ring. I'll give you
that one got out of the prize packet for
your white rat. "
Lets have look at it. u
He pulled it out. 1t looked very like
gold, and in few minutes l had parted
with my white rat, and the ring was
transferred to my waistcoat pocket.
That evening 1 had quiet stroll in the
doctors grounds to think matters over
While was thus engaged James, the gar
dener, came along with the watering can.
As rule we fellows were seldom on good
terms with James, for he always suspect
ed us of having designs On his fruit, but
this evening he was quite pleasant and
asked me, if I'd like pear, to come with
him. Of course 1 did, for James pears
are just prime. 1t was real juicy one
he picked, and it melted in my mouth
like butter.
'Good, ain t it, Master Carraway?" he
said.
1 nodded. My mouth was too full to
speak.
"Now, wonder if might be SO bold
rs to ask you to do me a favor, Master
Carrawayp" he went on, eying me a bit
doubtfully.
why, of course you may, James. I'll
do anything for you can"
THANK you, sir, thank you kindly. 1t
amt much-only just to give this letter
to Mollie, the cook. You see, Master Car
raway, don't like goin to the house over
often, for tie other servants they plague
Mollie about it, an she don't like it, so If
you d kindly give it to her you'd be doin
me a great favor. l know your a sensi-
BILE young gent, Master Carraway. I've
often said so to Mollie, so L don't mind
tellin you that it's about gettin married. "
about
Yes, sir. I've been thinkin of it for |
some time, an now the doctors give me a !
rise an I've got Joe Barnes cottage L |
don't see any reason why we should wait |
any longer It's most as cheap to keep |
two as one, Master Carraway, an she's a
capital manager. l don't see as 'ow can
do better
''Who is she, James?" 1 asked, not, it
must be confessed, without a touch of mis-
giving.
He looked at me in surprise
''Who? Why, Mollie."
"You'rc-you re going to marry her?"
eyes, sir The banns'll be put up on
Sunday, an I've brought the ring. A
guinea 1 give for it. But ave another
pear, Master Carraway.
But had no heart for pears mt that mo
ment, and l made my way back to the
house, scarcely needing James reminder
about the letter.
Perhaps had some thoughts of destroy
ng that missive, but then reflected that
,uch an act could do no good. Everything
vas practically settled. Mollie was lost
o me forever.
/ told Buffers and asked him to take
,ack the ring, as | had no further use for
t, but he refused to do this, and we fought
t out at the end of the cricket ground be-
lind the trees. l got black eye and also
70 lines for fighting. Mollie did her best
o Console me by giving me some of her
lest cheese cakes. If could always be sure
# such cheese cakes, wouldn't mind i'm !