The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1900-02-10

IL
ly-all, that is, except Thomas Tanker
Vile And the reason why he failed TO
enjoy himself was that his little plan in
regard to Ermyntrude Siggers did not ap-
pear to progress at all as he had expected.
Sid Abbot, indeed, at the outset was fair
ly attentive to that damsel But the dam
sci was SO intent on burking any chance of
ove-making between Tommie and Mabel
that she paid bat slight attention to Mr..
Abbot conversation. For some time Sid
persisted, for Tommie' sake, in the most
praiScworthy manner But at length he
he became obviously nettled by Miss Sig
gers Indifference, and turned his hand
some eyes upon the other ladies. This
was the beginning of sorrows Those
eyes, in roaming round, rested upon Ma
bel Merridew Mabel met them for an
instant, then fell demurely. Jealous Tom
iltt hotlNtu IT. ne diSb HutiCeu lildt WI.
Abbot, the hero of hundred affairs,
smirked TO himself and stroked his whis-
kers, as if he had detected the prelimina-
rieS of encouragement to Miss MeTridew 5
manner of dropping her eyes In few
minutes their eyes met again. And again.
Mr.. Abbot was seen by Tommie to smirk
and stroke bis whiSkers.
His thoughts, translated into language,
might probably have run thus
"If yours trooly hasn't made an i'm
preston there, he II eat his strawyard -
BY and by-they had now landed for
tea-he happened to find himself next to
Miss Merrilew. As politeness demanded
he began To converse with her. Soon they
were quite absorbed in one another IN
tereSting remarks There was little in
these remarks, to be sure. But on such
occasions the matter is nothing; everything
depends on the manner And there was
no denying that Sidney Abbot manner
was amatory, and that Mabel Merridew's
was-well, not discouraging
Look at that sneaking cat of Miss
Merridew, said Miss Siggers, to Miss
Tomlinson She's been mixing optics at
Mr. Abbot all dy, and couldn't be salts
till she d got him over there to flirt with -
"She yn't got no proper pride, and
swered Miss Tomlinson, with a spiteful
glance at Mabel Merridew Mikes er-
self cheap To any feller who comes along
Yer can sce how Mr Abbot hites it, -
persue1 Miss Sisgers, 'ownly he's too
much the gentleman to show it But IN
give him the opportunity to get away from
her. pore man. Mr.. Abbot, she cried,
raising her voice in shnll expostulations,
here's my cup n astandiny empty, and
me dying for more tea What's you gen
Ilemen a coming to p
Ten thousand parsonsr exclaimed
Sidney Abbot springing to his feet
AlloN me, | beg, Miss Siggers.
80 Ermyntrude got him away from
Mabel, and she did not give him another
chance to return. Whether she herself
wanted him or not tha, poaehing eat was
ne. going to monopolize him. And Ger
.ainly his eyes bad fine expression, and
his hair was beautiful, and he smelt some.
thing delicious Besides, here was a
grand opportunity to arouse the jealousy
Of Thomas Tankerville.
Thomaas Tankeryille was jealous,
though not in regard to Ennyutrude Sig
gers. He had not at all liked the way in
which Abbot and Miss Merridew had con
Quoted themselves, aud he was consumed
with an appalling dread lest more might
come of their acquaintance His dread
was palpably increased by passage of
arms which he overheard in the shop some
DAYS later between Miss Sisgers and Miss
Merridew.
.'Tork about powchersl A weasel y mt
in with yer, Miss Merridewr'
COW, Down't tork natural istory to
me- Miss Siggers, rejoined Miss Merri-
dew II dowu't tike no interest in ami
mals.
''Exceptin' in two-legged animals,
sneered Miss Siggers.
Il down't understand yer, Miss Sig
gers, retorted Miss Merridew, loftily
Down yer, ma amp Then put it
to yer so as even your intelligence earn t
fIe to grasp it. Yer never heard Of a
certain MIR. Sidney Abbot, perhaps ?
I've heard the gentleman mime,
admitted Miss Merridew.
1t wasn't You | see walkin aht with
him larst evenin' of course? expect 1t
was ownly your twin sister, remarked
Miss Siggers, with an unexampled effort of
irony
Miss Merridew colored, looking uneasily
Tor a second in the direction of Thomas
Tankeryille, who was serving a customer
only few yards away But instantly re-
covering her eomposure, she inquired,
apropos of nothing in particular, ''What
did yer tike ter drink with yer dinner to
dy, Miss sisgers p
Give me any more of your lip, ma am,
flashed out Miss Siggers, boiling oyer at
the insult, ''and III smack yer fee for
yer
''Lidies, lidies, interposed the shop
walker, if yer down dry up I'll fetch the
boss
Sign, said Thomas Tankerville in a
hollow, trembling voice. His face was
white. His limbs shook His head
seemed to swim, He had heard every
word of the above alteration.