The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1900-01-20
TEACHING HIM A LESSON.
"Thank Heaven for that %


smoker" and was opening my even
ing paper, when the above exclamma-
ton caused me to look up in surprise.
The speaker-who when 1 got in had
hidden behind a stained and crumpled
newspaper-was sallow-faced young
man of the "out-at-elbows" descrip-
ton, and he spoke in tone of such
fervency that 1 concluded he must
have some pressing appointment and
was impatient at the train S stoppage.
l was about to ask him if this was so
when he anticipated me.
Pardon my hagitation, sir" he
said, wiping his brow with colored
handkerchief, "but if you only knew
what I've endured this last 'arf
hour"
Then 1 smiled, for I remembered
that a plump, good-natured young
woman with three small children,
each armed with a monster stick of
gaudily striped "tofee," had got out
of the carriage at the last station in
deed, 1 had given the young woman
suit tnat there weffes nve distlnct I'M
pressions of sticky fingers on my coat
sleeve.
"You don't care for children?" 1
asked.
cit wasn't the childer, bless you,"
my companion returned. cit was
their mother. Inearly 'ad fit direct
ly saw 'er maxim for the door, an
I'd only time to 'ide behind me noos-
paper, when hin she gets with the
kids"
The young man paused here and
drew out short clay pipe.
II used to know 'er, you see, sir, I"
he resumed, helping himself to my
tobacco. ''In fact, we were sweet
hearts. Lemme see, it'll be eight
ear ago now. I'd a good job at the
time as assistant to pawnbroker,
an should ha' been there yet, an
master of the shop-for old Flint S
dead-if it admit been for 'er," and
he frowned gloomily.
"She-treated you badly?" l OBJ
served.
"No-o, don't suppose you'd say
that. What she did, she did simply
out of revenge. All, she 'ad me
proper. You see I was always what
you might call practical chap. I
looked after number one, an one
thing I'd made up my mind-I meant
to marry well. I'd a good job with
prospect of rise. 1 was smart
ish young feller. 1 could cut most of
'em out with the gals, an l saw no
reason why l should not marry one
with bit of property, or even with
money in the funds. That was what
meant to do. What 1 did do was to
get reg'lar gone on 'er Directly I set
eyes on 'er, which was one bank oil
day at Blackpool.
"It was at the Tower 1 dropped
across 'er. She was standin' in the
ballroom-splendid place that, amt
it?-watchin' it the dancers. She took
my fancy at once, for she was one of
the plumpisll sort, with rosy cheeks
and bright eyes an such fringe,
right into 'er eyes. an she was dress
ed all in white, with a row of pearls
round 'er neck. big at trimmed
with red roses, an yellow sand shoes.
I was no end of a toff myself, for I'd
just bought myself reg'lar flash
get-up-white trousers an a striped
jacket, crimson an black, an a new
straw at.
"Well, I edged near 'er, an after
bit l caught 'er eye. Thsn snil-
ed, an'-well, she smiled back. You
know the way. Then 1 went up an
raised my at an asked 'er if she'd
ave a turn an she said she 'didn' t
mind, an in another minute we was
a trippin' on the light fantastic.
"After hit was over / took 'er to
ave small lemon. Then we'd an
other dance, an after that we went
an sat down to cool. 1 asked 'er 'er
name, but she only laughed an said
she admit got one.
"'But 1 know yours, she ses.
Bet yer DON'T ses I, What is
it?'
cit begins with J-your Chris
tian name, she ses. Your other be-
gins with S.
"Well, l stared then, for she was
right, my name being Joseph Scar
rett.
"'Ow, did you know it?' ses I.
""Ow? Well, do you know Miss
Hopkins?'
Very we'll, 1 ses. She comes
from where 1 do
Yes she ses, so do l."
+" Go on, ses 1; you're kiddin'
me-