Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1900-05-10

rled, for she's our only one, and she's
but a chit of child yet, but il she
does marry, the man must be Of her
own choosing. -
This very next day, returning from
church, the whispered words were
spoken, and Geoifrey Hunt found him.
self engaged to Bertha Lydliard Just
one week after he had plighted troth
with Kate Bollard. warm greeting,
heightened color, seen-eyed mother,
and blunt father circumstances
found the youpg man an easy sport,
For several months Godfrey Hurt,
by dint of duplioity, kept up his double
engagement, as he had kept up the
double courtship. He had at times to
show almost Machiavellar resource in
bridging some of the diIhcultes which
arose, and when June came round n
special difficulty arose. for both Bertha
and Kate insisted upon being escorted
to the various festivities of May
week." Geoifiey's resort was to bog
for a weeks holiday in London, that
he might visit lmythicall sick rela'
| tion.
That fatal holiday! All had gone so
| smoothly up to- then, he remembered
| afterward He wrote from London that
his relative was worse, and he could
not possibly get away before the Satur.
day afternoon, aud engaged to go to
both ladies if he could possibly manage
it! He knew that one, he had not de-
cided which, must be disappointed, but
she would only think that he had not
been able to get away in time. As il
happened, both were disappointed, for
a convivial party tempted him to stay
| nm
II II II 4 4 Il i
On the Monday morning, Godfrey
Hunt, neatly dressed, and as iaunty as
usual, had just opened his book on the
bank counter, when the door was
pushed open and two burly men seemed
to race each other toward his desk.
Each bore in one hand small, untidy
parcel, and in the other threatening
whip. They were Farmers Lyddiard
and Bollard. Geoffrey paled, conscious
of impending trouble. Both parcels
were banged on the desk in front Of
him, both whips were raised as the
farmers spoke, with angry gestures.
The clerk shrank backward from them.
'You lying hound %
'.You miserable cur!'' ...
The enraged parents spoke in unison.
| Inv hiot tlibo SeS yOu III but
streets of Cambridge I'll thrash yor
within an inch of your life," roareo
Farmer Bollard.
And I'll thrash you whenever
meet you," Numbered Farmer Lyd
diard.
So saying. they strobe from the bank
together. Godfrey thanked his lucky
stars that the other clerks had no
arrived ia time to witness his humiia
tion and was ready with EXCUSES to thu
manager, who came in and found hin
still blanched with fear. The miserable
yodng man slipped the parcels contain
ing his many love letters ard few
presents into his desk, and as he die
so he noticed his latest letters fixed OF
the top Of each. He wondered why
glanced at them. and found that he hat
posted the letter to Kate in Bertha't
ienvelope and that to Bertha in Kate
Cuising his folly, he destroyed tn,
whole correspondence.
Pleading urgent family reasons TO
resigning his post in the bank and with
the fear of those threatening whip
before him, he left for London by tn
midnight train. When he was pointed
out to me few weeks later he wa
flirting outrageously with young lad
on the deck of steamer bound TO
Canada, which he appeared to conside
the nearest place of safety for one VIII
foil between two stools as he did-witl
, Threats of thrashings to follow.