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

sThis is an unlooked-for pleasure, he
said, raising his hat.
"0hl I-I-happened to meet Mr..
Abbot minute ago, stammered Mabel,
s'and-''
"Spare your explanations, beg, Miss
Merridew | have the honor to wish yoa
good evening, and to you also, Mr. Alb
bot :"
Again he raised his hat, and turned on
his heel For some hours afterwards he
thought of the Thames and Waterloo
Bridge, or threepenn orth of laudanum
from the drug stores. But he abandoned
those dark designs Instead, he ceased
to be on speaking terms with Miss Merri-
dew and Mr.. Abbot, but took to coloring
a meerschaum and flirting outrgaeously
with Miss Tomlinson. Miss Tomlinson
had never had beau before. She was
extremely responsive to Thomas Tanker
VILE.
The weeks went by. One evening
Thomas was coloring the meerschaum soli-
tary in his lonely lodgings, when he was
surprised to receive call from Sidney Alb
bot. He rose and regarded his visitor
with frigid stare.
"Sir, he said in his most formal style,
''this is an unexpected honor
Abbot's expression was self-satisfed and
jovial. He twirled his moustaches and
winked at the dignifed Thomas.
"Sir, repeated the latter, 'I am at
lorse to understand the offensive freedom
of yer manner"
"Tommie, replied Sid Abbot, still
cheerful and unabashed, "Tve got some
noos for yer. I'm engiged."
Thomas Tankerville trembled with rage
and dismay. Otherwise he managed to
preserve an air of scornful calm.
''This my be an interesting piece of in
formation to some" he said; s'but yer II
pardon my remarkin' that neither yer af-
fairs nor those of Miss Merridoo are any
think to me-
''But it's not Mibel Merridoo I'm en-
giged to- answered Sid Abbot, winking
and smirking. cts Ermyntrood Sig
gers.
"Ermyntrood Siggers ?''Tommie gave a
palpable start and a gasp of relief.
"Yes, you juggins, laughed Mr.. Alb
bot. 'Listen to me minute, Tommie.
It's bin funny gime orl through. Mibel
Merridoo--though yer weren't aware of
the fack-is my brothers. wife sister.
And we've been pals, but nuthink more
than pals, me KNOWN the gurl too well,
this three years That's one surprise for
yer. The other this. I'd set optics on
Ermyntrood orfen and orfen before that
evening you came to me, and my heart
was lorst to the gurl, while / ownly knew
her by sight. The question was how to
get intrododeed. Our ownly two mootuai
acquaintance was yourself and Mibel.
Mibel, being in site of strined relations
towards Ermyntrood, couldn do the trick
for me, so the tarsk revolved on you But
didn't like ter arsk yer, Tommie, being
afride yer might give away the show by
letting Ermyntrood know L requested to
be interdooced; for yer never stands now
chawnce with girl if yer mikes yerself
cheap to her (Which explines, also, may
add, why I pretended to carry on with
your mash). So consulted Mibel as to
how we'd best work it; and that shrood
girl-mide all the shrooder by her love for
you, Tommie-thort aht the plan which
was ackshally adopted That $ the trooth,
ole man-the gospel trooth. Yer We been
made cat t's-pore of to secure yer own ap-
piness, with mine thrown in. So yer can
marry Mibel Merridoo as soon as yer
please; for Ermyntrood's kerridge now
longer stops the wy r
/. Thomas stayed to hear no more. 1t
took him but half an hour to find Mabel,
and in FIVE minutes more he, too, was,
like his friend, "engiged.