The Grit-advocate., 1900-07-27
The Truth
About Tobias,

Il kissed my sister. for she is kind
And loves me- but as we reached the
gate
I turned anc told her had mind.
Nevertheless, to try my fate!"
Anonymous.
1t took Hanora quite time to find
out the truth about Tobias. Not that
Tobias could ordinarily be considered
a mysterious individual. Indeed. he
was precisely the reverse. From the
cool dawn hour In which he arose to go
forth and drive the team for Twist &
Taffeta, of which firm he was trusted
collector until his return at $50 to
the modest fiat where his sister-and
supper-awaited him, his life was q
clean and commonplace page, spread
wide for every casual or interested
glance. His nights, If less exposed to
the arc lights of public scrutiny, might
as well have been so. For, after eating
heartily of the food Hanora had pre-
pared and referring to the same in
admiring terms, he was wont to re-
move his shoes as unnecessary impedi-
menta, place his feet in their we'll
darned hose upon the chair "beyant,"
light his pipe. drink the solitary bottle
of beer which Hanora permitted him,
and read the mighty accumulation OF
both morning and evening papers until
the autocratic spinster who ruled his
abode suggested "a decade" and
turned the lamp low by way Of gen
tie but quite sufficient hint.
Tobias was 40-plus five. He had
brickdust skin, pale brows, a pugnac-
ious nose and smile of such sudden,
suffusing. apologetic radiance it ex-
planned his love for his fellowmen in
general and for Hanora in particular
Indeed, his was the only love that had
ever come Hanoras way. She had
never been guilty Of that form of high
way robbery known as coquetry. Not
that she was unsophsticated. She
knew that woman quick of percep-
tion and adroit of finger may appropri
ate the purse of one who walks her
way and suffer Incarceration. And she
knew also that one who possesses her
self of an unappropriated masculine
heart not only goes free in the sight
of the law. but glories if she will in
her guile and in the magnitude Of her
deed. Whether the bonds of inoppor-
tunity had shackled Hanora Ryan or
whether she had preferred maiden tri-
umph to the exultaton of matron-
hood depOnent sayeth not Anyhow,
to get back to the truth about Tobias
On one memorable midsummer eve he
Gavnl1rni y,{a uft
Hanora knew he loathed lemon pie.
On the following morning he meekly
ate the French toast she set before
him, instead of his regulation potato
and rasher. This was her second test.
For Tobias had frankly declared only
two weeks ago that he would eat no
more French, or Flemish, or-no be-
gorrah-Boer toast, that was made of
stale bread dipped in egg and fried!
So there! She began to feel suspicious.
He was good brother, but alarmingly
docile when presented with viands for
which he possessed an aversion.
She was like the parrot which its
owner declared said little but done
devil Of heap of thinkin!" She
thought good deal in those days.
When Tobias suggested bringing
friend home with him to dinner she
thought more than ever, albeit she
possibly said less.
To be bringin' man here for
male!" quoth she. What kind of a
man might he be now, Tobias?"
'Sthraight as they make 'em!"
promptly responded Tobias. He
drives the rush bus. He's good wan.
He'd reliSh one of ynur ra Suh hnrr,r rollr