The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1900-01-20

| Tor the OlQ CQdp al ulOuCy uln'SosS1
| in more than one concern. was IN
two minds, as you might say. I lik-
ed Polly the best; but then, when
you can get wife with a bit OF tin
Well, I'd always plenty of common
sense, an the next day I told the old
man 1 was willin'. An then bless
me if e didn't take me by the arm
an drag me to the parler
"Loo's ere by 'erself, eses. Go
in an settle it at once, an there was
nothin' for it but to do as e said, an
when I came out of that parler was
engaged to two girls.
"Pretty pickle, wasn't it? An
made up my mind I'd be out of it as
soon as l could, for if old Flint got to
know 1 knew ed cut up rough.
"Well, soon found this wasn't 50
easy. In the first place, Loo was one
of the jealous sort, an grew st1spi->
cious if I couldn't spend every eve-
min with 'er-which was impossible
when there was Polly to see. 1t was
a queer game 1 carried on for bit.
1 used to send Polly notes, sayin' I
was working late, an on Sundays |
said I'd to see huncle who was very
bad.
"This acted all right for awhile,
but, of course, there soon came time
when Polly got suspicious, an one
day I gets a note from 'er, askin me
to come up on Sunday night. She
said she'd somethin' particular to say
to me, an that if I didn't come she
should come for me. Well, told
Loo the story about the huncle who
was bad this time, an wrote Polly
tellin' 'er I'd be sure to turn up, an
l decided I'd settle the affair one way
or another, for I was on quicksilver,
as you might say.
"Polly opened the door an led the
way into the parler. I couldn't 'elp
wishin' that she 'ad the tin instead of
Loo, for when it came to looks Loo
wasn't in it. On this particular
night she looked better than ever, an
1 couldn't 'elp kissin' 'er, though I'd
meant not to. 'Owever, she soon
stopped me hat that.
Ere, don't be kissin' me, she
ses. I want an hexplanation, I do.
What about this Miss Flint you're
a-mashin' ?
Who told you I was mashin'
'er?' I ses.
"Oh, come, Joe, that wont do,'
she ses. I know all about it. You
can't deceive me. suppose it's 'er
money you're hafter?'
We'll, Polly I ses, Tll be plain
with you. It's 'er money. You see,
I've been thinkin' matters over bit
lately, an I've come to the conclu-
sion that I'm doin' wrong in askin'
you to wait for me, seein' that I
'aven't no reasonable prospect of get
tin married, an you can do SO much
this in a proper light, an let us part
friends
"I'd found it jolly ard work to say
this, I'll tell you, for I was afraid
there would be a scene, but to my
surprise she took it better than I
thought.
"'I don't want to spoil your chance
in life, Joe, she ses, only tell me one
thing you don't care for 'er as you
do for me, do you?'
Care for 'er as I do for your I
ses. You wouldn't ask that if you
could see 'er. 'Er airs the colour
of carrots, an she's as freckled as a
butterwoman.
Gas 1 spoke there was curious
noise in the corner behind screen.
It's only the cat,' Poll ses.
She's halter mouse. See, 'ere's
all your letters, an presents; you'd
better take 'em with you, an she
'anded me little parcel ready done
up.
"'You seem to ave known what 1
was comm about, ses 1.
II 'ad an idea, ses she, am there
is nothin' like bein' in time. I think
you'll find 'em all right. An now I
won't keep you any longer
"Well, to say that 'er coolness
staggered me is to put it mildly, but
I did my best to carry it off in the
same fashion.
"You a sensible lass, Poll, ses,
AN I'm glad to see you look at this
matter in proper light.
"'It'sn no use cryin' over split milk,
she ses. Ave you got your at ?
I'll let you out, an she led the way
an opened the door, just for all the
world as if she'd been lettin out
some ordinary visitor instead of the
man she loved an might never see
again. AS shook 'ands was about
to kiss 'er, but she wasn't 'avin' any.
81 can ear the cat, she ses I
believe she's caught that mouse, an
she slams the door to, an l walked
off, feelin' a trife puzzled, as you
may say, for I never imagined Polly
'u'd give me up so coolly.
"Owever, it was some satisfaction
to know I'd settled it. After all, a
girl with prospects like Loo's was
better than joiner's daughter any
day. When I reached the shop the
next mornin' the old man asked me
if I'd step into the parler minnit or
two. 1 followed i'm, wonderin' what
was wrong, an I wondered more
when found Loo there with look
on 'er face that made me stare.
What's to do?' ses 1.
"Well, then she began, and what
she said fair took my breath away.
She knew all about Polly. In fact,
she'd been present at our interview
the previous evenin'. When she said
that, 1 stared at'er like one thunder
struck.
You was there?' 1 ses.
Yes, ses she; I was the cat.
1 'eard everything, an thank good
ness I did =
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