Western news-Democrat. (Valentine, Neb.) 1898-1900, 1900-03-15
By WILLIAM BLACK,

VAGAAEA
declare that Squattersville, Nebraska
was of more value to the world thar
Westminster Abbey, because Squatters
vile was full of living men. wherea.
Westminster Abbey was full of deac
ones. W%hereupon Miss Peggy said. sen
sibly and modestly enough, as VIZ
thought:
well, sometimes our people at home
say things like that, but they don't be-
lieve them. They think it clever to startlt
you, that is ALL"
That ought to have been enough. But
it wasn't enough for Jack Duncombe
Oh, dear, no. Something must be said
on behalf of Miss Peggy's countrymen.
Miss Peggy herself was not to be crushed
by the dread might and majesty of West.
minister Abbey.
After ALL" said this reckless young
man, IF you walk through Westminster
Abbey, and impartially look at the names
of the people they have put there, you'll
come to the conclusion that in former
days it was pretty easy to get in. Look
at John Phillips. Did you ever hear of
John Phillips?"
Our learned friend from Oxford, being
thus directly challenged, had to confess
his Ignorance of the enshrined John Phil
lips.
well, he was a writer Of comic verses;
at least, / believe they are considered to
be comic" the younger man continued
with superfuous scorn. 81 know this: I
could get you twenty living writers who
could do infinitely better verses; indeed,
If John Phillips were alive. now there is
one place where you would not find him.
and that is at the Punch weekly dinner!!"
Mr.. ABecket turned to Miss Peggy,
and said to her, with a smile:
Your countryman whom 1 heard make
that remark is said to be worth thirty
million dollars"
He isn't worth consideration" she an
swered, with a kind of audacious petu-
lance; and there the subject dropped.
You should have heard how that young
man broke forth when our guest had to
leave US to find his way across country to
some railway station that he named. You
would have thought that this harmless
freak on the part Of an Oxford Don, in
stead of being in its way a kind of COM
pliment, was really a gross invasion of
ones inalienable rights. If we wished to
be by ourselves, why should we not be
allowed to be by ourselves? Mr.. Jack
Duncombe made much use of that word
ourselves" He seemed to like it. some
how.
Il propose" said he, in his reckless
fashion, that we should give up our Ieis-
ure time on this trip to the composition
of a great and learned work, Just to show
what We can DO. Will you join, Miss
Rosslyn?"
oh, yes" says the young lady, with
calm ~etrontery. What is it to be
about?"
"Oh, anything will serve to show off
with. We must make it imposing. The
square of the hypothenuse, if you like"
That would be very interesting" she
observesfi with muc hcomplacency. "Of
course you will begin with a description
of the square; 1 mean, the square in
which the Hypothenuse Iives?"
Certainly" he answers, Catching on"
with ~alacrity. Then we come to the
habits of the Hypothenuse-his time of
up and going into the city"
Il would have something more roman
tic than that" Miss Peggy says, thought
IF he lives in a square. there
must be people opposite. One Of them
might be a young lady"
Yes, undoubtedly; but she is rather an
unknown quantity yet; we will call her
. until we can settle more about her.
She is living with her Uncle R~homboid."
And the Hypothenuse has the greatest
difficulty in meeting with her." she con
The gardens in the square would be
/ good place; l suppose the Hypothenuse
would lave a key"
Naturally. But then, again, Aunt Par
lllelogram distinctly approves of the
match, and is going to leave all her
money to y. Would you make the Hy-
'othenuse rich or poor?'
SO these two young idiots went on. one
# them apparently taking a grim delight
n thus revenging himself for the intru-
ion of a stranger among ourselves"
There was no other thought for the ham
ess Scholiast making his way along
-arkened roads to wait for the last train
some solitary little railway station.
Here the lights were burning clear. and
hey were now safe from all interfer-
nee, with aimless merriment and BAN
led words and laughing glances to fill
I'LL every glad and precious minute.