The leader. [volume] (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1895-1905, 1901-12-11

has elapsed since the conversations
just recorded. and that the govt has,
to use an expression of Johns, got
de ole man floored." In this condition
his temper is not angelic. John and
the cook have agreed on that point,
and the family have been equally GER
tain of the fact in question. Leonora
has heard the changes rung on her
eXasperating and undutiful and un-
grateful conduct, every day, and has
been reminded. many times over, of
persists in her present most astonish-
ing and unwomanly course.
But having made this assertion for
the hundredth time. until Leonora
may be supposed to have grown some
what accustomed TO it. the govt gave
him an extra twinge one day. just as
Miss LeOuOra came in. smiling and
rosy. and heard of this desperate fu-
ture without tremor.
But why should / care?" roared
the judge, nursing his foot and his
wrath with equal tenderness. "As
you make your bed, so you must lie.
Marry anybody you Ike, miss! Marry
the dev-"
"Oh, Uncle ADJ" cried Miss Leonora,
rushing at him jubilantly. DO you
really mean that you are not going to
try to make me marry Frank"
Make you marry" shrieked Uncle
Ad, wild with rage. Don't be fool,
Leonora."
"Oh. Uncle Ad. I'm so glad. because,
you know. | like Frank-and l think
he likes me-in fact, we like each 9TH
err"
What do you mean? What do you
as live, you mink, you are in love
with Frank"
Miss Leonora, with a prim and
fetching air-"Bu;, Uncle Ad. you
know l was not going TO be made to
marry anybody"
Uncle Ad. limping wildly around
the roOm-"Ha, ha, ha. The cunning
little rascal! Mrs. Martin, come here!
Think of her fooling her old uncle that
way! Where's Ethel? John. call
Ethel want her-I want her this
minute. How surprised she'll be!
You little hypocrite! That's one time
| was taken in, I'll admit that. John,
YOU idiot, what are You grinning at?'
John, sober on the Instant want
note dat was jes' lef' at de do by d
white man. sch"
Judge, searching vainlv for his spec
tacles, and unable to find them be-
cause they are on top of his head
''Confound those glasses. Here, Mrs.
Martin, read this letter."
Mrs. Martin, reading-"Dear Uncle
Ad. Morris and ! were married this
morning at St. Paui's. We have been
engaged ever since a month before
Leonora came. and we didn't want to
run away, but what else could we do?
We know that you can never forgive
w.. so We won't ask it; and, of course,
we'll be poor, but We don't mind that.
so, good-uy, dear old Uncle Ad, and
dear Auntie and Leonora.-Your Lit
tie Ethel"
The sensitive reader will please ex-
cuse himself for few moments and
leave the room until the worst of the
storm ha> blown over. BY this means
he will return just in time to see the
ludge raging up and down with a limp
and look of agony. and to hear him
roaring. lon-wise:
Ethel. Ethel. That child, Why,
could have told every thought she
h. Il 10 hp G
as transparent as glass, madam! And
here she has been engaged for months,
under my very nose. Where did she
meet him? When did she see him?
How did they ever have a chance to
talk about love? And | believe Leo
nora knew al about it. All, look at
Ter face, 1t makes man doubt the
evidence of his own senses when he
can be circun,vt nted. hoodwinked. de-
ceived. by these girls in pinafores.
And to deceive me mel"
Mrs. Martin, innocently-"But,M Mr..
Martin. thought il was Leonora that
YOU didn't want to marry Mr.. Gray.
You never said a word about Ethel.
If y,m didn't wal Ethel to marry him.
why didn't you say so?--and then, Of
course, | would have tried to prevent
il, for anybody nigh have known that
he and Ethel were i'll love with one an
other"
Judge, staggering back and sinking
into a chair-"Ha. Another. Mrs.
Martin, do ] understand anybody?
Does any man understand any wom-
an in the world? Are you woman
With q mania for fancy work?-or are
you female Sherlock Holmes. with
a pebble in one pocket and red eye
lash in the ether"
He kicked at the stool before him,
and then remembered his govt, with
a shrek of anguish. and threw a mag
azine AT John, who had forgotten to
leave the room.
Are You standing there grinning
yet, you Cheshire cat ?" he cried. why
haven't you gone after her, sir? Go
and bring her hack at once. do you
hear?-at once. Who takes care Of
me like Ethel? Write a note, Leonora,
and tell her 10 come. | suppose you
might as well tell 'em both TO come"
he added, grudgingly, "for just as like
ly as not she'd refuse to leave him.
Nobody knows. The man who thinks
he understands women is a fool"
sixteen, seventeen. eighteen"
murmured the female Sherlock
Holmes.
Yes, sch, I'll git 'em home. seh."
said John, whose countenance was all
one broad grin. Il knowed you want
a-goin' TO hoi' out no time"
Another" groaned the judge.
"Another," And after several min
utes of silence, the judge, a very deep
~ humbled judge now, remarked
meekly: Angelina, that is a very
pretty thing you are making. don't
think | ever noticed it before"
The collector opened and gravely
scanned the "lines:" then returned