Walker Lake bulletin. (Hawthorne, Nev.) 1883-1926, 1901-01-02
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Have | offended any of .ne mothers
in the sewing circle?" asked Doris,
looking little disturbed.
"No, no, my lamb" replied Mrs.
Acroyd reassuringly. Just as II you
would offend them! l just want
straight answer to a straight question"
Herr the speaker paused doubtfully.
ASK the question, then, Mrs
Acrdyd," said Doris, rather nervously
"Now, Miss Doris, there's no offense
intended, but amt you bit gone on
that la-da-da young toff from Lunnon-
you know, the conservative joint?''
"The conservative joint?' gasped
Doris.
That's im-the young toff with
window pane in his hi, and II 'Haw,
haw. sort of way Of talking, as though
is talk stuck in his neck!
''As l was goin' to tell yer," contin-
ued Mrs. Acroyd volubly. "'E called
ere this morn.
Good mornin', madam says e,
taking off his shiny topper, as polite as
if he was talkin' to duchess.
Good day, young man. says l.
Is Mr.. Acroyd at 'omeY says e.
"'No, young man. says l. 'E's down
in the mines diggin' Goals for the ben
eft Of an ungrateful country which
kicks at payin' thirty bob ton, for the
benefit of the likes of you!
"T'm sorry haven't time to discuss
the coal question, Mrs. Acroyd,' says
he, but shall be very glad If you will
give me cup Of your very excellent
tea. They tell me that you make the
very best cup O. tea in the whole town.
says e. And would you believe it, Miss
Doris, in five minutes he an me were
'obnobbin' over our AFTERNOON tea, just
the same as If 1 was swell lady an 1T
was my at 'ome day.
"Now, Miss Doris, saw lis little
game at once when e started arstin' all
sorts of questions about you, an gettin'
me on to tell i'm all about you.
when ] told i'm all about what you
did in the scarlet fever time, an the
strike time, an the typhoid time, 1 says
to i'm, Now, young man, what do you
think Of a young woman like that?'
at think she's a noble girl, says 'e,
an e struck is eyeglarst in is eye, an
pulled down is cuffs as though he
meant what he said.
"'Now, young man. says l, that
there young lady hasn't got a mother to
look arter 'er or to arst any young man
is Intentions
~ understand says he.
"'You've been sparkin' round 'er
ever since you've been down 'ere elec
shuneering, says l.
"'E mods.
"'Now, young man. says L. you've
come ere to arst my old man for is
vote, which 'e's chairman of the jolly
Miners Benefit Club. l know very
we'll that he an lis mates are goin to
vote agln' yer, and that they're goin' to
smash oop your meetin' tonight
"T'm sorry to ear that says e.
"'Now, young man. says l, might l
arst what are your intentions toward
our Miss Doris? She's more to us wom-
en- ere than half dozen bloomin' mem
bers O parliament says l.
Then he dropped the winder pane
from is eye an the 'haw, haw' from is
voice, and e answers quite gentle:
Whether I'm returned member Of
parliament or not for this constituency,
Mrs. Acroyd,' says e, L intend to arst
Miss Doris Thorold to do me the honor
of marryin' me-
fright o, my lad" says l. An
when you've married 'er, do you mean
to treat 'er well?'
az do says e.
"'No stoppin' out late at nights, no
'armonlc clubs, an always to bring yer
money 'ome-straight to 'er on pay day,
says l.
YES says he.
Then | 'eld out my and TO i'm, which
'e gripped very ard.
"Teave It to me, then. young man,
says l.
"'Thank you, Mrs. Acroyd,' says he.
But supposng Miss Thorold won't
have meY'
"'You leave that to me, young man.
says !.
And e left 1t to me. Miss Doris, with
this" concluded Mrs. Acroyd, pro
ducing magnificent half-hoop ring.
81 kissed i'm for lis mother before e
went. Il was that like my poor Bill
as was drowned at sea that couldn't