The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1902-01-10

Tor BUSINESS. AD,Jau pauScu u ho
ment to let his words sink in before he
continued. 81 am myself not wholly
unknown to you," he went on, with
slight drawing up OF the figure and
little swelling ont of the chest. "For
many years | have been connected
with the First National Bank Of
Suuawtunket, and | have been per-
haps, if may be allowed to say so,
not unimportant factor in the steady
growth and deserved success of that
insti' tuition"
Miss Mehetable stood bolt upright
behind her counter, her arms folded,
her gray eyes, with their piercing
black dots of pupils, fastened nnwink-
inely upon the countenance of Mr..
Abijah Jopling, while her own main-
tained its normal impassive gravity.
She was listening attentively, but not
eagerly. She may have wondered
what object he had in view. but curl
osity was an emotional weakness not
to be expressed. She neither COM
men,ed nor encouraged but merely
waited for him to unfold himself.
My present salary he continued,
''is 81 200 per annum, and | have in
vested in shares in the Squawtunket
and Sluawoag Railroad company ST.
653, which is at present paying I per
cent. dividends and which will when
the Vanderbills have purchased the
controlling interest yield at least 10
per cert. per annum." MIR. Jopling
paused again, this time TO note the
effect of his statement, but Miss Bas-
com displayed no perceptible evidence
of emotion and still regarded him
silently and without blinking, he ex
perienced slight feeling of disap-
pontment.
"As an employee of the Eirrt Ma
tional Bank of Sqnawtunkct,' he re-
sumel, 1T has come under my notice,
Miss McLctable, tina; you have on de-
post there ut present the sum of $S,-
543 &C, on which you are receiving, Of
course, in bank of deposit no interest
whatsoever. Suppose, Miss MeLetabel
how, do not be startled at what !
am about TO say" Miss Mchetabel
looked about as likely to be startled as
a wooden Indian and fully as self con-
tanned as hard boiled egg.) Sup
pose, say, that s. ,65S were added to
So 543O6, the sum would amount to
SIG, 1876 OG This sun. invested in
shares of the Squawtunket and Squaw-
Gag railroad, paying dividends OF 10
per cent, tor | have it on the highe st
authority that the Vanderbilts fully
intend to take the control, would afford
an annual income of, in round numbers,
500. This, added TO my salary,
would amount to $4,000, and as take
it the annual profits of your business
here amount to not less than 81 900, /
may place the grand total at So 800.
Now Miss Mehetabel," said Abijah,
throwing back his head and eying
Miss Bascom with the air Of an attor
ney who had made out lucid and all
but unanswelable case, ''you will per-
ccive the end OF this somewhat extra
ordinary interview. ! have the honor
to offer you-that is, would like to
mo; | ean-cr-cr-wwil you be
kind enough to marry me, Miss Bas-
CON-"
| Now, Ahijah, in thinking out the
possible contingencies of this cam paign,
had supposed it not unlikely that Miss
Mthrtabel, on hearing his proposal OF
marriage, might throw her arms
around his neck and embrace him and
perhaps caress him, after what he had
a vague notion was the feminine usage
of like circumstances. The thought
of this possibility had at first some
what tla ,h, d him, but he had made up
his mind to submit gracefully, and
even TO return those lavish care ses in
a cLaslc and methodcal manner.
Rather to his disappointment, but
much to his relief, nothing of the kind
happened. Miss Mehctabel kept her
head in truly remarkable manner in
deed and gave way to no such passion
ate outburst of affection. Inst cad OF
that she continued to regard him in
movahlv, arms folded, bolt upright
the little black points in her gray ir'st S
seeming to pierce the glasses OF her
steel bound spectacles and to gimlet
into the very brain and soul of Abijah
Jopliny.
After she had thus continued tc
4 for b ,ut 30 seconds and when
Ahijah E;l been reduced to a state
. Dor lerin- c'osely OH imbcciity, she
81 oIe.
"Thet would he a very nice arrang
ment,' she said very deliherately-"s
very nice arrangement.
Ahjah frightened up at once ant
S was betrayed into acquiescing. 'les
indeed when she continued: "Ful
e you Ez fur me me, now thet I've
A found out thet folks is a-pryin' an a
: pcepin ento my private affairs an the
t them, en- fack, thet's got my money el
t charge is a-devisin' an cntrggin' t'
D lay hands onto ct to pu. ct ento wild
= cat railroad sheers an bullin' an bear