Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-03-31
TOO FRIENDLY.
Knights Of the Pest|e Cuts a Figure
With Demonstration.
But, Sad to Say, His Star Set Wher
Visiting Jail.

| Sometime ago, long after the country
| had been buncoed away from the Indians
and Maine had her divorce from Massa-
J chusetts, a sweet siXteener came into
| town TO do a little demonstrating for a
Boston house. She was a good convcrsa-
| tionalist. bright and witty, and always
| said lust the right things at lust the
| proper time and very soon had two-thirds
of the young and giddy-pated youths Hat
| tening their noses up against the glass
/ front of the store where She was en-
| ployed bidding for a smile from the oc-
cupant. She had the same old stereo-
| typed, sweet angelic smile for one and
| all which kept the boys guessing vino
was it
About this time the proprietor, who
| was an old timer with a record of 40,
| and could pace some in his palmy days.
| concluded he could do the Beau Brummeil
| act as well as he could before the flush
boards were put on the dam and cut as
much CONCEALED water as the best of
them, so he resolved to do the gallant act
and cut some figure Fights with the girl
which he did much to the envy of the
boys. He escorted her to all the places
of interest in the burg, showed her the
State house both inside and out, trotted
her up to the governor, showed her
the Public library and the Court house,
introduced her to his acquaintance, and
in fact made it very pleasant for the dear
thing, v hilc she fingered within our gates
After doing the town pretty thoroughly
and giving her the impression that he
was one of the social iOo there was just
cEe place left that she expressed wish
"a visit and that was the County Jail.
OF course our hero was only too delight
Cd to take her there, SO telephoned up to
the turnkey and made all arrangements
and in the afternoon called around and
escorted the fair blond to the grim, stone
building on the hill.
The turnkey received them very courte-
ously and with a bunch of keys at his
i;irdle led the way inside the stone for
| tress. She saw the gentlemen with the
! zebra uniforms who were temporarily so
journing at the county sanitarium for
the benefit of their shattered nerves, who
when questioned about their stay said ii
they liked and the officials liked them
they should linger Indefinitely but if they
did not like and the officials did they
should undoubtedly prolong their visit
until well into the autumn.
The party had made the rounds of the
corridor when the turnkey suggested that
they visit the ladies' department. Be
ing anxious to see all there was the lady
readily assented, the turnkey unlocked
the door, and ushered them into the pres
once of two ladies who were the sole oc-
cupants of the drawing ROOM Both
turned at the approach of the visitors
and one of the occupants recognized the
gentleman as a well-known merchant '-on
Water street and was perfectly delighted
to see him, grasped his hand and shook
it RICH. royalty, asked Familiarity after
all the townspeople, calling them by their
front names. and saying she was real
glad he took the trouble to call and all
that sort of thing.
The merchant was not easily phasei
but was somewhat taken back by the inn
promptu reception rendered him but soon
srasped the situation and assured her he
was very glad to see her looking 50 well
| and judging by the extra precaution her
friends were taking in her behalf to pre-
vent fortune hunters and other undesir-
| able suitors from annoying her with pro-
| rosals Of marriage they must hold her in
| high esteem and as the season was a lit
| tie backward and chilly he should advise
! her by all means not to think of ventur-
| ing out until the weather got settled and
summer had been fairly seated in the lap
| of spring, and, wishing her many happy
| returns of the day the party took its dc
| parturc.
The demonstrators face was study, a
| mixture of anger, Indignation and crushed
| hopes all combined. She was too fun for
utterance What few words with which
| she did address her escort were monosyl-
ables. The party started to retracc its
steps toward the outer door and were
| half way down the narrow corridor whore
| a cell door was open AS the party
passed along the inmate recognized our
| hero and wanted to give him the glad
| hand. AT the same time somebody oc-
Cupying cell on the other side greeted
| him like an old acquaintance.
When the outer air was reached the
young lady in very sarcastic tone said,
Il notice you seem to be quite well ac
quantcd with these people"
Yes" he said, Il am. | am very glad
We took in the Jail for if not you would
nave missed a great many of my friends.
You see this rugged New England eli
mate is a little too boistrous for them
and their friends. ever solic.tous Of their
welfare, prefer to keep them where there
is no change of temperaturc,-mild
weather like Florida all the year round
ard fully equal to a winter trip to ia
maca."
But the whitening look the sweet six
tecncr gave him convinced him that his
star had set in that direction and here
after when he il doing the gallant act
for a stranger and she expresses a wish
to visit the Jail he will say, NAY, nay
Pauline" Or if obliged to go he Will
wear false whiskcrs and a domino.
\ n q 50