The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1902-01-28
THE EAYESDROPPER
lOriainal1

49, was oil cCLL4C0 DCtWCCA 4On1 A1a<A-
ter and myself, and nothing remained
except for him to ask papa. did not
expect that any opposition would be
raised to our marriage, because Tom
and papa were the best of friends If
Tom was about to engage In any busi-
ness venture, he would not do so until
papa had expressed his opinion. If
Tom proposed to buy an automobile,
papa must recommend the carriage be-
fore the bargain was closed. And, as
for horses, neither would put one into
his stable without consulting the other.
Therefore felt no concern as to the
result of an interview with respect to
an alliance which would draw the two
only the closer. One thing troubled me
Tom was so prone to consult my IA
Their about everything that it occurred
to me he would scarcely scruple to ask
him whether 1 would make a good
wife. OF course this was a silly notion
that had got into my head, but once
there could not get it out
On the morning appointed for the
momentous conference espied papa
and Tom on the piazza engaged doubt
less in discussing the matter SO near
my heart. l would have been content
to watch and hear the result from Tom
had it not been for the ridiculous
dread that he would talk me over as
he would any article which he was
about to purchase and upon which he
wanted his friends opinion. My pride
told me to keep out Of earshot. Ny
woman's (call it curiosity desire to be
sure drove me into the parlor. where,
through a window, only the blinds of
which were closed, 1 could overhear
every word spoken. The first sentence
uttered by my lover convinced me that
his habit had led him to act as l fear
ed He and papa were both smoking.
Tom, taking his cigar from his mouth
deliberately, asked, with provoking
GOODNESS:
"Do you consider her prettyY
mot exactly" was the reply, but
| you know that for what you want her
| she doesn't need to be snowy"
Never sick, is sheY'
"Never-at least not to my knowl-
edge. You know have been abroad a
great deal during the past ten years
and at such times have not kept In
formed about her."
"Tom Baxter" l muttered, shaking
my fist at him, you may drop that
| conversation for all me. l will never
1 - ~, xxv;fo ~ a mon with 81 IftfIa con-
! timent"
Doubtless more of his business meth
DDS would appear In this affair of the
heart. l must know the worst.
'The most important matter of all, !"
Tom continued, lis her disposition.
Knowing, as you do, what l want her
for, am quite sure you would never
advise me to take her unless she is
kind and gentle. Pm going to rely in
this entirely upon your testimony. If
she has any temper whatever, | don't
want her."
Upon my wordi What impudencel If
l have any temper whatever he doesn't
want me! l should like to see him get
| mel He is to rave and swear and
| bu1dSu Lie w AlAC IL pun = AAAS
am to be meek and lowly! l shall show
my temper whenever choose, but not
to him. To him am supremely indif-
ferent, the impudent. self assuming,
overbearing creature!
"Oh, as to that" said papa, you'll
have to drive with a tight rein. She
frets occasionally, but she's very easily
kept under"
Oh, papa, to think that you should
speak so about your own daughterl l
have heard that men always stand to-
gether against women, but never be-
lieved my father and my lover would
talk like this.
''On the whole you think she'll do?"
"What do you think yourselfT
81? Oh, there are several things
about her don't like at ALL"
"Such as
I'm the first place, her gait is very
bad" oh, you villain! SIN the second,
her ears are altogether too large to in
dictate good breeding" You scoundrel!
''Then that large head at the end of
long neck
l threw open the shutter with a
bang and stood confronting Mr.. Thorn
as Baxter with flashing eyes. Papas
back was turned, or l should have an
initiated him too.
''If you want to know, sir, whether
have a temper, you may apply to me
personally. | will show you my dispo-
sition at first hand"
He sat looking at me, stupefied. Pa
pa turned and also surveyed me with
troubled countenance.
Daughter, are you illY'
"Ill? No-insulted, every feeling out
ragged. Temper! Bad gait Big head
| at the end of long neck! And you,"
turning to Tom, "are the man to whom
but for this revelation might have
been tied for lifer'
Happy escapep' muttered Tom.
whats the matter, Kit?' asked
papa.
Matter? Matter enough! And you,
papa"-my voice trembled-"how could
! you describe your own Kate as you
would a horseY
81 have described horse. TON
wished to know whether he had better
buy Martins bay FLY for you to drive
after you are married"
collapsed. The first thing did was
10 cover my burning cheeks with my
hands, the second to rush up stairs to
my room. the third to bury my face in
a pillow.
The next day Tom Baxter went
abroad When six months after the
lamentable occurrence swallowed my
pride and wrote him that 1 would for
give him for his inattention If he would
come back, he wrote me in reply:
'sToo skittish. Only the kind and gen.
tie will do for family use"
am forty and an old maid.
JOAN TREVOR.
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