The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1905-03-15

while e reported SquaShed IN tnlS
here railroad accident. It's a dretful
one. He paid a reporter to put him
in. mum, the first that happened"
Don't show me the dreadful thing"
said Mrs. Raspberry. lob, how could
Royal be so heartless-how could he?
No matter, I'll punish him. and I'll not
betray you, either. Tell MS. Raspberry
I have the news, and let him spy upon
me when be pleases.'
Yes, ma'am," said Perkins.
"She's got it, sir" said Perkins. ten
minutes after. SIT was carried in"
"Ahaw said Raspberry. "Now shall
see what grief my demise will cause.
Julius is there?
"Yes, sir" said Perkins.
And Raspberry. in slippered feet re-
paired to a peephole prepared before
hand in a door panel. All was silence.
she is lying in a WOO upon the
foor," thought Raspberry, with a
qualm Of conscience.
But in a moment he saw the lady
smiling and beating time to an air she
hummed with the folded newspaper.
"She has not read it yet" thought
Raspberry. How delightful! I shall
see the whole"
He applied his eye more closely to the
aperture. Just then the lady spoke.
"If al, we read is true, we are rid OF
him."
Eyes. The old stupid!" said Mr.. Julius.
II suppose he's left you everything"
81 hope So" said the lady. II shall
go into deep mourning and a cap-the
style becomes me-and I shall be a
dashlng young widow as soon as dare.
I hate being mewed up here. I shall
travel to the watering places and en-
joy myself"
"Good Heaven" moaned Mr.. Rasp.
berry. What do I hear"
"And I will accompany you," said
Julius.
"Certainly,"r>said the lady. "And you
need not call me aunt any more"
"Never again." said Julius. But by
q ueaTeE LdhS oSOOu.
"Oh. go away! Don't. It's improper
so soon,'' said the lady.
81 shall die" said Dir. Raspberry,
"Oh. I shall die in earnest"
But rage and curiosity rooted him to
the spot.
Julius had sunk on his knees before
Mrs. Raspberry, and taken her hand.
'You will be mine" he said.
son, yes, Julius" said Mrs. Rasp-
berry; "but for forms sake we ought
to attend to MI. R~aspberry's remains
Bother" said Julius. ''Since they've
smashed the old fellow. let them sweep
him away and finish it. What do we
want Of him."
The horrible words broke the spell
cast upon Mr.. Raspberry: he dashed
the door open and darted forward.
you'll find me more difficult to
sweep away than you imagine" he
cried. 'Perjured woman, false and
wicked julius. behold me and dread
my v%engeancew
Then MIR. Raspberry shook both his
fists and lifted them heavenward, at
which Mrs. Raspberry laughed more
heartily.
you can laugn-you!" he cried.
Eyes, T." said Mrs. Raspberry: land
when next you get up q little farce, re-
member that other people may be able
to do likewise. For one rehearsal,
julius and I have done very we'll.
Now, sir, beg my pardon for trying to
alarm me. You ought to be ashamed
Of Yourself"
Then you-you knew" gasped Mr..
Raspberry. "Oh, Adelaide, tell me you
knew"
II certainly knew" said Mrs. Rasp-
berry, land prepared a little surprise
for you. If, instead, you had seen me
drop dead upon the floor, you would
have been happy, cruel mani"
THANK Heavenw said Mr.. Easp-
berry, sinking into chair. "You almost
killed me, A~deIaide-how could you.
And. Julius-ah, I suffered too much.
Sweep me away. AS a joke it was bad
enough, but in earnest"
Then Mrs. Raspberry conGeScended
to offer her lips to Alr. Raspberry, and
MI. Raspberry consented to receive the
proffered forgiveness, though he still
looked doubtfully at Julius; and domes.
tic felicity vas restored by the arrival
of 4 hot dinner, which. after the cold
refreshments of the past week. were
highly acceptable to MI. Raspberry.
But, Perkins" said, Mr.. Raspberry,
as his valet performed bis next toilet.
But. Perkins, I will never try to play
a trick upon a woman again. I'm not
sharp enough for them. If I had
really been killed. she would have
grieved-eh, Perkins,"
Undoubtedly, sir" said Perkins;
land Mr.. Julius, too. sir"
But for all that, nephew Julius was
sent out to Paris as correspondent for
an important house. very shortly. and
found on his uncle's death that his
name was not remembered in the will.
He had acted too naturally. aud Mr..
Raspberry forgave him.-New
York Weekly.
Linguists at Dinner.
At the dinner given by Father Refs.