The Opelousas courier., 1905-11-25

A'e touiu near Hef pushing ABOUT
taking off her jacket and bonnet. Wha
IT she We're to come to the closet? |
was altogether likely that she hun;
| her things there. He felt as if h
were going to faint. Then he though
! OF the ridiculous appearance a faintins
man i IN a skirt would make, and mad,
up his mind that he wouldn't faint
he'd die first!
There. She was coming that way
What was to be done? A Thousand
wild thoughts flashed through hi
brain. He felt her hand upon the door
knob.
There's a man in your room!" he
roared out, i'll awful bass. He didn't
know how lie came to say it. 1t was
the inspiration of desperation, prob
ably.
'Oh-h, O-o-h!" shrieked Mrs. Smith,
and fed in terror.
1--we got to get ont of this before
anyone comes,'' said Mr.. Bangs, giving
a push to the door. Horrors! it would
not open. There was only one way of
opening it, and that was from the
outside.
A cfammy perspiration covered him
from head to foot.
"You stay here, and I'll 60 ill.," he
heard Selma say, in the hall. II amt
afraid"
He put his eye to the k~eyhole, and
saw his sister enter the room.
"Selina!'f he called, in a sepulchral
tone. SELMA"
"Who calls Ea Selma" demanded
Mrs. Green, dramatically, fourishing
the feather buster, which she had
brought along for a weapon of de-
Tense.
81 do" answered Mr.. Bangs. ITS
'Rastus, your brother. I'm shut up in
this closet"
well, l never!!' exclaimed Mrs.
Green, staring at the closet as if she
expected to look it out of countenance.
let me out, and don't be a fool"
cried Mr.. Bangs.
Thus appealed to, Mrs. Green veil
tured to open the door, and out stepped
Mr.. Bangs, with his skirt swishing
about his legs.
For the lands sake!r' cried Selma,
with uplifted hands, and mouth wide
open. "WEy, 'Rastus Bangs!'
IL thought I'd have a little sport"
explained Mr.. Bangs, looking about as
as it is possible for a man to,
"but You came back too soon, and 1
couldn't get it Off, and slipped into the
Help me out of the COMPOUNDED
thing, Selma, and keep it to yourself,
and I'll buy you the incest dress in
Selma! Selina!" called the widow
the bottom of the stairs. DO you
want any help?"
Hurry up!' exclaimed Mr.. Bangs.
She'll be here in a minute
I'm tell you what I'll do" said Sc
lima. If you'll promise to ask her to
marry you inside of three days, I'll help
you out of the scrape. If you don't,
I'll call her in"
II dissent" groaned Mr.. Bangs.
''Then I'll call her." said Selma.
I'll viii" said her brother, desper-
,tely.
Mrs. Green gave a peculiar twitch to
he strap, the buckle let go its hold,
Ind the skirt fell to the floor. Mr..
Bangs stood up a free man.
Now, remember" said Selma, warn.
ngly, IF you haven't proposed to Mrs.
smith in three days from this time-at
talf-past six precisely, on Thursday,
he time'll be up-I shall tell the whole
Oh, those three days! They seemed
hree years to poor Bangs. He tried
even different times to make his prom
Sc good, but every time his tongue
love to the roof Of his mouth, and he
vas speeches..
Thursday, at 6 o'clock, Selma came
0 him.
Have you asked Eer, 'Rastus?" she
emanGed, solemDly.
NO, I haven't answered Nj. Bangs.
I can't, Selma"
You've got Just half al hours time
sft,' said Selma, unfeelingly. Sup
er'll be ready in fifteen minutes. The
alf hour'll be gone before we get
eating, and / shall tell the
tory the minute the times up. Maria's
/ the parlor, alone. If you want to
ee her. you'll never get a better
hance."
IF you had any sisterly regard for
le" began Mr.. Bangs, but Mrs.
cut him short with the remark:
"a bargains a bargain. Do as you
greed to, or ] will. Don't be a fool,
sastus.@
And with that she opened the parlor
Dor and pushed him in.
Mr.. Bangs doesn't know what he
lid. IN never knew. But the widow
it'd he asked her if she wanted to
AIRY him. Being a truthful woman,
le said she did, and so the poor man
spared the recital Of the story Of
s terrible fix.
1T vas lucky that it happened. after
l." lie told Selma, ''for, If it hadn't,
never would have got courage to
York Weekly.
Why Single Paddles Reign.
NO. said the oarmaker, '.for fast
fho cfpuin nadia a,pyo+ no,o ~