The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-04-28
i 4olm Portraits of Dickems's Greatest Characters

down on his knees to tho first chit Of
girl he met as mailman would!
NO no. Kate. my dear, there's a great
deal too much method in his madness,
depend on that my dear!"
Mrs. Nickieby's children did not
snare her suspicion and enxiety with
that final sympathy which she had the
right to expect. she was forced to
oury In her bosom her fear that her re-
fusal might. indeed. have driven the
old gentleman to extromities.
This fear was justified soon in
dramatic and melancholy way. One
evening whom they had guests. strange
noises began to issue from the chimney.
Gradually the noises resolved them
selves into highly melancholy chant.
much mufhed and otherwise affected
| by SCOT. but still rendering quite plain
~ the touching song: Has she then
failed In her truth, the beautiful maid
I adore?"
"Younge Frank cheoryolc. one of the
gueste, reached up the chimney and
| pulled hard at pair of legs dangling
! in 1t. With a clatter and roar the old
! gentleman from next door came
! Laundering down.
stay" said Mrs. Nickieby to her
! astonished guests before they could lay
hands on him. She drew herself up aud
looked around with a kind OF bashful
stdtci3HtsS MS gentleman Wlll I'M
! derstand me when l tell him that re-
| peat the answer I gave him the other
day, though believe him to be sin
Gere when 1 find him placing himself
In such dreadful situations on my ac-
count. am obliged TO him. very much
! Obliged to him. but cannot listen to
! his addresses for a mom2nt."
The gentleman. whose nose and
| checks were cmbellished with large
patches of SCOT. honored Mrs Nickleby
with long stare, aSd asked her II she
! had finished Laughing heartily, he,
gratificd his hearers with a most ms
lodious below.
, Mrs. Nickleby shook her head at her
guests. to Intimate that there was moth
| Ing at all sin this except n slight de-
gree of eccentricity. But 1t happen ID
that Miss La Crcevy, one OF the guests,
and lady fully as old as Mrs. Nickleby
| and not nearly so young in looks. az
| Mrs. Nickleby often had observed. got
into the old gsntleman's view when
| he was In the very act of believing.
! Instantly he began kissing his hand
and cried: II see her now. l sec her
now! Ny love. my life. my bride. my
peerless beauty
| Mrs Nicklcby was disconnected FOR
| only n moment. Recovering her sane
| common sense imm sdately, she nodded
to all around her and irowued. and
/
stand that she saw where the mistake
| was.
| 81 am sure" she said advancing to
| ;he old gentleman. that It's II great
| relief, under such trying circumstances.
TO have anybody else mistaken Tor me
| "A very great relief; and it's "A CIR
! cumstance that never occurred before
! though l have several times been mis-.
! taken for my daughter Kate. have
| no doubt the people were very foolish,
| but still they did take me Tor her
| however. in this instance. OF course.
should do exceedingly wrong II /
suffered anybody TO be made uncom-
| Portable on my account. Therefore
| think 1t my duty tn tell the gentle
man that ! am the lady who. he was
! told by som. impcrtlnent person, was
niece to the Council OF Pavint, Stones.
and do beg and entreat OF him TO
do quietly away. If us only" here Mrs.
sake"
To Mrs Nickieby's horr!ned, shock.
ed ama2ement. the Old gentlemen. in
stead OF returning suitable and cour-
teous reply TO this touchingly delicate
appeal stared at her with rolling eyes
! and replied loudly: "Avauut, cat
sir cried Mrs. Nickleby. In
| faint tone.
Cat" repeated tho old gentleman
oblig!ngly. "Puss, Tabby! Brindl.
, Whoosh."
Mrs. Nlcklcby wasted neither time
nor words. but tainted away al once.
Il shall never forgive myself never,''
said she when she returned to con-
seriousness after the gentleman had
been led away. You saw what he
was the other day. You see what he is
now. told your brother. Kate. that
/ hoped disappointment might not he
too much for him. You see what Il
wreck no &c hay
dreadful nonsense he has been guilty
Of tonight. and the manner IN which
MA Co., 0E