The Holly chieftain., 1913-08-01

|
hard cider. 1t was oily. 1t had
twang to it. 1t was deceptive Never
In his life had Professor Bains drank
glas Of hard cider. and here he Was
drinking pints of 1t. He had read
every work on geology yet published.
but he had not read that hard cider
leads to intoxication. and that q man
once drunk on 1t stays SO for thirty
hours at least. and during that time
| he can make fool of himself dozen
times over.
The argument hadn't been finished
when the host discovered his guests
condition. and he harnessed up his
team and drove him to the village and
MS boarding house. Some men whoop
and cheer and want to died for their
country when they have looked upon
the cider when 1t is hard. but the pro
fessor wasn't one OF them He had
nothing whatever to say. but simply
looked wise.
1t was explained to Widow Glynn
by the farmer that the gentleman had
a slight case of sunstroke, and that
while 1t was not necessary to have
medical advice he should be allowed to
sleep as long as he wanted to. That
talk was all right. and the professor
sought his couch and stayed by it for
twenty-eight hours.
What happened when he woke up!
Why. he had had hard cider dream
running through his long sleep. That
dream was reality to him. What it
was transpired soon after he had left
his couch and had bite to eat He
went straight over to Widow Goldie's.
and without beating around the bush,
he said:
Widow Goldie, drank too much
hard cider the other day. thinking 1t
a perfectly harmless beverage"
my lamented husband did that
once" she replied.
Il remember that was thinking OF
you as I drank the last glass"
| That was nice of YOU"
| And according to the best Of my
remembrance. called here and told
you loved you and. asked you to be
my Wife"
"oh. professor!" exclaimed the
| blushing widow.
Its this way, you see," he went on.
Il had no thoughts of marriage but il
! came here and think did. and ask,
ed for your heart and hand, l shall
act honorably in the matter. That is,
we shall be married. Did | or did
not solicit your hand?,''
| What a chance for the widow who
had been looking around bit for the
last three years! Never in her life
again would like opportunity come
knocking at her door. She had only
to say yes and the thing was done
But the professor was an honorable
man. and she was an honorable WON
an. and she sighed and told him that
she was away all the day he called
and that he had got her mixed up with
some other person.
Very well-very WE'LL" replied the
professor as he took his leave. ''i
don't think was quite myself afte,
imbibing that cider. but IL asked TO,
any womans heart and hand shall
stand by the proposal"
Calls were made on the other wild
1
had to deny that they had been pro
posed to. but 1t was sacrifice fol
which they ought to have worn med
ais. A more honorable man than ths
professor, and more honorable womer
than the widows 1t would have beer
hard to find. >-~
There was an old maid in the case
| She was the last ona IN he caileS
upon. She was the village librarian
and Professor Bains had smiled at he,
several times. He was smiling on this
occasion. and she said to herself:
III he proposes I'll accept him in
minute?"
But he didn't propose He had called
to ascertain II he had proposed while
under the influence of hard cider.
Lets see? Let's see." mused ths
librarian as she rubbed her chin. j.
III did shall keep my word"
THAT is very honorable Of you. Al
to what you said to me can't say
that took IT as a proposal. but"
very well-very we'll am glat
to find that you didn't. but II you
had"
The professor wasn't done with his
conscience yet. AS he sat at dinner
with his landlady 1t suddenly struck
him that 1t might have been she that
he proposed to while under the influ
ence and he quietly asked:
Mrs. Glynn If should ask you ia
be my wife,"
| I'D saw yes" she promnt1v renljed