THE STORYTELLER

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVII, Issue 218, 12 September 1906, Page 6

THE STORYTELLER

TOTiAL DISABILITY PEHBIOi 1 The w»man had presented a clai* '*. a pension or rather an increase «? sion, on behalf of her hirtJ* who bad been receiving a pension, and the examiner Was'^*? 1 quesrtions. "You want an increase of Mm--, he inqnired. ™|&? "Yes, sir." •'On what ground??" "Total disability." "Total disability!" exclaimed th« aminer in astonishment, for it W* 8 ed that he had seen the man not aw before in excellent condition. S8 "Yes, sir: total disability," the applicant, unmoved. * "How do you make that otttf "He's dead, sir; train run over H, yesterday." 58 "OhJ" gasped the examiner, *&*, different." And he explained 'thes? situation of affairs. **l ' I i MIGHT DISCRIMINATE BT* The nest witness was a hard-fitf** resolute yeomen, with a bristlWjr 1 beard. "Mr Gigson, are you acquainted -**•»]• the reputation of tliis man for trafj and veracity in. the neighbourhooi | wliich he lives?" ■ "I reckon 1 am," replied the -mta* "I will ask you to state what it jS "Well, sir. bis reputation fur trow ain't no good. His reputation fur Val sity—well, that's difTrunfc. S ome „ n be do s, and some says he don't." ■ "Witness," interposed the Judge, % you know the meaning* of 'voracity?' "I reckon X do." "What do you understand by tk. word?" .' I? The witness twirled his hafc h\ j*. fingers a few moments without am* ing- Then he looked up defiantly. "I refuse to answer that questios, judge." he said, "on the ground tint ft ' miglifc incriminate mc." ■ - ' —' : :\ 'it DIFFERENT. "Did you hear about Flossie heing eg. gaged?'-' asks the first fair y 9X m thing?" -m "No. Is it true?" "Yes, and it's the most rominljj thing you ever heard of. You knot Egbert Tigsmore has been paying atte* tion to her for more than a year," "Yes." -. "Well, yesterday morning Flossie *n helping her mother clean house, ami she had on an old skirt that she has tried to give to every cook they* Bin had for two years. And she had on it old -waist that had those great big bil loon sleeves, you know " "Yes, yes." "And her hair was aU dragging down into her eyes; and she had been taking down pictures and dusting them, and there were smears of dirt every "wij across her face; and her hands were in horrible great big gkrves; and she w»j wearing an old pair of carpet sUppen that belonged to her father And of all things!" "Yes, yes. What then?" "Egbert proposed to her while m was looking like that." "He did?" . "He did, and of course she, accepted him. - ' "Well, a. man who is so deeply- in l<fo that he will propose to a girl when she 1001-.s that way deserves to be accepted." "Yes, but Egbert proposed over thi telephone."