SHORT STORIES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20384, 12 October 1929, Page 8 (Supplement)

SHORT STORIES.

IT WAS NOT PERMANENT. ocordis lias just finished putting a new wallpaper on the sitting room, when Sandy looked in. Outside was tlio roar of the Aberdeen traffic; inside was the hush of respectful admiration as Sandy gazed at his friend's handiwork. Then suddenly a questioning look came into Sandy's eyes. " " Wev Ita'c ye jut it on wi' tacks? " he demanded. Gcordio gazed pityingly at the otlier man. ft was easily to be seen that he was not a native Aberdonian. "Ye shairlv dinim think I'm gaun tao hide here a' ma davs ? " lie replied.

THE FAITHFUL HEART. lie was a patient, long-suffering young tn,hi, and he wan very much in love, lint when at list sho arrived at the corner, where they had arranged to n.eet he ventured to remonstrate a little. " Darling." he said, after lie had kissed tier, "surely you're rather late?" She glanced at her watch. " Only a few minutes," she protested. " I said I d be hero at six o'clock, and it's just a quarter past now. " Oh," sighed the. young man. " then you must haw made a mistake about "the date! I've been hero sineo last night." A QUESTION OF TRUST. Alfred had obtained a new job with a firm of builders. Ho began work ou Monday morning. W hen \\ ednesday evening arrived he found that- ho uas rather short of money. Without more ado lie approached the cashier. "fan I have my week's wages now?" be asked. The cashier was quite taken aback. " You've only been here three days." he said. Alfred nodded. " I know." he replied. " But if I can trust vou for the lirsl half of the week, surelv' vou can trust me for the. second?" MAKING SURE. " Stanley dear," she said, after she had accepted him,- " you wouldn t . think it strange if I were to ask you to sign a little paper to tho effect that wc are engaged, would you?" Stanley was far too happy to think anything strange, and with trembling hand he signed the document. Then sho iat down beside him.

" Dearest," said Stanley, breaking the silence at last. 44 toll mo why you v» anted me to sign that paper. Haven't you implicit confidence in my affection .' "Oh, yes." she sighed; " darling, Ire been fooled so many times. AN EASY JOB. The local grocer had umpired in all the village cricket matches as long as tlio oldest plaver could remember. Hut just before the'match of the season was about to start the unfortunate man was taken ill. The only possible substitute was an ancient farmer who had come to watch the game. The captain of the village team invited him to fill the breach. "But I doan't understand this 'ere cricket," protested tho farmer. " Oh. it's quite simple," the captain assured him. " We'll be in the field first, and whenever one of lis shouts How s that :' all vou'll have to do is to say 'Out!' After, when it comes to our innings, I'll tell >0:1 more."

THE UNFAILING REMEDY. " Atishoo! " went the occupant of flic corner scat in t lio railway carriage. " Atislioo!" In- repented a moment later, lie turned to the man sitting beside him. ■' Ilay fever,'' ho explained. " Always get il in lliis liot weather." The second man nodded sympathetically. Then lie dived into his pocket and brought out a little round box. "'.Fry some of this," he said. " It's a special cure i<>r it." The sufferer removed the lid and gazed with interest at the powder in box. "Is it any good ? asked. Any rood ' " said the owner warmly. " Well, sir. I've had hay fever for 32 years and I've never taken anything for it but this. TAKING NO RISKS. McTavish had just bought a chemist's shop in a little town across the border. Two of Ilia customers happened to meet in the street outside a week or so alter ho had opened. "How's McTavish doing?" asked one. "Not'badlv, I understand." said his friend. "But I'm afraid that being a chemist is ruining his health." The first man looked surprised. " Ruining his health T ' he exclaimed. ", I didn't know lie was working as hard as all that." •' Oh, he's not." said the other. " But he's getting 110 sleep, all the same. ou see, lie stays up every night to keep a watchful eye on the vanishing cream." MAKING SURE OF IT.

The prospective maid was stating her terms. " J want thirty shillings a week." she said. " And I don't mean to srrub anv floors, or—" " But—but —" began the mistress of tho house. _ "Or work after seven o'clock,- went ou the woman. " And I want- five evenings j'ff a week, and a good reference, and-" "Look here," said tho mistress feculy, " surely the, reference can wait until you leave me?" Tho woman shook her head vigorously. " No, it, can't !" she snapped. " I'd like to have it at once. T'vo tried getting them when I leave, and I vo never had a good one yet!" FORCE OF HABIT. The place was crowded. It wasn't exactly a fashionable wedding, but there was 110 gainsaying tho interest it caused. Naturally, perhaps,' because both bride and bridegroom had been much in the public eye—she was an actress, 110 was a conjuror. Everything went smoothly until Ihev reached the critical stago of the proceedings. and the clergyman tailed for tho vine to ho produced. The bridegroom plunged his hnid into his waistcoat pocket and brought out — a rabbit! Then the horrified look in the clergyman's eyes and a littlo startled exclamation from the bride mado him realise there was something wrong. He looked down and saw the rabbit. "Pardon," ho said, "wrong act!"

WITH INTEREST. ■Two women of uncertain age, .who lind long been rivals 111 love, quarrelled o\er a trifling gift, which the object of' their adoration 1 had indiscreetly bcslo.vcd on 0110 of tlirm. " 110 intended (lovers for r:ie," the elder woman said to the lucky recipient. " You waylaid him on tho way to my house, s-.nd shamelessly robbed mo of liis oftenng. Your guilty faco tills tales," Tho other shrugged her shoulders as she answered, sweetly;— " Oh, well, my dear, have it jiour own way. At any rate, no 0110 will ever accuse you of having a tell-talo {are. J* s so difficult to read between -the lines!"