The Blundering Old Father Spoils Another Loye Affair.

Otago Witness, Issue 2151, 16 May 1895, Page 49

The Blundering Old Father Spoils Another Loye Affair.

The fair Miss do Smythe was entertaining a visitor. The visitor wag a shining light in the inner circle of society, snd a potential aspirant for her hand. 4< Oh, Mr Earle ! " ehe cried, taking him to the end of the room, "ace this darling old chair which arrived yet-terdav from papa'B anofstral homa in Warwick. Did you ever see anything sweeter in yoar life ? " ••Why, really, Misa de Sm) the, it's a. delightful bit of furtiture, and no doubt full of the most deligbtful associations." "Yen, indeed; it belonged to — ah — the founder of papa's family, aud has been used by all the succeeding gone-rations." 14 How very interesting ! " 44 Yes, isn't it ? To think of my great-great grandfather being eung to sleep to the music of some old-time ballad in that very chair I " " It is indeed a valuable heirloom." "Yes; and look"— her voice took a fresh note of triumph as she pointed to the back — "look where, deeply carved and black with age are the letters 4 F. L. de S.,' my great-grand-father's initials. Think, Mr Earle, when those letters were carved Britons yet dreaded Napoleon and feared for the safety of their island heme ; tbe Battle of Waterloo was yet undreamed of, and " 44 Mar/a," ssid a gruff voice, 4( I've just been looking over these bills of yours, and here's one I don't understand ; 4To one exact reproduction of ancient chair, £10.' That's all right, of course ; I suppose it's that faked-up affair in the drawing room there— though why you wanted to buy a thiDg that looks old when I can afford brand new ones I don't understand. But it's this item that puzzle 3 me : 4To carving five letters on the b&ck and produciog the appearance of age, £2.' Now I " But Mr Earle heard no more ; he had caught his breath sufficiently to tell Miss de Smythe that he bad a lot more calls to make, and must bid her good afternoon.