Enigmatical.
An energetic joung curate, who had j'ish bfen appointed to a populous parish in the M-dlauds, was busi?y visiting in his district in order to become personally acquainted with, his people. On his rounds he entered a small shop, an<3, seeJDg a girl behind tbe counter, asked : " laMr Smith in ?" " Oh, ye?, sir, he's in," wss the answer. " Ira slad of thab. Can I see hioa ?" lie continued. "No, sir," replied the ghl. "He'd not at borne." Tbe curate could scarcely believe his ears, but pursued the conversation. " When will he be a!; home ? " "To-morrow week, I believe." " Ob, well, if I cs.ll on that day, Mr Smith will then be in ? " " No, ha won't sir," enigmatically replied the girl, as she shook her head with emphasis ; "he'll be out then." The bewildered curate entertained grave doubts as to the girl's mental condition, and made a hasty exit from the shop. But during the day the roysbery received an unexpected solution. Q jits by accident he heard that the shopkeeper was " in" for 14- days for ill-treat-ing hfs wife, and would ba "out" when the time rneutiond by the girl had elapsed.
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https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/OW18980203.2.198
Bibliographic details
Otago Witness, Issue 2292, 3 February 1898, Page 53
Word Count
193Enigmatical. Otago Witness, Issue 2292, 3 February 1898, Page 53
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