Thuds and Thumps.

Otago Witness, Issue 2454, 27 March 1901, Page 69

Thuds and Thumps.

"Hortense," he began in a vibrating voice 3s he clutched a chair to support himself, "you must have known that I loved you?" "Yes; I knew it," she carelessly replied. '"Loved you with a kne as bioad and deep as the mighty ocean, such a love as only one man in a million loves." ''Yes; I saw that something ailed you." '"And you ha\ c encouraged that love':" '"Very likety." "And you have permitted me to hope that some day T might call you mine?" "I think I ha\e." "And yet at 3 o'clock this afternoon the report comes to me that you are going to marry a duke and give me the shake. Hortense, brand that report as a lie." "I couldn't." '"Then it is true, and you are false to me !"' "Yes, but don't holler so loud, or you'll wake up the cat." "I'll holler no move, Girl. Do you see this poinard? Swear to marry me and me alone, or I'll pkmge it into this loyal breast ol mine." "I wouldn't. It will hurt." "Will you swear?" ''1 don't feel like it." "Then farewell ! I stab myself thus and thus and thus !" For a brief moment the eyes of the- false. fair girl rerted upon the palpitating corpse at her feet. Then with a steady hand she gave the bellrope two jerks, and as a servant appealed she calmly said: "Jane, bring p broom aud dustpan and clean up this mil's. I'll h^e the next one die out on the sidewalk." She had solemnly promised to he h:s'n. She had promised it in the sunshine, under the moonlight, in summer and winter, and he ha.l never doubted that she would be true. A number of years had fle.d since fir^t =he promised, but when a young man is working on a salary of 15dol per week it takes fleeting years to get togethei the furmture necessary to furnish a four-room flat. The time came when he could hope. He had got enough for two rooms, and was thinking the; r - f.ukl rent the other two out to a party of plain and homelike tastes, when he called one evening to disiues the matter with Bntomarte. He found her cold and di'-trait, like a dog- viewing a cat on top of a 12ft feiuo. "Darling, what is if:" he asked, a- he sat down beside her. "Xawthin* much," >he an&weied. as she shrank away from him. "But I must know. I demand to know. You are not usually like this. What has happened';" "Only a ttiflo." "Ah, that lelie-scs me! But what Is the trifle?" "Well. I g"t mairied this afternoon to Joseph Bone-."' "Good graeioMgf gill, but do you know what you are JSying?" he shouted, as he sprang up. "You can't mean it ! You are testing me. Throw 3'our weight on me. and tell me that my ears have deceived me." "But you were so --low," bho sighed, "and I thought seven years long enough to wait. Please don't feol bad. Ye*, we were mariied this afternoon, but I will be v sitter to you."' "Will you, though?" he a^ked, with tears in hi-, eyet. "Jfor sh£«i 14

"And you won't expeci me to send up bou'" "Not a one." "Nor theatre tickets nor boxes of candy "r" "Not at all."' "And I can ha\e my evenings to knock aroumj with the boys and save enough ort of my salary to get tquare with my laundry bill':" "You can." '"Tr-en shake ! You are a noble girl, and if I ever win anything on the iate3 you shall come in for half. FaVe, falbo, to me, who loved and trusted you so. and yet shake again ! I'm off to sec the town by ga?!ight. Ta, ta!" — Boston Globe.