Mabel's Brother.

Otago Witness, Issue 2668, 3 May 1905, Page 79

Mabel's Brother.

I was once very sweet on a pretty girl who was unfortunate enough to be big sister to a fie .id! of the small-boy kind. The pretty girl's name was Mabel, and our little love-affair was progressing' most beautifully when I went; "all in my Sunday best," one evening to escort her to a theatre.

'Before I could ring the bell the small boy banged the front door open and popped out.

"You Mask's- young man?" he asked with an abruptness that took my breath awuv.

"Is Miss Mabel in?" I asked, with freezing dignity.

He leered at me out of his left eye, stuck his tongue in his cheek, and whirled three times round on his left heel before saying :

"That's what sti3 is. She's upstairs rigging herself out too fine for anything. She's got on ma's rings, and Aunt Sarah's gold chain, and " "Bob!" came in sharp, agonised tones from the head of the stair*.

"And she's had her fringe baking on hairpins for over an hour, and '" "You Robert!" cried the voice of Bob's mother. But Bob went on pitilessly.

"And she's got the stunninest new dress, andh it isn't paid for. neither ; and won't pa go it when the bill comes for her new hat ! Ma says he will, but May says she doesn't care if he Joes. May's plucky, she is; you'll find it out if she pulls off her little scheme of marrying you, and "

''Robert James, come up here this instant .'" is shouted from the stair- landing. But Robert James eoes on plaekliy.

"You've come to take May to the theatre, ain't you? I know it. cause May's been jaw in' 'cause you didn't get dress circle tickets instead of the front row in the upper boxes. I said I'd tell on her 'cause she gave me a crack on the head for losing the pencil she does up her eyebrows with. I hid her piate that's got her three front teeth, but pa thrashed me into givin' 'em up before ho went out. May says "

Bob's mother came hastily down the stairs, very rod in the face and very wild in eye. Bob bounds down the stops and disappears round the house, but thrusts his head out to &ay:

"How sweet .you arc! Oh, my, you clear little thing! Bettor get your moustache under cover 'fore the frost nips it. Whoso darling is 'oo?" "Walk in, Mr H.," says dear Mabel's mamma., making a frantic effort to appear

calm. ''Our Robert is in one of hi* playful moods. He is so full of spirits. Mabel ia so very but a sudden indisposition has "

"'Pickles an' cheese an' cucurrbers for supper," said Bob, appealing at an open window.

"The dear child ha? a most wretched headache. So sorry- but you will excuse her for this evening."'

'"Take me instead, won't you, sweety?"' asks Bob.

I drag my wounded vanity away. lam as broken and bruised in spirits as I wish Bob was in his head. Mabel and I m«-t no more. We have not the moral courige to do so while Bob is above ground.