LOST HER FAITH IN MEN

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5656, 29 August 1896, Page 7

LOST HER FAITH IN MEN

Diminutive of stature, but alert in imagination and observation, Reginald Scraggs had resolved to elope with Angelina Miggie. His name had not been Reginald always, nor was she christened Angelina. But no transformation is impossible when youth lingers on the threshold of its " teens." " Hist ! " he exclaimed j " don't speak above a whisper." '•Wot'r ye fcalkiu" about? " asked Angelina, who meant well, but who was not always able to keep pace with Reginald's flight of conversation. " I'm talkin' about not speakin' above a whisper. How'r we goin' ter elope ef we holler at de tops of our voices ? " " Der ain't nobody listenin'," she answered, reassuringly. Reginald ground his teeth, but, pulling his coat collar up around his, proceeded : " Ere yonder pale moon has descended below de shadow of de livery stable de deares'- wish of me heart will be fulfilled." Angelina gazed at him enraptured, and feeling called upon to say something, she murmured, " Bet yer life ! " "All dose weary years of waitin' shall be at an end. Despite de tyranny of yer inerceuavy father, ye shall be mine ! " "Aw, don't you git uneasy 'bout me f adder," replied Angelina, as she looked soulfully into space and stretched her chewing gum ; "me fadder don't cut no ice in dis." " Looky here," Reginald exclaimed, indignantly, " is dis ter be an elopement er isn't it ? I wanter understan' de situation rif ht now. See r" "You're runnin' de shootin' match," replied she, submissively. "You jes' go ahead an* sing yer tune," Reginald, an' I'll join in de chorus." " De unholy plot," lie proceeded, "ter wed yer ter de baron dat holds de mortgage on yer f adder's farm shall crumble into dust I" ' " G'wan, Micky — I mean Reginald," she interjected. " I don't know no baron." " Wot'r ye tryin' to do ?" he wrathfully interrogated. " Yoxi've broke mo up every time' I've opened me talker. I'm trough wit de hull game. You go your way an' I'll go mine." "Ain't dere goin' ter be no 'lopement?" "Nary. It's de old story, I fought ye wus a creature of portry an' light. I never knowed yer true nature till now. 0 woman, wot a deception you have ever been !" " So dere ain't goin' ter be no 'lopeinent ! Well," she exclaimed, in withering contempt, " it's no more'n was ter be expected. Dere never was a man yit' dat wasn't a bluffer at de start an' a quitter at de finish." — Chicago Tribune.