Democratic Sentinel, Volume 8, Number 11, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 11 April 1884 — A Cop’s Courtship. [ARTICLE]

A Cop’s Courtship.

The cold, pale moon was sailing gracefully through the cloudless heavens, making the earth as light as day, and the clock in the far-off church tower had just stricken the hour of 9:30, when.a young girl of about 19 summers emerged from the back door of one of the large houses of the city and seated herself, with a dull thud, upon an overturned ash barrel. One. look would have told an observing person that this fair creature was a nurse-girl. Her rich red, alburn hair peeped out ’neath the trim little white cap, and as the moonlight fell upon her “Langtry bangs” it threw a deep, red shadow on her face like a calcium light through a red glass lager beer sign. For seven weary minutes she sat thus, seemingly lost in deep thought, when suddenly a gentle tap was heard at the back gate, and as she started to open it the form of a man, “a real live man,” was seen to enter. Stepping out of the shadow where the- moonlight could fall upon his manly figure, the‘silver stars and brass buttons showed thatt he was a policeman.. With a low cry of joy she sprang into his strong arms and gently laid her tiny head over his left lung. Just at than moment a couple of “Thomas felines” in the adjoining yard began to sing a selection from “The Damnation of Faust,” and as their clear voices swelled out on the night air, the two lovers walked over and seated themselves on> the overturned ash barrel. Thus they sat in silence for several moments, when turning her head she slowly rolled her old gold eyes until they met fiis, and said:. “Michael, darling, do you really love me as much as you say, or are you giving me cough He gave- her a searching glance, amd putting his arms around her with the grip of a vise,, was about to tell her of kps love again, when, with, a bang and a crash, the barrel caved in, leaving them among the staves and hoops,. The moon, as though trying to keep from laughing* hid behind a pass ing eloud, and tlte two cats in the next yard began to warble “Sweet Violets.” When the moon again appeared a transformation scene had taken place in th< back yard. The gitl’s cap was down over her eyes, and her hair looked as though it had been combed out with a corn-cob, while brave Michael had mads a bolt for the back fence, thinking that the Sergeant bad ran onto him. Slowly, with measured tread, the fair but “al broke-up” young girl went into tin house, leaving the cats to finish theii duet, and the moon to finish its weary journey.— Peck’s Sun.