Rensselaer Republican, Volume 22, Number 13, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 5 December 1889 — AN EAVESDROPPER’S FATE. [ARTICLE]

AN EAVESDROPPER’S FATE.

Young Mr. Silt had been three months away from his sweetheart, and he thought what a joke it would be to hide behind the parlor door and jump out and kiss her by way of surprise. He succeeded in getting into Emily Ryder’s house unobserved, and posted himself behind the door just as he had planned. As he stood there in gleeful expectancy he sweetheart’s voice exclaiming: ‘-*0 Robin. I've almost cried my eyes out foryou!” ~~j~r 'I hen the listener heard a horrible sound like a kiss, and an endless dialogue followed, in which a min’s gruff voice was intermingled. Tom Silt was in a perspiration of agony, and he felt strongly in f- vor of v rushing upon, his sweetheart and the villain she was making love to. On second thought ho stole outdoors and | posted himself where he could see his rival in exit I In a few minutes the door opened and a young man came out | A curiosity impelled Timothy to follow. I the young man and see where he lived. 1 The stranger looked bitek once or twice suspiciously, and then Timothy

would get interested in eometbiog across the street till the forme# faced front again. And so they kept on till the forward man entered a door over which the words “sample-room” shone in gilt letters. ~ Timothy followed* the file leader, whom he found seated at a smalltable in the act of calling for a “gin m* 1 : Timothy sat down at another dablc and compromised with his conscience —he was a Good Templar—by„ ordering lemonade “straight” At length Timothy’s and the stranger’s eyes met Neither would lookaside ijd the result was a prolonged nr dual* stare. The man got up and swaggered across to Timothy. “Whatd’yer want along o’ me?” he demanded fiercely. “Maybe that’s it,” he added, giving no time to answer and dashing the remainder of his “fiz” in Timothy’s face. “Anyhow you’ll find it an improvement on the slop you’re swilling there.” Here was the opening Timothy had longed for! He took no small pride in his muscle and his “science.” In an instant he was up and on guard, and before his adversary knew what was coming a stinging left-hander had closed his right eye. ■ “The combatants, it soon appeared, were very equally matched. Blows fell thiek and fast Right and left they struck out, neither taking time to parry. Damage to the enemy, not self preservation, became for the time the . primal law. Nobody interfered. and when the conflict ended it was from sheer exhaustion—victory percM: ing on neither banner. Timothy Had himself put into a cab and driven to his lodgings, whither a doctor was Summoned, for repairs. Next morning as he lay, feeling as battered and bruised in spirit as in body, a gentle tap came to the door. “Come in!” growled Timothy, thinking it was the landlady. “Why, Timothy!”_uried a sweet, voice, full of sympathy, “whatever's the matter? I heard this morning you were ill and had had the doctor, but didn’t know you’d been in a railroad smashup or been blown up on a steamboat, as I see you have. They didn't want to let me see you, but I said I would—it was my place to nurse you. How did it happen, Tim, dear?” “Emily Ryder,” said Tim, sternly, raising a corner of the beefsteak]and] ■ nnd giving her a very black 100 k indeed, “don’t bo a hypocrite! I know all!” And when he had told her all he knew—the story of his fight included ~ Emily burst into a hearty laugh. “I’m quite prepared for such heartlessnes’s,” said Timothy, bitterly. •‘O Tim, Tim! cried Emily, recovering her breath, “I'm not heartless— I’m truly and sincerely sorry; but how could you be such a dunce? Wait till I introduce Robin. I left him out in the carriage.” And, running out, she was back in a minute carrying in her arms a mite of a Scotch terrier, that looked like nothing but a pair of glittering eyes peering from a wisp of Scotch heather. “Here’s Robin,” she said, depositing him on Timothy’s pillow, whence he piade a vigorous dive at the beefsteak, but his mistress caught his collar. “He's a present I got while you were away,” said Emily, “and the nicest little creature in the world. He was stolen the other day, and I offered a reward for his return —no questions to be asked. Yesterday a queer-looking man brought him home—the same, no doubt that stole him. Of course I was very glad to see Robin, and called him ‘darling,’ and kissed him. and made aT great to do over him. But you getting into a jealous quarrel and fighting with a dog thief—it’s too funny for anything!” For Timothy’s sake we drop the curtain. —Milwaukee Journal.