Life — September 7, 1899 — page 9: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

It didn't seem as if Old George had been gone any time at all when we sawhim flying back. He whirled into the lane, running like agreyhound. As he came up he motioned backward, and we saw the doctor's mare coming over the hill- top. There was something shining in Gcorge’s hand “For burns!” be gasped, and pitched headlong on his face. Well, when the doctor got there he had two patients, for Old George had com- pletely collapsed, and when his horribly blistered hands were tied up, we had to half carry him to the house. But next morning, when he learned that Bella's burns were not serious, that her face was untouched, and that she would be out in a few days—‘' thanks to the circus lunatic,” continued the doctor—Old George, barring his bandaged hands, was all right again, Well, the doctor kept Bella pretty quiet all the morning, but in the afternoon he let us go into the room and see her for a moment, So we went in very quietly, and said a word or two, and Bella smiled and softly thanked us for our good wishes, and we came out again, All except Old George, who wouldn't go in with us, despite our urgings. No, He shook his head and hung back, and looked at his bandaged hands, and said it would be a shame to take the smell of liniment into a sick room. Well, I told him how Bella received us, propped up against big pillows, with her beautiful hair spread out around her, and I added that she never looked more lovely. I noticed that Old George's eyes glistened, and that he suddenly breathed hard, but I had no idea what it meant. Well, when we came out of Bella's room Bertie had lingered behind, Both the auntie and the nurse were busy elsewhere for the moment, and Bella called to him. He asked if she wanted anything—he told us this afterwards—and she answered, ‘‘ Yes, dear.” Bertie says it took him by surprise. She hadn’t called him ‘‘ dear" for years. ‘Is ita drink?” he asked. She shook her head. Did she want to see the flowers? No, she didn’t want to see the flowers, What then? ‘ You know what I want, Bertie,” she whispered. ‘‘I want to see him—alone.” Bertie wasn’t the brightest youth in the 'Varsity, but he grasped what she meant at once. He just turned, and came out, and called Old George: ‘My boy,” he said, ‘sister wants to see you.” George trembled and began to balk. ‘‘Say,” he murmured, ‘I can’t go in there with these evil-smelling boxing gloves,” and he held up his damaged fists, Then Ber- tie stopped him,“ Is that the way to treat a lady's request?" he asked, half savagely, So Old George let his head drop at that, and went back with Bertic. ‘‘Is this it?” inquired that and burst out a-crying!” 489 facetious youth, but he told us that he was sure Bella didn't hear him. ‘* For, by Jove,” he vehemently added, “T'll be hanged if she didn’t suddenly lean forward and kiss his bandaged hands and burst out a-crying!” Half an hour later Old George came out, his head up and his face shining. He walked straight up to Ber- tie and led him aside, and held him in close conver- sation. Pretty soon George strolled out in the road and Bertie came back to us, He was silent for a moment or two, and then he abruptly said: “They're going to be married!" We gasped. Weknew well enough who “they” were, and we couldn't say a word. It was Bertie who broke the silence. “Girls are such conundrums,” said this cynic of twenty- three; ‘I gave them up long ago.” Then Charlie Denham spoke. “ Quecrest thing,” he said ; ‘‘ nobody knew he loved her.” “Sister knew,” said Bertie. And that’s why I began by saying that nobody who knows him envies George his windfall of luck—and yet it does seem queer that the windfall should tumble to Old George. Trouble Ahead ! HE Cab Horses’ Union, in session last night, Determined that they would appeal To the kind-hearted public with them to unito And abolish the automobile, (They will back up tho movement with all of tholr might, And their shoulders thoy'll put to the wheel.) Bhall the poor, honest working-horse, pushed to the walls By a foreign invader he hates, Bo no longor required for weddings and balls, For theatre parties and fétes? Bo forsaken whon Madame goes out to make cal!s— Left to menial duties and rates ? Tho Union's roply is a foreiblo neigh, For the very idea makes them sick ; And they feel, if the automobile stays, that they Ought to mobilize, too, double-quick ; And although they'll not strike—for that tan't thoir way— ‘They'll unite in a vigorous kick! Anna Mathewson, —= Ne A TAILPIECE. comichooks.