University of Virginia Library

A PRACTICAL SUGGESTION.

THEY had a quarrel Sunday evening. He got mad, and swore he'd leave her; then she got vexed, and told him he could do as he pleased. He left. The next night he came around again. He asked to see her alone. She readily complied. She was all of a tremor. Her heart went out to him in a gush of sympathetic love. She stood ready to throw both arms about his neck, and cry out her joy. There was not much color in his face, and his voice was husky. He said,—

"I have been with you six months, Matilda; and I tried in all that time to do what was right." He paused an instant to recover the voice which was faltering rapidly, while her trembling increased. "I know that I have got considerable temper, and that I do not control it always as I ought: but I have tried to be faithful to you,—tried to do every thing that I thought would tend to make you happy; and, feeling this, I have called to-night to see if you wouldn't be kind enough to give me a sort of testimonial to this effect, so that I could show it to any other young lady I might want to go with. It might help me."

He looked at her anxiously. All the color left her face in a flash. She made a great effort to swallow something which threatened to suffocate her. Then she spoke:—

"You get out of this house as quick as you can, you miserable whelp, or my father shall kick you out!"

He didn't toy with time. He left without the testimonial.