United States or Netherlands ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
"Doubtless," said Ajax sympathetically, "there was something in the faces of Miss Dutton's parents that outweighed the absence of mere beauty: intelligence, intellect, character." "The old man's forehead is kind o' lumpy," admitted Jasperson, "but I didn't use that. I sot there, as I say, a-shiverin', an' never opened my face.
Ajax rose in his might and confronted the trembling figure upon the divan. My brother's nickname was given to him at school in virtue of his great size and strength. Standing now above Jasperson, his proportions seemed even larger than usual. "Do you really love her?" said Ajax, in his deepest bass. "Or do you fear her, Jasperson? Answer honestly." The small man writhed.
He had come to town on purpose. How they cheered him! Then that scoundrel Jake Williams was inspired by Satan to ask him if he was provided with an initiation robe. And he actually persuaded Jasperson to remove his beautiful black clothes and to array himself in a Sonora blanket. Then they striped his poor white face with black and red paint, till he looked like an Apache.
Between the gusts and gurgles of laughter a few more details leaked out. I present them connectedly. The kind reader will understand that allowance must be made for my brother. He is a seasoned vessel, but no man can drink our village nectar with impunity. "Of course," he began, "I knew that, this being his last day, the boys would ask Jasperson to celebrate.
Me an' Miss Birdie sung out o' the same hynm book, and and I sort o' showed down. I reckon she knows what ails Jasper Jasperson." Ajax unwisely congratulated the lovelorn one upon this piece of news. He said that the Rubicon was now passed, and retreat impossible.
"It is a lovely voice," sighed Jasperson, "strong, an' full, an' rich. Why, there ain't an organ in the county can down her high B!" Then, warmed by my brother's sympathy, he fumbled in his pocket, and found a sheet of note-paper. Upon this he had written a quatrain that he proposed to read to us au clair de la lune. The lines were addressed: "To My Own Blackbird."
No, I locked the door when I left. What? Well, the only thing that's missing as far as I can tell is a ceramic ash tray from one of the desks; he was holding that in his hand when I saw him. What? Oh. Where did he go?" Mr. Jasperson paused in his rush of words. "Well, I must have gotten a little dizzy I was pretty shocked, you know. To be honest, I didn't see where he went. I must have fainted.
He thanked her, and said he was glad to know that he was held in such high esteem; that he cordially hoped the boys would come in, as he was paying for the banquet, and that after supper they might expect a real sociable time! "That's all, but it was enough for the Grand Secretary. She gave a ghastly scream, and keeled over, right into my arms." "And where," said I, "is Jasperson?"
"She as't me, careless-like, if you didn't drink wine with your meals, and I said yes. I'd ought to have said no." "What!" cried my brother, smiting the table till the decanter and glasses reeled. "You think that you ought to have lied on our account. Jasperson I'm ashamed of you; I tremble for your future as the slave of Miss Dutton."
"Boys," continued Jasperson; "I'm a-goin' to tell ye something; because well, because I feel like it. I've never had no best girl!" "Jasperson," said Ajax, "I can't believe that. What! you, a young and " "I ain't young," interrupted the man of independent means. "I'm nigh on to thirty-six. Don't flim-flam me, boys.
Word Of The Day