MR. FLIP, THE MATCH-MENDER.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVI, Issue 39, 15 February 1905, Page 2

MR. FLIP, THE MATCH-MENDER.

(By H. M. Steginan.) COMPLETE SKETCH. '"Of course, we shall give back all presents." "I don't see any reason for that." "There are several. In the first place, I don't want to have any reminders of our—this—alfair around to stare mc in the face. Then I don't want to own anything for which I am indebted to you. Besides, everybody does it." "Is that so? I didn't know it. You see I am new at this business. But I think it is foolish. There will be all sorts of embarrassments and complications." "I don't see why." "Well, there's the box of cigars." "What of it?" "You see, I smoked the last one after dinner last night. It was capital, too— better than the first one." "Of course, articles that have been used up don't count. There are lots of flowers and lots of lollies and theatres——" "Please don't mention them as a j favour to you. No fellow who isn't a pig will go to the theatre alone. He wouldn't enjoy it. Besides, it gratifies a man's vanity to take a well-dressed girl to the play. He feels that everyone is admiring her and at the same time complimenting him on his good taste. Then likely as not some friend meets him next day and says: 'Say, old chap, that was a stunner you had at the theatre last night.'" "That will do. Is there anything else ?" "Hasn't it occurred to you that if I send back 'The Sonnets From the Portuguese' to you, it will remind you of our—this —affair as much as anything I may have given you?" "Yon neeSr't fear that. 'The Sonnets From the Portuguese' will find a resting place where they will not meet any human eye more than once in a generation." "Pardon mc for mentioning it, but you recall that there's an inscription on the fly-leaf which wasn't exactly meant for the public. Shall I tear it out?" "If you please, and burn it." "Then there's the pocket-knife." "What of it?" "One of the blades is broken. Will you give mc time to have a new one put in?" "Never mind that. I don't expect to use it." ''Then there's my monogram on the handle." "Don't let that trouble you. It won't keep the kniwe afloat when I throw it into the river." "But, say. that would be a pity! I've got attached to that knife. It just suits mc, somehow. Suppose I send five shillings to the Benevolent Society and keep the knife?" "It didn't cost so much as that." "Well, we'll charge the difference up to sentiment. Yftu know sentiment sometimes has a market value." "I believe it often has—with your rfex." "That was a shot! How about the penny?" "What penny?" "You know I gave you a penny for the |';nife so that it wouldn't cut friendship. I'll never believe in that superstition again. "I have had enough of this. , ' rising. "You merely want to amuse yourself by making fun of mc. However, I am glad to find out how lightly you regard everything connected with our association. It shows that I am making no mistake " "Come, now. I didn't mean to hurt your feelings. I am terribly sorry if I did. I thtfught it was just a harmless pleasantry. I apologise as handsomely as 1 know how." "Hello, Mr. Flip!" to a skye terrier who bounded in, every square inch of his little body wagging as if he was made wholly of springs. "How are you. old chap? Still fond of your old master, are you? Well, that's lucky." To the young woman: "I suppose I shall have to take him away this evening, as I am not likely £o be around here again. Will he follow mc without a leash?" "Take Flip away?" abstractly. "1 suppose I'll have to put liim in charge of the servants, because they don't allow dogs in the apartments at my boarding-house. Poor Mr. Flip! They'll put you in a dark cellar, I am afraid." ••'Put Flip in a cellar?" "I might send him back to the kennels; but you never can tell how they will treat a dog there. Besides, he would miss the attention and atfeetion that he is used to. You're fond of being petted, aren't you, Mr. FlipT" "Poor " "No, that would never do. I think I'll send Mm out to Bob Taylor's. He has a big place in the country, and Mr. Flip could run about to his heart's content. And Mabel Taylor is awfully fond of terriers. She told mc so the other day. She'll treat you well, Mr. Flip, never fear." "You poor, dear creature;" picking up Mr. Flip, and giving way to tears. "Do they want to put you in a dark cellar and starve you, poor thing? They shan't do it—never as long as I can raise a hand to prevent it! And they want to give you to a horrid girl who wouldn't know how to care for you and wouldw't love you one bit!" Then there was an interval about which her memory was not clear afterward. She found herself and Mr. Flip clasped in' one huge emnrace, and -was saying: "And you promise never to stay away for ten whole days again?" "Not if my firm handles a million shares of stock every day." "And you won't ask Mabel Taylor to lunch again, merely because you happen to meet her at one o'clock?"

"Never; not even to save her from starvation."