HAD MET BEFORE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 281, 21 November 1908, Page 4

HAD MET BEFORE.

A young lady entered a Pieadilly oia nibus recently, and her rich and elaborate toilet seemed to attract considerable attention. Drawing her skirts aroun.l her, she gazed persistently out of the window of the omnibus. On, the opposite side sat a neatly-attired young man 'with very white hands and an air generally suggestive of the clergy. He glanced at the fair vision in the corner from time to time in a reproachful manner. She looked furtively at him from beneath her lashes and, with a pretty puckering of the brow, seemed trying to recall where she had met him. That his face was familiar was evident, and she concluded to end his misery by recognising him. He was well dressed, anl apparently well bred : so, turning with a little start of recognition, their eyes met, and she bowed stiffly.

.He seemed delighted and, changing his seat to her side, said, "You are v?ry kind to remember me."

"0i1,n0," she replied, with an air of polite reserve ; " £ recall perfectly the occasion on which we met."

A few commonplaces followed, and, I (emboldened at his success, as he pro duced a card, " I hope you will permit me to call upon you again." She glanced at the card, a wave of 'colour swept over her face, and, the omnibus stopping, she drew down her veil anl bounced .out with the swiftness of a tennis-ball. The address upon the card was—"J. Goldsmith, chiropodist. Corns and bunions extracted without pain.' 1 . PERHAPS HE WAS EIGHT.

On leaving his study, which is in the rear of the church, the pastor of a district in Birmingham saw a little boy, a friend of bis, talking to a stranger. "What was he saying to you, Dick!" asked the divine, as he came up to ths youngster. "He just wanted to know whether Dr. Blank was the preacher of this church." "And what did you tell him?" " I told him," responded the lad, "that you were the present encumbrance." They were enthusiasts in physiognomy, and were travelling by train. On the opposite seat was a man of commanding figure, massive brow and serious expression.

" What a fine countenance, Arthur I I wish I knew his occupation." " Perhaps he's a lawyer, Edith." "No, he's not a lawyer. There's too 'much benevolence iu that face for it lawyer. He may be a banker." " I am sure lie is not. A man with Such a heavy expression couldn't content himself with money-getting. His aim in life is higher." " Well, do you think lie can be 1 an editor ?"

"An editor with sucli a face ! An editor, saying hard things about everybody, ridiculing woman's dresses and abusing mothers-in-law! An editor, cutting and slashing his enemies, flaying public men indiscriminately, and mercilessly slaughtering his best friends for the sake of a paragraph! No, Edith, he's a philanthropist. Ilis face plainly indicates that lie is all that is good, noble, pure, and true."

At the next station an inquisitive old fellow took a seat beside the man with the noble brow, and asked liini about his vocation. The couple opposite held their breath. The reply was this:— "I've a public-house and a butcher's shop. My irife looks after the bar a-.id I do my own killin.'

The old landlord of a small country inn was sitting listlessly before the fire in the bar parlour when the door opened and a loud-voiced young fellow exclaim-1 ed:

"Halloa, grandad! Get your frame in circulation! Don't sit round here like an old woman! I want accommodation for man and beast." "Where's the man?" asked the landlord, in a flash.

Pompeii will not be entirely uncovered until 1970, if the present rate of excavation is continued,