150 MADGE’S MISTAKE,

that husky little voice, I am sure I do, and
gathering courage from sheer desperation I
go close to the door and listen. “‘ You see,
sir, directly as I see’d the paper this morning,
and read as how you had won first prize,
I says to myself, says I, ‘Mr. Erickson of
the Oaks is not the sort of gentleman to let
a poor man lose nothing, so I'll go straight
off and see if maybe he won’t go shares in
the prize, or anyways give me something
handsome, after.obliging him as I have.’”

“QObliging me!” cries Father, perfectly
aghast; “my good man, I don’t know really
what you are talking about, you must be
labouring under some extraordinary mis-
take!”

“ ixtraordinary or no extraordinary,” says
the man, with slow emphasis, “it’s no mis-
take at all, sir; ask the young lady if it’s a
mistake.”

“Young lady!” cries Father, fairly startled,
“what young lady, in the name of good-

y7

ness?”
“Why, one of your young ladies, sir, one