Here her Companion began to perceive

That her feminine tongue would have its own way;

That the cleverest thing he could do was to leave

The talking to her, and have Nothing to Say.

The lady had now been chattering so long,

She felt that her voice was beginning to fail her;

A punch would, she felt, be a blessing and boon,

The “dientical” thing with which to regale her,

So they pushed their way through the gathering throng,

And hurried away to Taylor’s Saloon.

They seated themselves at the table together,—

The customers “staring their eyes out,” to see

Who this queer-looking couple could possibly be,—

Asking each other in whispers, whether,

It wasn’t the likeliest thing that she,

Was a Western Actress, and he an Editor;

And some were terribly frightened, because

They couldn’t help thinking there certainly was,

The Old Nick to pay, and that he was their creditor.

But the strangers composedly sat, never heeding

 Prev. P 13/19 next