Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1850-09-17
THE WAGER.
The Two Wedding Rings.
CHAPTER 4.

cHlrrrR 4.
love you, Charley mo, no, abii' Wha,
should pu, such a ridiculou, idea into your
head Why, you are a mere boy"
81 am not, Ellen, ! assure you. have
no, boyish feeling abou, me. and, for my
appearance, am sure I do no, like a boy in
the least, Have /, indeed, cultivated this
mous,ache with 40 much pains for nothing =
Am I not nearly ,wep,y Oue' and, above all,
do ! no, love yor de,c,edlyf"
The roguish llule Ellen made no answer,
bu, began 10 sing
- liuIe by ven, ~, 70 'hOO' one dsy.
Ard carried his Arrov, AnJ bow;
Fes ru-. az, A,, A..sss-,. iilrf. Es plsy.
10 IN, band, ofluI< ehiLr,r. ,ou know"
Nonsense Ely"
- LITTLE bird cat OF chsrry tree.
AID ~hi'IIed and .aid, {" You can't shoot me 80
And neither can YOU Mr.. Charly," said
Ellen, laughing.
81 don, know about that" said Charles
aucily. IL think, little maiden, iha, you
are more than half IN lave with me already,
aud will see Il cannot max, you quite 30 f"
Just hear how the song goes on," said
Ellen
"Ony -si,," ..il the 10y, eth I g, clos,
rnop.h.
All ,cr Il don't shoot yUu thr"usb;"
do 900 think, .sid III. bad. Zoo up to .nuh,
q" st .,l b, 'ho, a, b, your'
Charlie, laughed in spite Of him-clf bu, re.
TUNED To the charge.
Z" Hot tell me seriously, Ely, Why you
don't love the, and will move heaven and
earth to b- more agreeable to you. Tell Inc
what you desire apd wish for IN loScr'"
well, Charles, IN the frst place, my lo'.
cr mus, be handsome man, sIh feet high at
lcas, (you want full an inch OF the standard J
then he must have great bushy beard (c,.
cusc mc, dear Charley, bot your lltllc m"us-
iachc u rather a miserable subsl,u,c,) thea
he must waltz dNInely, sing enchanlIngly,
aud love me IS we'll or better than you dc"
P.hiw ." said Charles, impatlently, "lf
YOU hai such q lover, you would not like the
grilly bear one halt 50 we'll as you do me
| would bet YOU your wedding ring, 'ha, II
such an onc as YOU describe were TO aTru,
you would after all, tell INC that you would
take me IN preference.
Tell yuu -, indeed =" said Flea, ludig
nantl, THAT will never do, and ! willing.
ly accep, your wager"
Very we'll, Ely; 90 you have some
vague, romantic dream OF some corsilr Of \
lover, and lor the pTcsen, stand be-, poor
chance bu, YOU know ! lm 10 set oas s.r.sy
travels Tomorrow, and
NY n'e shes bot h"s yet.
", love Oh, bu, las'isys
~ lsays her T.. y,ar oT tao,
And she'll "a. b- ~ ,aucy yet"
Pardon me, Ely, you are fond II songs
good bye :" SO saying, the gay ani hand.
some young man left the apsrimen,
The nel, tay Charles came To take leave
OF ElIen, previous to going 10 South Amen
ca, where he expected to soJoum for tw" or
three years. They we're beth 'addcr th'n ou
,he day before. ,nd Eilen's eyes looacd 'cry
much as though she had been having good
cry " before he came.
We'll, Ely" said Charles after while
with an effort 10 be gay, "do YOU still per.
si,t ia wha, you said yesterday ," don't you
love me one BIT"
" Not much, " laid Ellen again THAT i
to say--"
P,haw, Ellen ! sec very plainly ~"
the matter stands with YOU" sIid Charles.
" You ar. IN love with mc, | tell you."
Indeed am not, ~: said Ellen, indg.
usntly.
Indeed you arc, nv dear ,aid Charles,
E. over head and ears III love-bu, YOU don't
know It, and suppose mus; w-it patiently
iil ,ou find !, ou, and tell me So
THAT will never be-, said Ellen.
~ have nv, forgotten our bet, Ely and
when you rcjec, your "ldeal." aud tell nc
you love tue, shall expect you TO Prescn, me
with our wedding ring bu, should YOU mar
~ your blue blcard, will prssen, you with
yours"
"very we'll, SIR" said Ellen, 81 may
NEE, with NV ' IDEAL" sooner than you think
though am bu, " lassie yeI," and she toss
ed her rosuish little head scornlully'
"well. we'll. Ely, DON, 10 angry re.
member only this, that YOU have one plain,
honest hearted lover, who will never forget
you-and Ely, dear, let nc advise you to be-
ware u those fancy lovers. Pirates, bandits,
and spanlards are TO be particularly guarded
against, being, as all young ladies' know, sI'
cccdingly dangerous.
oinPTrR II.
Thre, years passed quickly away Ellen
had come OUT" and had gained by her
sweetness and y,aci,y, several sincere ad-