The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1859-11-26
From the q 7. Mercury.
sBEAUX AND BROoMS.
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leone here you, Madge, you highfyer:
and tell me what you've been about SAID
Canaan Mumford to his daughter-a wild,
hcydenish miss in her teens, who had, In
some unaceountable way, smitten the hearts
of two worthy swains of the village; and
both had met, that morning. at the captain
house, or. the same errand, viz: his consent
to their union with his daughter.
! Each had jealousIy watched the move
ments Of the other; and they had come
parposeIy a. the same time, TO pour their
tales of love in the fathers ear, each hoping
to enlist the sympathy of the worthy man
In their cause. ~ ~
The tales were soon told |; and when the
captain left them, standing beside the gar
den fence, to question Madge, one amused
himself By chewing a chip of birch, while
the other Whitfield hickory stick into a
walking cane, and whistled, ooh, carry me
long"
The captain. who was fair in his dealings,
didn't like anything that looked like deceit
or coquetry in either sex; and when, as he
propounded the question, Madge saw the
anger in his eye, she blushed, hung her
head, and remained silent. She had seen
the approach of her two lovers, and readily
guessed their errand-for she had, with a
maiden's love of admiration, encouraged
both to think themselves equally dear to
her.
Stamping his foot, to give more force to
the expression, the captain continued:
eff you've been fooling with both these
fellows, Madge, you shall have your pay
for lido you hear? They've both come
to me with long rigmarole about the at
tentions you have received from them and
both insist on being favored with your hand.
Dunn says he knows you prefer hem, from
the fact that you accepted ring from him
last week while Dobbins thinks you never
would have taken the chain and locket from
him had he not been the favored one. In
fact, Madge, both think themselves as good
as engaged to you.
A pretty how-d'ye-do this, for honest
John Mumford's daughter.
Both ring and locket were glistening on
the fair person of Madge, as she replied:
Really, father, didn't think it serious
matter. I'm sure ] have never engaged
myself to either
"Ah, Madge, no such paltry excuse will
smooth over the matter for me. You've en-
couraged the attentions of both. Have
you preference for either, Madge? for l
will not believe you have the same regard
for both.''
Again Madge blushed and hung her
head, without replying, and the captain
turned on his heel to depart; but, ere he
reached the door, trembling hand arrest
ed him, and a voice scarcely audible, said:
II like Charley best, father; please give
the preference to him."
"You do, ell? Then why didn't you
tell him so in the first of it, and give Eben
the mitten at once, instead of keeping both
along as you have done, you wicked little
MINK? But your confession has come too
late. AS you have dealt evenly with both,
80 will 1. They both start out peddling
brooms, tomorrow and the one that dis
poses of his four hundred first, and returns
with the most cash, shall be rewarded with
your hand Do you hear?
Eyes, papa; but Eben has the advan-
tage, having followed peddling for four
years and upwards, while Charley is a nov
Ice in the business This is his trial trip
81 can't help that, Madge. shall make
the offer, and if they consent, I'll see to il
that you abide the decision so let me hear
no whimpering. If Eben Dunn comes out
victorious, you shall marry. him. to punisl
you for flirting"
O. Madge went to her room, not feeling very
comfortable around the heart; while Cap
tain Mumford made the proposition to the
two admirers.
ia It is needless to add, that it was readily
accepted by both Dobbins and Dunn.
g.
peddling, felt sure he could manage tossel
the brooms somehow and he FASTENED
home, and loaded his cart-which had beer
purchased the week before, by his father
and, with suitable nag and harness, giver
70 him IS kind of setting out for, as ht
had Just turned twenty one, he was now
expected, by Farmer Dobbins, to do fo
himself.
Eben Dunn, showing none of that nerv
Gus excitement which characterized til,
movements of Dobbins, made cool prepare
tons for start; and, two hours after Char
ley had set off toward the setting sun, will
his load of brooms, he turned his horse
head to the east, and, confident of winning
the prize, took his departure from the it'll
village of Wildwood in fine spirits, solilo
quizing, as his nag ambled along over bill
and dale:
49,, -Four hundred brooms is master pill
TO sell in week, but believe l can do it
They ought to bring two shillings apiece
but, seeing there's so much at stake, shall
put 'em down to twenty cents, or eighteel
ehiilings dozen: Small profits make read,
sales, nowadays. reckon Dobbins viii
wish his brooms somewhere else before b
peddles 'em all of he looked sorter chop
fallen at the cap'n's proposition, but as j
was his only chance. he didn't dare to re
fuse. Madge 10 smart girl for bizness
besides being pretty; jest as if she was go
ing to throw herself away upon Charlie,
iDobbins, when she has standing offe