The Albany register. [volume] (Albany, Or.) 1868-18??, 1873-08-22

not tr1ne, always giving . ueCluet
! answer, like sn honorable llttl'
woman as she really was; but if sh'
was not convinced of the genuine
hess of Q suitor's attachment, sht
could seldom resist the temptation
to probe his feelings by spice 0
.coquetry on her part. And we tt
any male fiirt who dared to sp
proach Mysie Collins; she was surt
to avenge on such a one the mischie
he had wrought elsewhere. Be
longing to this lstter class was Tom
Jolies, q soldier, home in the village
for two months Through, and who
quickly fell into the train Of Mysie's
admirers, thinking that he would
very soon be at the top Of the list
in the estimation Of his inamorata,
But Mysie had heard sundry we'll
authenticated accounts OF female
hearts cody trife with by this
same gallant Tom, and, as usual,
set herselfto punish The offender.
Luckless Tom taking her smiles as
50 many encouragemt ITS to farther
proceedings, soon yeutured to way
lay the little lady as she was return
ing from carrying home some work,
aud begged the favor Of . walk
with her that evening. According
to the etiquette Ot rustic court.
ship, such . proposal is generally
understood as a preliminary to an
offer Of marriage. Mysie smiled,
aud dimples chased each other most
bewitclillgly over her sparkling
countenance, as she replied demure-
ly:
"But the boots | have on must
60 to the shoemaker's this evening,
and I shouldn't like you to walk
there with me; and if I 80 there
after getting grandmother's tea It
will be too late for . walk after
wards"
"But you are going home now,
Miss CollinsP" said Tom, suguring
fsvorably from her shyness; ''if you
will let me have the boots as econ
as you are at home, | will take
them for you, and come back for
you for our walk by the time you
have finished tea."
"But grandmother won. like to
see q soldier in the house," returned
the unconquersble Mysie; ''if you
you will be 50 kind as TO take the
boots for me to be mended, just
come round under our little back
window, and | will throw them out
to you,"
10 this Tom eagerly agreed, and
skulked round to the back Of the
house, while Mysie went in straight
to her grandmother and told the
story, winning from the old lady a
grim chuckle Of approval at the
thought of the military flirt getting
dealt out To him the due reward Of
his past inquities.
"Look, grandmother exclaimed
Mysie, as she changed her boots,
holding up the dirty ONES for Mrs.
Elster's inspection; ''aren't they de-
lighttal muddyp Oh! / stepped
in oil the worst puddles ! could
find coming down the lane, and Pm
sure I caa't find any paper lit to
wrap them in; 70 Tom will have to
take them just as they are. Oh!
won't he be in hurry to take me
for another walk?"
She ran up stairs, and leaning
out Of the little window, beneath
which her Suitor stood waiting, said
in g whisper:
< atch them, Mr.. Jones; you
must excuse there not being paper
around them, hadn't any just at
hsud.' And 50 saying after some
hesitation, she threw out
the boots, one Of which, missing one
Of Toms ontstretched hands, went
plump against his arm, leaving q
thick patch Of mud on the hand.
some uniform.
"Oh! what 4 pityp' said Mysie
sympathizingly; "but don't come
back here for me, Mr.. Jones, wait
FOR me at Chips Pond"
Mysie drew back out Of sight,
had her tea comfortably, and after