Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1874-10-02


been afraid of that uncompromising fe-
male" said our hero.
Mrs. Hswkesbury, the next candidate,
was clairvoyant and spiritualist
think l could amuse the old lady
with foretelling the future" said she.
"That was the way l did at my three
last situations"
Three ?" repeated Mr.. Chillingfeld.
Jones, my dear fellow, don't rustic that
paper so vehemently." Gan instantane-
Gus silence ensued, and Jones stihed
giggle behind the columns of the Mer-
cury.) "Did you say hreef How did
you happen to leave those situations?" "
"The visitation of Providence, sir,
said Mrs. Hawkesbury. "Tbey all died
the respected ladies whom it was at
once my duty and my pleasure to-"
"Oh! said Mr.. Chillingfeld, 81 am
afraid my Aunt Polly might die too.
Clairvoyance and second sight might 1T
agree with her."
Sir" said the lady, "you are spirit
ually blind"
Very likely" said Mr.. Chillingfeld.
But should prefer to remain sc"
The next was too deaf, the next too
feshy, the third was unwilling to live
with any lady who did not keep man
servant, the fourth wanted too high a
salary-so on, ad infnitum, until the
newspaper was fairly cracked to pieces.
Until, at length, there was, so to speak,
tie" between the two last candidates
Ruth Coke was just nineteen pretty
as sweet pea blossom, and ready to un-
dertake any description of service, to es-
cape from step-mother and nine tur-
bulent half brothers and sisters. Helen
Howard was queenly young woman of
five and twenty, who read like Mrs.
Scott Siddons, sang delicious Scotch bal
lads, and frankly owned that she needed
a home
Mr.. Jones coughed himself purple
over both Of them.
you could MT do better, Reginald,
said he, than to take"
Which one? 2"
"Bothl"
" Do talk common sense
]
But they're both splendid girls "
Granted-but you must remember
that / have only got one Aunt Polly
A choice must be made"
"Toss up copper?
"You irreverent villain
Draw cuts, then! Look | write
Helen on one, Roth on the other.
Prestol Changel Now draw Ruth has
won the day "
So Mr.. Reginald Chilling6eld took
Ruth Coke home with him to the domi-
ciliary abode of his Aunt Polly by eve
ming train, leaving Helen Howard very
sad and very quiet.
You are disappointed" said he, |
wish l could have engaged you BOTH"
"Yes," said Helen Ct am disap-
pointed, l confess. Life is very hard
and stern to me-"
| Reginald Chillingfeld thought over
her words. They haunted him--and not
only her words, but the garnet brown
shadows of her eyes. And just week
afterwar he went back to Glenville
Yes, Miss Howard is at home" said
the shabby maid of all work, at the
third rate boarding house where Miss
Howard lived Walk in"
And Mr.. Chillingfeld walked in, to
find Miss Helen tete a-tete with Mr..
Jones.
Halo cried Jones. :" Who would
ever have thought of seeing your"
a might say the same," laughingly
retorted Chillingfeld, as he took Miss
Howard's hand. "But | have news for
you Miss Helen"
For me? News2"
81 haYe heard Of an excellent situa-
tion near my aunt's--an invalid lady
whose husband"
Hang the invalid lady and her hus-
band interposed Jones. 81 was Just
going to write you about it, old boy.
We're engaged. We are to be married
tomorrow.
"Nol" cried Reginald. "Then I'll
stay to the wedding. But"
Well?"
1sn't it rather a sudden arrange
ment?"
Life is full of sudden things" said
Jones phiiosOphically, Helen is will
ing to run the risk"
And so the troublesome question was
settled satisfactorily to all parties.
To KEEP PLANTS FROM FREEZING
A sure method to keep house plants
from freezing, except in the very coldest
weather, is TO let pail full of water set
I I r