The Portland daily press., 1874-06-20
t.yvolI If he is - replied Bella. ssI suppose

Won don't want me to exactly propose sfOr
him. tell voE frankly 1 don't know how to
do it, l.as1' '@'
q don't want you to do anything that is
unladylke,'' said Mrs. Brewster-sI only
want YOU not to frighten the poor man. No
doubt he is aware that girl with your con-
nectlons is very good match for him, and
he feels timd in consequence. But just let
me tell you, Bella, the little plan that Rosie
and are thinking of. Next Saturday after
noon. Mr.. Simpson, will have a halEhOliday,
and was going ro write him note, and ask
him to come with us to see Scoresby, Lord
Wlightmore's place. You know it is open to
the public now, and a nice walk from this.
The shrubberies and gardens and grottoes are
delightful, and SO secluded. Rosie and can
easily drop behind "a.
sob! indeed, am well used to that"
groaned Rosie; "hundreds and hundreas OF
times have gone out with Bella and Mr..
Simpson. and loitered about accidentally on
rurnose. and Jagged behind to pick flowers
and ferns. lust to leave them together, but no
GOOD ever came OF 1t.
"Don't interrupt me, Rosie" continued
Mrs. Brewster; ''as l was saying, you and
will drop behind, and Bella and Mr.. Simpson
can have a cosy chat by themselves, and sit
down in one of those pretty summer-houses,
and if he does not come to the point then,
declare Ithink W II give him up forever'
"Write TO him, if you like" said Bella; elf
it is to be done, it Lad better be done at once !;
but, mind, | believe it will be of not the
slightest use. He will go on just in the same
way he has been doing for the last four
years." t-4o alol ~ Il,.. .e ..,l ! b. It.E.L
sNes if you behave yourself,' returned
Mrs. Brewster; s'for goodness sake, don't
say word about being High Church, or
going to the early service, or decorating the
,lrf 4l,.v I,A
hates them. You may keep all your fancies
to yourself till you are married; then, of
course, you can do what you like and let
yourself out as you please. 1 suppose"
continued Mrs. Brewster, plaintively, II sup
pose shall have to order some wine, and get
something substantial for tea, but I declare
this can't go on much longer. Wine is
cheaper than it used to be, but still it costs
| money; so does cake, so does biscuits, SO do
pears and apples, and he always likes little
refreshment before he goes away, and must
have it ready" O., ..of. .......
s'Well don't ask him." suggested Bella
''Not ask him! of course L shall ask him."
returned Mrs. Brewster, as she sat down to
her davenport and took out fine glazed sheet
of note-paper. II know he admires you;
does he ever run after Rosie, or sit by her,
or talk to her? Never! He seems as if he
almost disliked her; he never takes the slight
est notice Of any other girl when you are in
the room, and l consider it my duty as a
mother to invite him here" ''' oOO
So Mrs. Brewster dipped her pen in the
ink and began as follows: t+.I..e. ..rsr,.
II Eif ELM LODGE, Thursday
My Dear Mr.. Sifnps0n-We were SO sorry
that we were not at home when you called last
week. Bella was quite incOnsolabe. We do
hope you will be able to come to us next Satur.
day. know that it is your only free after.
noon. We are thinking of taking a walk to
Scoresby, and then we can return here to a sub
stantial tea. Trusting to see you then, and
with kindest regards from my daughters, t
Believe my, my dear Mr.. Simpson, yours
most sincerely, ,a l, SOPHIA BREWSTER.
s'Shall we ask any one to meet him ?" in
| quired Bella. as she finished reading this pro
duction. sit will be fearfully dull, all by
| ourselves. Suppose we have the Millers Op.
| posite." nsfd ' TFoh siei s9l.---s'n '-giae
"The Millers, indeedp' cried Mrs. Brews
| ter Indignantly. "Why, that would spoil ev
cal look, would ruin it all. No, shall have
no one but ourselves. A tete-a-tete is the on
ly thing TO bring matters to climax" saa.I
20 Then Mrs. Brewster stamped her note, and
directed it to Jacob Simpson, ESQ.,, Nationa
| Bank, Dumblewitch," and after she had done
this, she felt that she had at least attempted
something that day, according to the excel
| lent practical advice of the poet Longfellow
and had thus earned for herself nights re-
pose. slsuos -f b, ela- in qaji
| 30 i0' CHAPTER II.
The next morning Mr.. Simpsons answer
arrived. 1t was written in his stiff business
hand, and yet certain soupcon of the love-
| could be detected in the pale mauve hue O
| the ink, and the delicate scent which emanat
| ed therefrom. He was very much obliged tc
Mrs Rram lror iru fati fo,
next Saturday, and he would be most happy
to avail himself of it. With kindest remem
brances to Miss Brewster, he remained "most
| faithfully, Jacob Simpson,
I f"There p, cried Mrs. Brewster triumph.
| antly, throwing the note into her daughters
lap; s'there! you see he is delighted at being
| asked ~ l' ~
ssWelH we're in for it now,I L SUPPOSE y
said Bella, as she retired to her room to ar
range her toilet for the coming campaign.
Precisely as the clock struck three on Sat
urday afternoon, Mr.. Simpson might have
been seen knocking at the front door of Elm
Lodge, and casting an attentive glance at the
upper boughs of the solitary tree to which
| the house owed its name. Mr.. Simpson had
| evidently taken some pains with his appear
| ance, his frock coat was spotless, his gray
trowsers and tall hat were nearly new out o.
the shop, and to add still further to the fes
tive character of his get-up, he had dainty
bouquet of geraniums in his button-hole, anC
a pair of gray gloves in his hand. The ladies
were at home, of course; and, seated in the
drawing-room, Bella arrayed in her new ecrue
costume, which though rather tight aDou
the waist and shoulders, was still voted Z
| capital fit, and the most becoming garm ent
| she had ever worn. Then she had number
of blue bows here and there, and the smart
est little apron in the world daintily trimmed
with lace. Owing to a mastery suggestion
Of Mrs. Brewster's, she held volume lent by
| Mr.. Simpson in her hand. Rosie, who wal
seated in the window, now announced the ar
| rival of the expected guest. o - ~ .
Here he is, mamma" she exclaimed
s'and really do believe he must mean some
thing to-day, for he has actually got a bou
| quet in his button-hole."
| Hush hush ray DEAR" answered Mrs
Brewster, smoothing down the folds of hel
dress complacently. 'He will hear you; ht
is just at the door, 7o r' siaar .u5
''Ah! Mr.. Simpson," she cried, advancing
to meet her visitor who now made his ap
| pearance, show kind of you to come to us
ing ourselves on the weather"
Eyes," replied Mr.. Simpson, drawing
cane chair close to Bella, and sitting dowr
rather on the edge of it, after having careful
| y pulled out the tails of his coat so that the,
might not be crushed; Eyes, the day is fine
just at present, but the glass is going down
rain is expected before Tomorrow"
II hope the weather will keep up for ou
walk" said Mrs. Brewster. ''Rain doe.
spoil everything, and Bella is so fond o
Scoresby. she always delights in going there
"Have you been there often, Miss Brew
| ster?' inquired Mr.. Simpson, throwing ;
would-be tender glance in Bella's direction
and STOPPING slightly forward in his chair tt
| listen more attentivey to her answer.
| 80 yes, several times, but not very lately
eyes," said Mrs. Brewster, "we have pui
| off going there once or twice because we were
hoping to have the pleasure of your com
pany. os i. .i.
Mr.. Simpson took out his large white pock
ct handkerchief, plentifully sprnkled with
| ptchouly, and wiped his yellow forehead
You are very good" said he. sententlously
''but the presence of his friends must always
be mutual qualification and delight.
Then there was a pause, 'Is there any
thing new in the papers, Mr. Simpson?'' in
quired Mrs. Brewster, at last, feeling she
ought to break the awkwardness of the 81
lence. Mr.. Simpson cleared his throat and
replied that there was, that most interest
ing and important correspondence had been
going on between the Pope and the Emperor
of Germany. Such subject was just suited
1