The St. Cloud journal. [volume] (St. Cloud, Minn.) 1866-1876, 1874-08-20
NO.. 6.

divide the embarrassment Ct the &c
casion. As she passed me she said in
an undertone,
"Answer quick! Who's that ia
lady on the sofa that laughs SO loud ?
"Mrs. Cromwell Craggs," said I, a.
quietly.
Miss Pilgrim made a satirically low
courtesy and spoke in modest bu
distinct voice:
II really must be excused for ask
ing. I'm stranger, you know bu1
is there such lady here as Mrs
Craggs-Mrs. Cromwell Craggs? Fo1
if SO, the present doorkeeper would
like to see Mrs. Cromwell Craggs."
Then came the turn Of the fat lady
to be laughed at; but out she had tc
| 90 and oct L;a~- '''-~ viz 1eeI VI us'
Before the close Of the evening
Billy was made as jealous as his pa.
rents and I were surprised to see
Daniel in close conversation with Miss
Pilgrim among the geraniums and
fuschias Of the conservatory-"a regu
lar airtation," said Billy, somewhat
Indignantly. The conclusion which
they arrived at was, that after all nc
great harm had been done, and thai
the dear little fellow ought not to be
peached on for his fun. If I haC
known at the time how easily they
forgave him, should have suspected
that the offense Billy had led DAME
into committing was not unlikely tx
be repeated on the offenders own &C
count; but so much as I could SCI
showed me that the ice was broken.
| Billy's jealousy did not outlast th'
party. He became more and mo~
interested in "his GIRL" ap3 otter
went in the afternoon after getting Out
of school, ostensibly to play with Jim
nv. Daniels calls, according tc
adult etiquette, made in the evening
lid not interfere with my younger
nephew's, and as neither knew thai
the other, after his fashion, was his
most uncompromising rival, my posi-
ton as the confdant Of each was one
Of extreme delicacy. But the matter
was more speedily settled than I ex
pected.
Billy came to me one day and tolc
me that he intended to get married
Immediately ly-that he was going te
ask bis Lottie that very afternoon
He was prepared to meet every objec
ton. He had asked his father if he
might, and his father said yes, if he
had money enough to support a wife
land Billy thought he had. He'c
saved up all the money his Uncle
Tom and Aunt Jane had sent hin
for Christmas; and besides, if ht
| were once married, his father wouldn'
~ 4 "'Al.0 ~ e.--aps, he knew
Then, too, he was golng " I'd" 1ear,
school and be merchant next year
and I'd help him now and then, if ht
got hard up, wouldn't 1? If he were
driven to it he could be a good boy
again, and save up the money to buy
Lottie dresses instead of giving it te
nasty old "Objccks." He was SC
much older than when he had the
savings bank that he ought to have al
least ten cents day now for being
good: didn't I think that was fair
as to his age, if Lottie loved him he
didn't care-anyway he'd be lots big
ger than she was before long -anc
he'd often heard his ma say she ap
proved Of early marriages; hers ano
PAS was one. So he ran off up Liv
ingston Place, the most undaunte6
lover that ever put extra shine on hi
proposal boots, or spent half an hour
On the bow Of his popping neck-tie.
| Shortly after Daniel went into th,
street. Not meaning to call upon hi
inamorata, but, drawn by the irresist
ible fascination Of passing her house
he strolled in the direction that Bill,
had gone. AS he came to the Rum
bullion's something suddenly bad
him enter-a whim he called it, bu
not his own-one of the whims c
Destiny, which are always gratifec
eyes, Sir" said the servant, "Mis
Pilgrim is in. I will call her.
His step was always light. H
passed noiselessly into the front-parlo1
and sat down among the heavy bro
cade curtains which shadowed a re
cess of one of the windows. He SUI
posed Miss Pilgrim to be up stair
and while his heart futtered expec
ing her football at the parlor-door, b
, heard an earnest boyish voice in tt
extension-room. Looking from h
concealment he beheld Miss Pilgri1
on sofa in the pier, and sitting b
[ her side, with her hand clasped in hi
his brother Billy. Before he coul
avoid it he became aware that Bill
was unconsciously but eagerly foresta
, ling him.
"Now, Lottie, my dear Lottie!
wish you would; I'll do everythin
= I can to make you happy. If you
= only marry me, I'll be good all tn
t time Come, now! Say yes! Fat
er's got a real nice place over the St
: ble-they only use it for a tool-roo
t now; we would clear it out and ha,
It it scrubbed, and 60 to housekeepir
t right away. Mad let us have all h
l. old set of china; I've got a silv
mug Uncle Teddy gave me, and
, napkin-ring and four spoons. /
J. soon as I make my money I'll b'