The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1876-02-24
me your word not to betray me.''

me your word not TO betray me?''
YES yes, GA my honor-my We, : honor!1'
exclaimed Sophie, quickly.
Agatha paused q
the girls curiosity en'' as 1t to raise
'.Then suppose must confde the great
secret in you, petite7 The number Of my Of
fersis easily reckoned-at least SO far as y
cipher can be brought into numbers. You
will, perhaps, be astonished to hear that
have had"-and she made = tantalizing
Iause-"no offers ut ALL
Sophie literally 'gasped
agatha, you are jesting-you who have
been 50 admired, who are SO handsome aud
clever, and can do nc ends OF things, and
who are-that is, mean--"
Il am q, and near no %, replied .gatha
calmly, land don't mean to deny that
am tolerably goodlookiug, nor exactly a
fool Nor do say that i have not had
about as much attention as mosi girls; but
Of proposals OF real, sober, will you marry
ne?' suitors, am utterly guiltless."
''Oh, Agatha, how can it be?-that is, if
you are serious?' said Sophie, in scme com
passion.
Nay; that is only for the gentleman i'll
question to decide. returned Agatha, cool
~. ~ can blame no one in the matter
Poor mamma has done her very best.
have been in society since l was your age,
Sophie. The amount of balls have swal-
lowed would puzzle The calculating boy him
self to reckon. The private tn.atr4cals,
dinners, gardens, parties, champeire break
fasts, andc roqsiet teas have been SO u.ingie
up indis,inguishabi thatI should be rash
to hazard guess .s to their p, opsr quaint
: nd l ], u /,
never been asked to say yes or no to any
but partner for quadriilel''
Perhaps Sophie was rather daun,ed .;
the prospect.
oh, Agatha, how strange-how amaz-
ing! | am no, halt SO good looking or attrac
I've as ysu are, andyet I-wei,, yes-l 10
think Frank Conyers does-like me-a lit
tie"
Very probably, my dear; AMI you will,
hope, end By being Mrs. Prank Conyers,
and ignore all others till death do you part.
But rs not my style. don't 60 in for
boy and girl love, nor cottage in gar
den; and, to tell the truth, ] DO get awiuily
tired OF any one who plaques me Too much
Sophie, and my punishmen: viii be that !
SHALL die an old maid "
'Oh, Agatha. bow DREADFUL"
Very likely, ny love; but IN fls.
schooling myself TO The prospect, and, as a
preliminary, | am going down to Aun, Bet
81 Tor he next week, though Lady SuEe!d
offered me place IN nsr pnaeton, ami her
brother and haf-a-dezen Hussar officers
will be in her train"
agatha, you are mad Do 60. How can
you throw away such delicious jaunt, and
81 FOR . stapii, prosy old window"
Miss Sotners sAook her head. x have
promised. Sophie. aud besides, Il is just u,
we to be conspicuous Tor ones absence.
am tired OF it ALL she went on, more ser
iously. Not that ara mean and vain en-
enough 70 wish to be married for the sake ..
II. Dst it is almost degrading to De exn:os
tied as in the market year after year, ana
calmly rejected, even when fairly tested
There, don't laug cry, either, Sophie;
and keep my secret. 1t is as 6e!l Ter the
" rid to know tha, the beautiful Miss Som-
ers IS very hard to please and has refused
no end OF Offers And Agatha hastily rang
the bell and announced needful packing,
with the assistance Of her youthful maid,
while Sophie retired IN no ordinary bewild-
erment and anxious alarm on Der own ac-
count.
We'll, ny dear, it is very good Of you 10
como l have really nothing to amuse you
only The gardens, dad just few good
friends, wto drop II TO make . rubber You
may aTnuse yourself with the books ana
piano. 1 hear you are drsi-r4,e musi.
can.
And Mrs. Betsy Cole settled herself IN Ter
easy char, aad RECOMMENDED her Knitting,
winch sac rarely suspended except to pay
WHIST or 80 to cnulca.
Are yea expecting an, one 20 nish.
auniy' asked Agatha. - she ierlarea 70 "a
aud trsss fer diauer.
"Nsii, no one particularly -o4ly ;hree
eid ~ers.' replica Mrs. Betsy. no one
mAa sou.4 interest y9a, .! curse. But
.hen thay are inca q. sease aud Standing,
.ni oae .. them The heir eresuaa p,iye 70 !.
peerage; but -iil you need not trouble II
all ABOUT them, nag dear
Agatha did net trouble herself.
Her dinner dress vas scarcely looked ..
before it vas doane!.
II Was black lace. anu she hal rica
sprsg 0. geraninm a atr dark hair "a her
only oruaraeni, save chain aai cross of
Indian gold TIA, hung round her white
throat.
She descen led. with weary s.en at the
idea Of the evening before her.
And her hrst impression Of the trio Of
"bcreayed husbands" VAS anything ba, re-
assuring
Two bald heads. suspicious uhaskers aud
mus:ache, and decidedly military air and
dress prepared her for the announcement Of
.'Generel Forbes aud Colonel Rivera
as they bowed ssitay TO the yonng lady.
The third Was cestainly. . different type;
fair aln ,st as woman, with . 6ne tall 6z-
are, aai brown hair thai vas certainly
s,reakei With gray. but ssill abundant and
wen arranged, MIR. Annerly' vas certain
II better than bis compeers.
But Agatha had scarcely time to .pecu-
late on his peculiarities ere she was con-
signed 10 the tender mercies Of General Por-
bes during dinner while the E.ere interest
ing Of the gaests conducted Mrs Betsy to
the dining room.
But the party WIS 30 snail, consisting Ga