The Van Buren press., 1876-11-14

the number or duration OF your visits.
The door opened just at this moment,
and my cousin Henry bowed out Il
guest.
GOOD night. Colonel Little" ex
claimed, and slipped through the open
door. Cousin Henry grasped both nv
hands, and drew me under the chandelier
in the sitting room.
"Cousin Alice, tell me every word
Colonel Little said to you, to night"
There was merry twinkle in the dear
old gentleman eyes, and loving smile
on his lips.
! told nim what he asked.
You would not think OF accepting
Colonel Little, Of course he said, very
gently. " But how about Mr. Lud
luw?'
MIR. Ludlow has never asked me-. !
answered in great confusion. but with
some scorn.
"Go to bed, DEAR" be said. after . few
minutes, and kissed me lightly on my
forehead.
TO be, or not to be; that's the ques
tiou." was shouted at me the next morn
ing by one of my exceedingly mischiev-
Gus cousins.
~ do not see any sense in your quo.
tation." answered loitily.
"Oh. my! Of course not Are We to
be Mrs Colonel Little :"
"Never!' | retorted.
"Of course not cousin Henry said
with serious voice.
The mischevous cousin laughed sc orn.
fully.
"Didn't he propose2" Kate whispered
through her toast.
No
"rhcn he will be hero again, TO-
night she said, mournfully.
No, he will never come again. l an
sure of that" replied, with marked de.
cision.
"He will tear his hair" said the mis-
chievous cousin
"Lot him. I'D rather he'd tear Iii.
own than mine," retorted
LA! cousin Alice. said cousin Henry
in his most comieal tone, !" he could teal
your hair all off, AMI 1t would not hurt
you bit"
"Hil MIN again; he's got no friends !!
calle out the mischievous one
Kate, let's prose here, in the moon
light said, tha, evening.
| agreed answered Kate.
"Where Is everybody p ! asked, as
we settled ourselves in the coxy bay win
dow.
Papa's at Perly's, TO play cards
mammals g undressed--has headache; Ju
Illus is 1t Berklcy's, Of course. You
don't want light ~
mo, indeed, This is delightful. And
could always talk mavh bettee ia shs
dark"
But Colonel Little will be sure ia
come" Kate complained.
IL have told you twenty times that he
would not y Ns
But he carried off your fan, and that
was u ruse. He will come here to re
turn it,
We we're deep In condolences and castle
building, when Kate suddenly exclaimed
Cousin Alice, as live, there-is-Col
onel-Little!
And. sure enough, 1t was.
"Kute, if you leave me, will die!'
whispered. as the Colonel came in.
He took seat near Kate, and after {
distant =" Good evening to me. did mo-
address me. His conversation was exclu
siveiy for Kate.
Poor, martyred Kate! She endured
it as long as she could, for my sake. Blu
at last her patience gave out, and, with
some half murmdred apology, she left me
to my fate.
The Colonel came and sat down very
near me :" Here is your fan. | carried
it away last night. unintentionally."
Thanks" | answered.
IL have come intending not TO bt
lgughed at, Miss Allen. must have my
answer is it to be yes or no?'
IL am not aw re that you have asked
me a question, Colonel L.ttle."
You know very well what mean.
am not going to get on my knees to an,
woman
I" Mcn have toto some women" ] re
piled, nonchalantly.
"l will not never did, and neve
will. will go into the field, and be {
mark for bullet first"
ON" l said, laughing, show very
dramatic you aref' .
"Is il yes, or no p he exclaimed.
saw then that had serious matte
to deal with.
Colonel Little" answered, more
gently, Z" ! believe you mean me to an
ders,and that you would make me an Of
Ter OF marriage arm obliged o say
cannot marry you"
"You mean that ?" be asked.
81 do"
Nothing can say will cause you Il
change your mind y
Nothing"
$50 am to consider that l have m,
answtrl' ....
! "Yes. finally and definitely" '
"Well, it hasn't been so hard as
thought it would be y and there was ev
ident relief in his tones. did not know
whether he referred to the ordeal Of pro
posing or to my refusal. v
You viii soon recover" | said
laughing e'"at
"Oh, yes" lot
This isn't your (irst attackT .....
No. indeed; but let me tell you, Mis-
Allen, it has been n pretty severe one
You aIc smart and handsome aud wei
bred, and thought would be proud o
YOU. am not much OF fellow. know
h,, I a,ulI hp anmpt hiup-rpallV.