The Andrew County Republican. [volume] (Savannah, Mo.) 1871-1876, 1876-09-28

take a week TO gather them," was the
merry reply.
~"But she is not here. 1 have not seen
her for months. She is teaching in
W." replied Miss Clapper.
"Then how did she answer my let
tiers from here, and agree to talk this
matter over with mep" asked Gray.
"She didn't" said Miss Betsy, who
had resolved to get out Of the net by
telling the whole tale; and thankful
enough she was that she had only agreed
to "talk it over with him."
30 she told the whole story, from the
receipt of the Colonel's letter to that
hour; and as she had kept her sensible
heart untouched till she should see the
gentleman, she could afford to laugh ut
the matter. And they both laughed
heartily; and Miss Clapper was kind
enough to say that she did not believe
that Elizabeth had forgotten him, aud
that, rs it was vacation, she would send
for her to come, and inquire about it.
The only real vexation / in the matter
was That the whole community knew of
the affair through the Colonel's trcach-
cry. But Robert Gray was as smart as
the Colonel, to say the least of it.
"Have you talked of it yourself to
any friendP" he asked.
"Not n mortal, as the change was so
uncertain; but | heard the school-chil-
drcn speak of tho birds Miss Clappcr's
beau sent her. 81 ] suppose it is towns
talk, and that the Colonel has told the
whole story"
"Well, leave the old man and the
affair with me, and I'll make him feel
cheap enough before it is over" said
Gray, laughing.
So the warm-hcartel, CHEEKY fellow
for he was n young fellow at heart,
though thirty-was installed in Miss
Clapper's best room, and told to make
himself at home while she wrote for
Lizzie to come ovcr from W, know
ing she would not care to have Mr..
Gray make the matter public by going
there for her.
While Miss Betsy was writing, Mr..
Robert stepped over to the Post-oiice,
where he found the Colonel alone, to
thank him for replying to his letter.
The Colonel looked at his young face,
and stared at him.
"This is rather n delicate NATTER
said the young man, "to talk about ii
before it is settled; but my name is
Gray, and thank you for answering
my letter, and as soon us Miss Lizzie
reaches here, it will be but polite that |
should tell you her decision"
"Miss whop"
"Miss Lizzie Clapper, of whom ]
wrote to you"
"Oh, you don't say that you arc tho
Mr.. Gray, and that it was young Lizzie
that you wanted to know aboutP" cried
the Colonel, in amazement.
"C~ertainly."
"Well, now, that Miss Betsy Clappei
is II cute one! She talked half an houl
with me and Miss Dole, and never lei
on. We thought all the time it wa
some old widower wanting her. Ther
she's goin' to keep right on in her bust
ness here, hap" cried the Colonel.
ayes, unless she will 90 to Soutl
America with us-with aae, l mean
for I'm not sure of Miss Lizzie going
with me yet" said Gray. -
"Well, well, If Betsy Clapper isn't
deep one, I'll give up guessing!p crict
the Postmaster.
In six weeks there was Il wedding il
Miss Betsy's neat little parlor, and thel
the happy young Grays went off t,
South America.
1t wa 500 seen that Miss Betsy, who
chose to remain with old Polly, in he,
old home, had more capital than be
fore. She had her place all put il
order, and her house and fences paint
ed, aud she added considerably to hel
stock in trade.
The Colonel said he wasn't going {,
run a race with n woman, and shoull
give up selling ribbons, and ruches, anc
combs, for somebody was helping her
The joke came down solely on tn,
Colonel's head, for more than one per
son said: "It is very evident now how
all the news gets out. It's about tim,
we had a new Postmaster, who isn't S,
handy with letters ss the Coleael."
If ever any one spoke OF Miss Clap
per's BEAU" the Colonel's face grew
scarlet, and he would say: cit is
wonder to me that there's no openin.
for n milliner out in South America!"-
Youth's Companion. % ,.