Ashtabula telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1874-1880, 1877-10-05
w hole Number 1448

'e hedlu my uncle say he has
brains. l dare say it is the same;"
and young Hatherton laughed at
his friends lengthening face.
Allan reflected. 1t would be NOR
tifying, indeed, to be outstripped
by poor young mechanic; he with
an income of seven thousand a
year.
81 see it disturbs you. Have a
care, my boy" added his friend.
"Pll wager you my ponies against
pair of gloves-anything you
please" said Allan hotly, '1that 1
win the day."
so! don't be offended" replied.
the friend. Only don't be too
sure"
"Will you bet?''
'Since you persist, yes"
"Done. Shake On that"
"With all my heart, old fellow,
and hope you'll win"
otis a 60" said Allan.
Had he known that he had a lis
tener, and that the listener was the
subject of their discussion, he would
have been less confident; for in the
ladies' waiting room beyond, Annie
Breton lifted finger warningly. as
she glanced at her friend. It was a
trying moment to both. Miss All
ston was a young lady who looked
at the humorous side of things; not
a giggler, but a wit. A puff of air;
a chance movement on the part Of
the young men might have revealed
the young ladies. Miss Allston put
her handkerchief to her lips, and stiff
led a laugh. Again Annie's finger
was held up warningly.
''Be still. 1t will be awkward if
they see US here" she said.
Luckily the operator entered at
that moment, and thus relieved
them of their suspense.
"We will say nothing about It."
said Annie gravely. "At the same
time, will punish him."
"And throw away the best catch
in the county"
''That for the best Catch as
you call him" Really, Miss Breton
looked superb at that moment. Gas
if money could eyer weigh against
brains, decency, or love"
"My DEAR" said Miss Allston,
"you and l know a host who are
dying to be honored by such men
tion."
''There is no accounting for tastes.
Give me man who can keep his
own counsel, and who is not fool"
1t sometimes happens-it often
happens-that a woman's chances
for matrimonial advancement are
flung together, verifying the old
saying, ''1t never rains but it
pours." 1t was so in Annie Bre-
toms experience. The very next
morning Arthur Lane called in per-
son, and proposed in a manner that
proved to her that to him the
decision was question of
momentous importance. He was a
man of deep feeling, undemonstra-
tive, but his embarrassment, his
very silence pleaded for him as he
departed with the question still un-
settled.
And now Miss Breton began to
chide herself, and to marvel how
she could have entertained Mr., Nc
Donald's proposition. This mans
manner was so different. In short,
although the morrow's mail would
announce his fate, she sat down
then and there, and addressed the
lover a note bearing single word,
''Yes" and rose from her writing
with sparkling eyes and flushed
, cheeks.
In due time Allan Mcdonald ap-
piled for his answer. He was vain
enough to think that a little time
5 was all that was needed. No wom-
, an, he argued, could reflect upon his
proposal without surrendering. No
woman would throw away seven
; thousand a year, especially with
e srah an accomplished, handsome,
D weIl-bra6a appendage as himself. A
: man STRUGGLING fNr recognition upon
the threshold of. a prv, s'SiOn Una snS'
required influence as well as 0t'
ded talent had no chance with
hims
When he was announced. Miss
Breton determined to prevent him
from subjecting himself to unneces-
sary humiliation. She was so char
table as to credit him with more
feeling than he possessed.
81 have called, Miss Breton, for
my answer" He bowed, fieoked an
atom of dust from his sleeve and sat
down. That action froze Miss Bre-
ton's sympathy.
'I almost regret that 1 did not
give it at once, Mr.. McDonald.o
"Mister!" So! she had not had
sufficient time. What a fool he
was not to give her plenty of time.
Of course no girl liked the idea of
selling herself cheap.
"My dear Miss Breton, allow me
to say-or permit me TO call you
Annie"
The quiet look she gave him
checked the speech. He hesitated
moment. You surely do not
mean-perhaps l did not give YOU
sufficient time. Take time Miss
Breton"
81 have considered"
"And you mean to tell me, Miss
Breton"
"That 1 put my heart in the
scale against pair of ponies valued
at two thousand dollars" said An
ME, with ourviug lip. "And I
find my heart heavier than the po-
MES"
| The world now says Mrs. Lane
made wise choice. Few men are
more respected or honOred than her
husband. The lesson did Mcdonald
good. 1t did much towards curing
him of his vanity, besides teaching
him never to bet on woman's love.
Citing as an example of the effect
of reversing the screw of steam
shin under way upon the steering,