The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1877-06-16
BETROTHED.

My dear" said Mrs. Wlckcrly to her son,
step INTO the library a moment. have an
important communication to make TO you"
This ~, u solemn announcement, and
Young Mr.. Wicberly might have been alarm
ed but that he knew his mother so well. SO,
with much curiosity, he followed his mother,
cigar in hand, INTO the small room which a
triling and miscellaneous collection Of books
elevated to the raak ascribcd to ii IN his
mothers summons. There was Il large arm
chair in the center Of the room, and in this
Irs. Wickerly seated herself.
"Waverly, my dear" she SAID, as she folded
her hands, "will you obllge me by eXtingulsh-
ing your ciyar?'
"Why, mother, was not aware that you
objected to Il good cigar" said Wavcrly.
Nor do l." said Mrs. Wlckerly; "person.
ally am not avcrse TO IL, But there are top.
les too serious to be smoked over Wavery
Wickcrly" continued the lady, "you are to-
day one-and.t aeEty.
"A birthday party" thought Waverly, with
mental gIOan.
and" continued Mrs. Wickerly, ait is
now time to apprisc you Of matter which
has rested on my mind since your blrth.'
Can II be- a fortune coming to me- thought
Waverly.
81 had in my girlhood dear friend said
Mrs. Wickelly, slghiug, "Aramnta Evelna
Isadota Blush. She married when | did
Her babe was bonn on the same day"
81 hope haven't been changed in the era
die and am about TO find out that | am some
body else SAID Waverly, still aside
The bab, was girl" said Mrs. Wickerly.
"lIer. motacr named her Adeliza Gloriana
Imogenc As her lie partner was untortu-
nately named SQuills the young child was
naturally Adeliza Glonana lmogene Squills.
Ladies have one advantage over gentlemen
they may one day change their last names.
My dear son, Adelza Glorana Imogene
Wickerly would not sound ill.,
"Whcww CALCULATED Waverly.
abe calm" said Mrs. Nickcry, more sol
emily than ever; Il, will not be long before
you know all
She arose and went 10 her desk, and drew
forth a roll Of paper, which she held in her
hand rs she re5eated herself.
when my friend and myself first met after
the birth OF our offspring" said Mrs Wicker,
", casting up her eyes, "our emotions over
powered us. We fell into each others arms
and could not speak but after we had passed
some moments thus, |, having the stronger
WILL found power to utter these words, at is
Gs we wished, Aramnta: yours is a boy, mine
4 girl"
Il girl" cried Naverly.
IL mean / said exactly the reverse" said
Mrs WicGerly, that mine was a boy, hers a
girl; there now. Aud you know It, you i'm.
pertinent boy"
81 understand now" said Waverly. 81 be.
gan to be afraid you had exchanged US"
All" said Mrs. Wickerly. mo, my dear
son. Do you not vet comprehend? We had
promised each other if our children were boy
and girl 10 be,roih them in infancy"
Wayerly only stared at his mother.
We kept our promise said Mrs. Wicker.
~. applying her handkerchief 10 her eyes.
We beirolhed You then and there This Is
the document to which our mutual signatures
are appended. Our husbands knew nothing
of the matter. Your poor papa was broker
and naturally not romantic. And Dr. Squilis
-ah, well, say nothing against DIR. Squills
but he was very cold. think medical men
generally are. And he was an old bachelor
OF forty when my sweet friend married him
IN her seventeenth year. She was year
younger than |, so that at your birth We were
girls in age, fresh, romantic, loving, iull Of
hope. thiLk, my dear, have shown you
my miniature taken at that time"
And Mrs. WickcTly glanced at her still
pretty face IN the glass over the mantlc.pece
MY dear mamma" said waverly, Il an
still kept In anxiety. Mrs. Squills died fv,
years ago, think, and then widow. Tn,
compact is then"
II hold It invioleie. The young lady lives
You have been belrothed 10 her. You are
gentlemen"
"Botheraiioni" cried Waverly "Nonsense
mamma I could not have suspected you o
such folly. What does IL matter 10 me whs
a couple OF silly young women did when
was a month or SO old, You can't legally
betrolb two people in infancy. You can
marry mrn against bis will. You surely
doDi expect the young lady 10 he willing Il