Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1878-11-29
JENNIE'S ENGAGEMENT.

"Mr. Colburn, I'll trouble you to
release my hand"
Nonsense, Jennie, listen to me /!
r.
Il won't listen to you p
eyes, you WILL" reioined the young
man, with superlative good humor,
"you are as anxious to hear what I
have to say as I am to say it. l love
you, Jennie, and I know that you love
me-"
81 don't love you Or-at least-I
have always had sort of sisterly af-
fection for you, Jim but
"Sisterly fddlesticksl I tell you
that I know better. Come, quit pout-
ing, and give me a kiss, little cherry
lips, and then you may set the happy
day. or, if you like, I'll set it myself,
and at very early date, l assure you. /"
Jennie Kingston gave a queer, ner-
vous little cough, blushed little, and
responded
"I'm very much surprised at you,
Jim."
"Now, Jennie, don't like to be i'm
polite, but, upon my honor, I can't
Delleve that.
"Mr. Colburn ~
Were you speaking to me, Jennie ?"
Yes, Jim, lone don't like to be
accused of misrepresentation"
"Then don't misrepresent. What's
the use, Jennie? I know, and you
know, that we've been in love with
each other ever since we played at
housekeeping under the old apple tree
away back in Maine fifteen years ago. "
Jennie sprang up, hastily, and catch
ing her jaunty little hat from the mossy
bank where it had been carelessly
tossed half an hour before, exclaimed :
Come, Jim, we must go back to the
hotel. 1t is getting late. Mamma will
be wondering at our prolonged alb
sence."
"I won't go STEP"
"Then I shall go alone"
"Not at all" laughed Jim, "you for
get that we reached this cliff by means
of the little sailboat. Now, even if you
were capable Of traversing that little
strip of the blue deep, unaided and
alone, don't you see I'd be left here for
the buzzards to pick?"
"Of course I couldn't manage the
boat" said Jennie, thoughtfully.
81 thought not"
Mr.. Oolburn, do you call this gen.
tlemanly treatmentP"
"Oh, I don't know" replied Jim,
"hadnt thought about it.
Jennie sat down again upon the broad,
fat rock, and drawing q feecy scarf
about her shoulders remarked stif1y:
"Since l am compelled to await your
pleasure, may as well take my ease
while doing So"
Jim glanced at the slight, bewitching
little figure, sitting so primly there,
gazing with fixed determination toward
the north pole, and half amused, half.
puzzled look changed the expression ol
his face for moment. Then the smiles
predominated, chasing away all signs oI
mystery, and throwing himself at full
length on the long grass at her feet he
exclaimed:
"Jennie, you dear, provoking little
tease what on earth do you want2 DID
you expect me to make clown of my
self by getting down on my knees anC
telling you I'd die for you, and all that
I'd do it, Jennie, in minute--any true
man would be willing to die for woman
he loved as love, if necessary-but, t.
be candid, I fancied you would not care
for any such extravagant protestations.
Jennie's little boot beat inpatient,
on the ground, but her lips were silent
Now Jim was certainly excusable fo
placing his own construction upon thi
strange reticence-at any rate he die
so, and a broadcloth coat.sleeve wount
itself lovingly around Jennie's slende
waist, and an audacioug mustache wa
close to the ripe, red lips, when he wa
pushed away, half angrily, with the ex
clamation
"Jim, wish you'd go away, an
leave me alone |"
"Hello |" cried the astonished youn
gentleman. Is it possible 2"
Then, in gentler tone.
"Why, Jennie, what's the matter ?
for she was crying little, very softly
behind the miniature lace pocket -hanC
kerchief.
"Jlm, let's 60 back home"