The Brookhaven ledger. (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1875-1883, 1879-11-27

sovereignty. "I-I mean it ism YER
fine evening"
II "Yes," said Mr.. Ellerslie. feelinI
acutely that he had made donkey o
!, himself.
And then he went away, and didn'
}. see Fanny Glen again in tho who'll
evening probably because she was th'
e only person In the whole room that h
cared fig about seeing at all. But 81
unklnd is fate to love and lovers.
just as he was edging his way ont o
the place. in very dispirited and do
jected frame of mind, there was rusl
and futter. .andshe heard his own nam
called in all the notes of the human
gamut.
"What Is it?" he demanded vsguel.
staring around him..
You've drawn the big doll?" criet
little Sibyl Percy; dancing up to him
and laying in hir arms the huge waxeI
abominatIon With it's fossy yellow CURL
and imposing pink and white complex
ion; while somebody else brought th'
big trunk and little handbo1.
"It's just like travelling with wife,
said Sibyl mischeivously.
"But what the-al,em! what am t(
do with it?" asked our bewildered
hero. r.
Give it to somebody" said Silyl
inwsrdly hoping he would act promptly
on the suggestion, and bestow the
prize ON her.
"Any one would be delighted to Re :
ceive such present"
"Do You think he would?' asked Mr..
Ellerslie, vacantly. And then he went
away.
Great stupid fellow!' cried Sibyl,
sp,tefullv, and she stripped back to her
table"
"Inever saw such goose, said Laura
Darlington. who had three sisters OF
her own at home.
"But what am to do with it?" said
Mr. Elcrslie to himfelf. as he travers-
ed the wintry gloom of the midnight
streets.
ooh, have it! I'll give it to Fanny
Clen-snd she can make a Christmas
present OF it to her little black.eyed
cousin!'
And ho laid the doll, rejoicing. on q
sofa, and went to bed; sinking into
dreamlsnd Just about the time that
Fanny Glen was taking the hsir-pins
out OF her magnificent golden hair be-
fore the dressing bureau in her own
apartment. t."
"Why, Fanny. what alls you?" cried
Dora. her eldest sister. "You re cry
ing
"I'm so tired" guiltily confessed
poor Fanny.
And she wept herself to sleep, think
ing how foolish she had heen, and that
OF course Martyr Ellerslie didn't care
straw ahout her. Why should hee"
Mr.. ElIerslie ross the next morning
full OF his momentous resolve, and
made such toilet that the very land
lsdy's little boy, seeing him go out
with big doll, neatly encased in her
pasteboard box under his arm, elected,
profanely:
"On. my eye, what swell?"
The black eyed little cousin admitted
him. Yes, cousin Fanny Was at home
would he walk into the parlor?
| Aut~-..~. h~--. hef... h. had fairly
made mp his mind in what terms to be
stow his gift. found himself bowling TO
| y
room, surrounded by heads of cut
| flowers.
How do You do, Mr.. Elerslie?" said
Fanny. coloring and smiling. Il am
making bouquets, You see, for to-
night
"Exactly So" said Martyr, and then
he reflected how much more appropri>
ate remark he might have made, and
turned very red
| 'Pray sit down." said Fxnny.
IL the fact is. Miss Clen." said
J Mr. Ellerslie, plunging to sheer des-
peratiou into the midst Of his subject.
II have called-I hope you won't be
vcxed-you have only to say so if you
don't like it,"
Fanny dropped her sprid of hello
trope, and looked up in surprise.
81 know it isn't Of much conse
querca," went on Mr. Eilerslie, turn
ing the paste>board box round and
round in confusion. but If youth &C
cept tive known and esteemed you
go long, and"
The damask roses deepened on Fan
ny's fair face. 1t had come at last, then,
the proposal she had anticipated so
long; and anxiously.
~'Not of much consequence. Oh,
Mr.. Ellerslie!" she repeated reproaoh>
rnlly.
"Wonld yon care for i'll" he demand
ed, quite ohlivious, in the embarass-
ment Of the moment, that he hadn't
even pamed the gift.
"Care for ite" the tears sparkled into
Fanny's eyes. "When you know that
1 love you Martyh."
And she ran into the arms of our
astonished hero. ....5
When he went down the door steps
he was an engaged yonng man, how
and when he scarcely knew himself.
Aud. as fate wonld have it, the first
parsonage against whom he tumbled
was Guy Barnes.
"Hello' said Guy. "What's up?"
"Don't speak SO loud.' said Ellerslie,
passing his arm through that of his
friend. "She's engaged to be my
wife,"
"Who is? the divine Fanny, the fair>
est of her sex?'
"Of course, who else should it be?'
"But I thought you couldn't screw
your courage mp TO tho proposing
mark?"
II didn't propose.
Guy Barnes stared.
"You-d.dn' propose? Then how
could she have accepted you?"
''That's just what can't exactly
comprehend myself" said the puzzled
lover. "We are enRaged-that IL Ger.
tain-but I can't for the life of me
remember when or how proposed"
"But Of course You proposal" per-
sisted Guy. "People always do get
Titled furripd You kaow."
"Do they? Well. I suppose that was
the case with me. But l don't remem-
ber-"
"Oh. don't be such a ninnyl" said
Guy Barnes impatiently.
II wish I conld remember just wha-
l said. though" observed Mr.. Ellert
slie.
And even after he was duly married
he never could quite recall whether he
proposed or not. But as long as dear
little Fanny WAS all his own what did
it signify?