The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1879-04-17

lpected to provide their lady friends
with diamond rings"
ibid the fact that there is such a
thing as an engagement ring ever pre-
sent itself to your enlightened intel
lectp''
Engagement" repeats Dick, "did
understand You to say engagement?
Since when, pray, did you conclude
that your respected brother had given
his heart to another? know of no en-
gagement."
"Oh dearr' says Janet, signing mel
dramatically; shave I really been
mistaken And here l was already
congratulating myself on so soon hav-
ing sister-in-lawr'
"DO you remember the nursery
rhyme" asks Dick.
Can the love that you're 50 rich in
Build fire in the kitchen?
Or the . 1,stls god of love turn the Spit spit
l should hesitate, think, to ask any,
one to marry me, for fear of having
that couplet thrown in my face. Now
if that dear old great-uncle of ours had
only taken it into his aged head to
leave us few of his many thousands,
then perhaps might think of engage
ments and diamond rings and mothers
in-law; and you might begin to specu-
late on the comparative advantages of
my various lady friends as a sister-in-
law"
"Poor dear old manr' Janet con-
tinues, kindly. 81 can just remember
sitting on his knee and playing with
his long beard at the time he was on
from the West. It's really q shame,
Dick, our being so lively, and Uncle
Arthur, grandfather's own brother,
lying dead"
"Well, my dear, should be lying
alice if l said I was sorry he's gone;
for while there's death there's hope,
and who knows but he may have
thought of us? You know, Jean, 1
never saw the old boy, and it's not to
be expected shall be awfully cut up
over his shutting off this mortal coil;
but say. if you really feel sad about
| it, you'd better 60 into town immedi-
ately and buy a black alpaca dress and
long Grape veil.''
don't joke about it. l really do feel
badly. and Cousin Margaret and Harry
must be so grieved."
$50 they must" says Dick, appar-
emily acquiescing in his sisters views.
81 am sure we all do. Don't you think,
Jean, we had better bow the shutters
and hang out black bombazine?'
81 shall bow the shutters" adds
Janet, feeling rather angry at her broth
er's continued joking. cit is the least
we can do, and it shows some respect
for our grandfather's brother,'' rising
and leaving Dick still at the table.
"Our grandfather brotherv' re-
peats he; "what ali awfully near rela-
tive! Surely he must have bequeathed
something to his brothers grandchil-
dren."
Dick is in his study nova neat,
cozy little room back of the drawing
room, which is in reality the library,
but which Mr.. Roy, he being a literary
man, chooses to call his study. He is
sitting at his table, with Nell's letter
spread out before him, and is read
ing it for the fourth time. There is
nothing very remarkable about it; it is
not what one would style love-let-
ter, and yet Dick would not for all
the world have his sister get a glimpse
of it:
DEAR Dick: have been looking for YOU to
call, as you promised, and am much surprised at
told me. is about this time. Did you have a
party? and are you SO elated at having attained
your majority that you are above visiting your
pese oa s ane an fde te
me all about your presents.
Eyar fri Mr.
That is it; and in it Dick is trying to
find traces of something more than
friendship.
."Nell is an awfully jolly GIRL" he
says to himself, leaning back in his
chair and thrusting his hands into his
pockets; 'just as full of fun as ever
she can be. l wonder whether she
really does care any thing for me? Pm
not altogether a bad. looking fellow, if
l do say it myself, and fancy l can
talk as well as the most of 'em. Con-
found it all! How is one to tell wheth-
er girl cares more for him than for
another, when she persists in being jol-
ly with everyone?''
Then he sets to thinking of some
means to solve the problem. How
shall he prove her? Presently an idea
comes to him, first family, indistinct-
ly; then more plainly and more vivid
ly, until plan-an excellent plan, he
thinks-stands out before him in beau
tiful symmetry. Every thing seems to
have worked in favor of it, and he is
naturally joyous over his discovery.
Il Thought, devised. and Pallas heard my pray
en-"
His handsome face was radiant with
unbidden smiles, and his lips, unknow-
ingly puckered up, and giving vent to
his cheerfulness through the agency of
merry tune which he was wbistling.
He opens one of the drawers in his
writing-table and takes out a packet of
letters. Through them he searches
until he finds two that Janet wrote him
while he was away on his midsummer
vacation. These he spreads open
before him, and taking sheet of note
paper. he begins to write, now closely
studying his sisters letters, now slow
ly putting words upon the paper. Half
an hour and he has finished. He folds
the sheet, incloses it in an envelope,
and addresses it as carefully as he has
written it. Then he rises, and, un-
AVOAN6 viz >tOoAS AAOOUo y hIOU LII blC
hall. She sees him taking down his hat
to go out.
"Had you not better wear your
overcoat?" she asks. Pm afraid you
might take cold again"
"fm not going far" he answers;
"Only to post letter."
ITO Nell? she asks, teasingly.
Are you not rather prompt in an
swering your correspondence
Dick, making no reply, goes out,
while she, laughing to herself, hurrles
away to her numerous household du-
| ties.
The next morning is the LIST of April
l-All-foops Day, with its temptations
to practical jokes and its myriads of
little innocent lies, when everyone does
his best to make a fool of his dearest
friend as we'll as his direst foe. 1t is a
bright, sunny morning, that swells the