The Osceola times., 1880-01-17
ENGAGED IN FIN.

w nv, DAISY! W nat can lN tne mat
ter? Actually cryingl
Astonishment and a tender pity, al
most womanly, were ON Eric Mostyn's
- we, good face, and IN his voice, as,
stepping through the open French win
dow of the little Swiss cottage, he saw
his pretty little cousin, leaning her head
against the gay, soft pillow, in most
disconsolate attitude, and unmis,akable
sobs shaking her pretty white-robed
figure.
"Oh, Eric, am heurt-broken"
And down went the bonnie fair head
again, and the piteous sobs convulsed her
afresE.
A look of dismay was in Mr.. Mostyn's
face, and il deepened into the ineiiable
tenderness as he drew low bamboo
chair beside the lounge, and gently ca
ressed the beautiful hair, that was all
aglow in its lovelincss of shade and tex
turc.
"Oh, no, my dear little rousin; not
heart broken. Ileartsick and sore very
naturally, because Lumley Warner has
had the bad taste to flirt with Miss Oar
rell inste al of doing his duty with his
little sweetheart-sorry and hurt. per
haps, but not beart-broken. Hearts do
not break so easily, dear"
Daisy lifted her head again, with a
quick, wondering look.
"You don't know anything about II,
Eric. You are good and kind as ever
you can be, but you don't know what
mean, because you never loved anybody,
Eric"
Her lips luiyered and she looked at
him through a mist of tears.
lie smiled yravely. Daisy could never
have told all that slow, patient, tender
smile hid.
"You are mistaken, little cousin; !
comfort You from personal experience.
Hearts do not break, else mine would
have broken long ago, when the only
one ever loved showed her decided
preference for another"
A quick little exclamation answered
him, and surprised, tender half
. smile curved her lips, that were trem-
, bling with the weight Of her own sore
trouble.
"Oh, cousin Eric. is i, possible YOU
, ever cared SO much for anybody? How
, could she have preferred anybody to
, you? Oh, | am so sorry! can sympa-
, thize with all my heart, bccause-be'
cause" her voice faltered and broke
, completely down in tempest of an
gushful sobs-"I was sure--so sure
, that he loved me better than all the
world!'
, Somehow her distress hurt him-this
T dear little cousin of his, who all her life
! had gone TO him with her troubles, and
! looked to him for counsel, and who
when she had one day confessed to him
. her sweet face all shy and atiush, that
handsome Lumley Wi3ner had told hei
he loved her and they were engaged
that he hoped she would be very happy
, although he was fearful that Warner had
, won a very precious prize, whose value
he doubted her lover rightly apprcclat'
, ed: and he had been watching the time
and it was just six months now-a.d
: here his little cousin declared she was
heart-hroken because handsome Lumley
: had certainly acted very reprehensibly
and was surely flirting with Miss Oar
rell, a. no engaged man had any business
, to do.
, "And don't know what to do about
IT," Daisy said piteously. twisting her
, diamond engagement ring-mocklng to-
ken,-on her finger. "What must do
Eric?"
He bent steady look down into her
, innocent, woful eyes,
q there is but one thing to DO: overlook
his detection, and install him in favor
when he chooses to cease his truant wan
> dering. Who loves much, forgive'
+ much they say"
A sudden little hot flush flew into hel
Q cheeks
"Iou mean am to Just sit down and
wait until Lumley gets ready 10 come
I. back?'
"That il all you can do, isn't it, since
, you"
: She Strengthened up from her halt de-
, jected attitude, and her brown eyes
, sparkling. >,
. "But, Eric, much as wish he would
, come back. and truely as | love him,
never, never will do that! I will take
some other means. l will punish him
and piuue him coming back. Eric, why
couldn't play the same game a. Lumley
Is playing? can-I cam and he viii
come right back to me, and he will think
I / don't care, and we will make ii mp and
4 be happier than ever"
She was smiling through the tears on
; her dark lashes, and Enc Mostyr
: thought what villain, what a scoundrel
, what a fool the man was 10 act az
I Warner was acting.
T "Well Daisy. and how are you gong lt
I do it?'
4 "Don't you see? Eric, will take of
, Lumleys ring and put il on one Of your
e this one; and you must let me be en-
= gagged to you. You will, won't you
] And wen flirt-oh, awfully, Cousin Eric
!. and every body shall know it; and ther
! don't you see2 Lumley will be sorry
! and, oh, i'm end inst like a NICE faiiy
story"
' Mr.. Mostyn had suddenly got up Il
n close the window-the breeze was blow
e ing so keenly-and when he came bacl
there was no trace in his face of thu
9 deathly white agitation he had spruni
: up to hide from her.
e Engaged TO me- is it, ma petitef Well
| it promises very pleasantly for awhile
e | assure you ! will make most devote.
: cavalier. But only think, what viii
/ become of me when ! am no longe
: wantedp'
u lie laughed as he took cameo-and
y pearl ring of his watch and cham an'
slipped it on Daisey's finger with a grea
show OF ceremony, just touching the fai
n band to his lips before he returned 1t Il
Is her.
y "Oh, Lumley and l will love you s.
e forever, and ever, Erici You are -
d kind and no good! DO you know" AM
she looked at him with lovely wondering