The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1881-06-02

Indeed. you shall not-you shall
wear this
"But what will he say.?"
i don't care ! said, reddeuins
Il will wear my black silk; il is mncl
more suitable"
Perhaps it was, but IT was not half q
agreeable, especially when Arthur, VIII
manifested no consciousness. of tn
change, devoted himself 10 Gabrielle
WHO'D had meyer seen looking so beau
tifui.
Army old morosencss returned upoI
me- snapped at every one; I was 81
cross that, on looking in the glass,
found that was perfectly ugly. Their
grew ashamed of myself 10 think tina
l had not magnanimity To sacrifice my
self cheerfully, since had chosen To dc
SO at all l made q great effort, ant
| went over to entertain Miss MumpS
who was sitting neglected in the corner
| The poor woman was so grateful fol-
my attention, that felt happy in spite
| of myself, aud when Arthur, who had
been watching me closely, came at last
and asked me to promenade, l accepted
with beaming face.
THE black silk did doduty, after all, y
he said, looking at my dress.
Yes, your philosophy was SO conyinc,
.nS, iePuos oiusnihS III Spttc vi my
you are good, generous girl,'' he
replied, with some emotion. you have
fought the good fight manfully, and you
have gained it."
"Now, with those words ringing in
my ears, was happy for the coming
week. Then came the message for me
from the old home.
"My aunts wished to see me on I'M
portant businessr'
In some trepidation / arrayed myself
in the black silk and went up. They
were all in the grand drawing-room.
Aunt Clementina in the brocade; Aunt
SeraphiHa waving to and fro a huge fam
lily fan, only produced ON stale occasions,
Arthur, the only one embarrassed, who
received me with n warm pressure of the
hand and the look that had seen once
before.
"Niece, be seated" said my aunt
Clementina, with dignity. 'Now, Sera-
phina."
ave have sent for yon," SAID my aunt,
with her most frigid air, "because on oc-
casiOns like this il has been the custom
from time immemorial 10 assemble all
the members of our family and submit
TO them such a proposal as was made 10
me this morning. l allude Ia Il PROPOSE
tion made by your cousin. Arthur
Jocelyn, for the hand Of"
She paused. My heart beat so rapid
ly that l thought he would hear ii.
"One of my nieces," continued my
aunt, (which he was not pleased to
specify, thinking. doubtless, that
would at once understand AS an un-
married woman, do not think it would
be consistent with delicacy to pretend to
any ability 10 recognize the symptoms of
what is called the tender passions. |
Nevertheless, / have my own ideas |
But as there are two of you, / judged it |
no more than right to send for you both, |
that this doubt may be satisfactorily |
settled. Mr.. JOcelyn, will you be kind |
enough to inform me Ia which of my |
two nieces you refcry"
Arthur was crimson with mortified |
ton.
burst into loud laugh.
AUNT, hadn't you better ask us pri-
him?''
Quick as thought, he had me by the
hand.
"You little audacious elf! / shall
take you for fear If left 10 yourself you
will do something yet and disgrace us
all-mary tailor, perhaps.
My aunt had sat motiOnlcss from sur
prise, being fully persuaded that he
loved Gabrielle. Aunt Scraphina re-
covered first.
"Niece, l congratulate you, and trust
that Mr.. Jocelyn will be able To accom-
plish what our poor endeavors have
failed to do, make you worthy of the
name"
My husband assures me that he has
been trying to fulfill Aunt Seraphina's /
request for the last twelve years.