The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1882-03-23


one stride to the darkest corner he
lifted up poor little white heap, and
saw Elsie's face wild and wet with
tears.
"Elsie, darling child, what is the
matter?"
"Oh, Robin, Robin dearl do take
care of me-" cried Elsie, hiding her
face in his breast. "Dou't let that
hateful man come tomorrow and tell
mamma that l like him. 1 never did;
1 hate him."
"What manP Don't cry SO, my pet.
Nobody shall tease you so long as am
alive. What man was it?'
"Oh, you know-the man who sent
me that ridiculous bouquet"
"Hary BlountP p
"No, no." cried Elsie. with q half
hysterical giggle. He did it too. But
soon made an end of him. 1t was the
other horrid creature-Mr. Forsythe,
you know. He declares he'll go to
mamma tomorrow, asd she'll be so
displeased with me. He'll tell her
said I would marry him, aud it's u
story. I never did, and 1 hate him and
his church and everything about it.
Oh, what shall doP"
"T'll settle that young man." replied
her cousin, cheerfully. "And I'll talk
to mamma. So don't fret any more,
little heart. So you had your wish to.
night, Elsie-four bouquets and an
Offer"
"Two," corrected Elsie, with q sob;
"that ridiculous Harry"
Cousin Robert laughed aloud.
"Oh, don't -piteously. 1T was
all so horrid But 1 am quite COM
Portable again, now that l have you to
take sare of me, Robin dear. There's
nobody like you. If L had only had hold
Of this good old coat sleeve all the even.
ing none of these unpleasant things
would have happened. Oh, Robin, do
devise some way so that l need never
go out of your sight again. hate being
q young lady. Offers, indeed AS if
any man in the world were worth your
Oh mammals little finger Can't you ar
range it so that I need never have an
other offer, Robin?"
Robert stopped suddenly and kissed
the little upturned face. "There is
this way, dariing," he said; "Ill make
you an offer myself, and if you say
Yes no one else ever shall"
care you in earnest? Do you really
mean that? Isn't it just because you
feel sorry for me? For really and truly
though 1 never thought of it before
this is inst the one thing in the world
I should like"
'"Do you really mean that, nv dar-
ling?' cried Robert, unable to believe
i'll his good fortune.
"Of course do. There never could
be any one in the world + pr me to care
for as do for you. 1t is Just perfect
Mamma and you and I, on ana on, az ii
has always been, only a thousand times
better"
Five minutes later and Mrs. Baird
appeared on the scene. "What is the
matter?' she exclaimed, in peremptory,
n9itated voice. "Elsie, how you look
Are you i'll p
" Sit down, Marian" said Robert,
holding out O warm, brothtrly hand,
but by no means unloosing the little
clasping arms of his newly IN treasure.
will tell You all about it. This
poor little thing has had q horrid time.
she never wants to go TO another bail.
nor to church either. She has had foui
bouquets and three offers; she has ac-
cepted them all, and now she doesn't
know what to do. So the long and
short of it is you will have to give hei
to me-"
Tableaul
HBut she is so young?' queried the
OnvIn110 tho HrGt Gh Onl.
over, the pros and cons began to troop
before her mind eye, much to ihe ad.
vantage OF the pros-"so very young,
and she has had no experience"
L" Oh, yes 1 have-terrible expert.
ences this very evening"" protested
Elsie; sand I never expect to feel young
again"
And with her mothers laugh the
compact may be said to have beer
sealed.