The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1882-01-20
NUMBER 80.

You will forgive my audacity % be
murmuIed. moving his chaif~a tTifie nearer.
"Of course, - responded Miss Pipely.
CIV ell, then,.' said Mr.. Hedger, plunging
headlong into the subject "will you sell me
that old mahogany dragons head chair Of
yours for my collection of antiquities? lam
told it has a record for a century and half,
and 1 have long been anxious to possess it.
Expense will be no object to me, as my chief
pleasure lies in accumulating these valuable
objects of vertu.'
Miss Pamela turned red and white-the
folds of the apron fell from her hands.
Figuratively speaking, she froze over at
once.
81 prefer to drive no bargain for any fam
lily relic" said she, stiniy.
'But-"
81 am sorry to disappoint you, but it is
really quite out Of the question" said Pa
meia
'Might I continue to hope"
"You may continue to hope nothing" -" Sc
verely spoke the lady
And Mr.. Hedger, beginning vaguely to
suspect that something was wrong, stumbled
awkwardly out of the room, while Pamela
put her head down in her hands and began
to cry a little.
'T thought he was going to propose, % said
she. "And ! did like him-and was lust
going to say yes. And TO think that he only
wanted that horrid old dragon head chair.
after ALL
In the woodward outside Mr.. Hedger en-
eountered Squire Samuel Pipely, who was
splitting wood Ike good-natured Goliath.
''Oh :" said the Squire "Pears to me
you made short stay, Hedger"
Il don't think your sister was pleased, q"
said Mr.. Hedger.
The Squire suspended his axe in mid-air.
''NOt pleased - said he. "Whv. what on
earth did you say to her2'
81 only asked if she would be willing TO
sell me the old clawIegged mahogony chair
for my collection Of antiques"
"And she said no.
''She said no, most emphatically."
The Squire struck his axe into the log
scratched his nose and chuckled.
''Ah % said he. "WeI, it ain her fault.
she couldn't say yes"
Couldn't say yes 90 echoed Hedcer.
''My Grandfather Pipely was queer old
soul, said Squire Sam. "He left that
chair to Pamela, you know"
$50 have understood, - said Mr. Hedrer.
''She never was to part with it unless she
married, - added the Squire.
UNLESS she married? 90 repeated Mr.. He'd
gel, vaguely.
But in that case, 20 said Squire Sam. seiz-
ing his axe again, sit was to become the
joint property Of herself and her husband. -
ger.
Second thoughts are sometimes best
thoughts - said the Squire, splitting away
as for dear life.
I've always admired her." said Hedger.
"and I believe III go back"
just as you please, remarked Squire
Sam.
Miss Pamela Pipely was sitting all alone
by the fire, with a light flush on her cheek
and moisture on her eyeglasses, while her
knitting Law unheeded in her lap. She start
ed at his re-entrance.
Miss Pipely-" said the bachelor.
'Sir - she cried brushing away the dew
from the lasbes, which curled so prettiIy at
their end, and trying to look unconcerned.
''If you won't give the old chair, said Mr.
Hedger, "win you give me yourseIT?''
Il don't know what you mean ?'' said
Miss Pamela.
Don't you ?" said Mr.. Hedger.
And then ne sat down beside Miss Pamela.
and explained himself
Il never heard of such a thing in nv
life - cried she hysterically
"But don't you think it would be a capital
idea - urged Mr. Hedrer
o-yes-perhaps !" said the lady.
''YOum think of it?'' said he.
Yes, III think of il, said she.
And so they became engaged, and Mr..
Hedger added to his social status and his
collection Of antiques at the same time
And they are just as happy as if it had been
a case of love at first sight.