Charlotte messenger. [volume] (Charlotte, Mecklenburg Co., N.C.) 1882-18??, 1882-07-15

hazarded. W
"Oh, not in the leastl" responded his
companion.
And then followed an appalling 81
lence, broken at last by the vehement
accents of the young farmer.
"It amt no use my skirmishin' round
like this!" said ne. ''It's got to be
said, and the sooner . say it the better,
because it's a-chokin' of me all the
whilel Iiove you, Miss Fieldl I can't
live, nohow. without you'll There, it's
all out nowI'' "a ss5
"Oh,, Mr.. Pecki" faltered Miss Field.
"Do you s'pose," said honest Peter,
with dim remembrance of his grand
mothers lesson, "you could be happy
at Hawks FarmTi,
''Oh, Mr.. Peckl''
''But say yes or mol" pleaded Peter.
"Will you be my wife, Miss Field?'
and the word which foated upon
Peters ears, through the wells and
wraps which he was now valorously
huGsing close up to him, was ''YesI"
II never was so happy in all my life!"
said Peter. rapturously.
''Nor T." whispered the voice behind
the veil. ae.i, ,,s...
And then Peter took courage to kiss
her, and then Red Robin SHE'D at q
tree-stump, and then, all too soon, ap-
peared Squire Fields square, red house
behind the apple-trees. And Peter
helped his t0ncee out as tenderly as if
she were bar of solid gold and ne
miser. And up dashed Mr.. Hiram
Jellifer's vanished side box road wagon,
and turning around, Peter Peck saw
springing from it Jessie Field.
Was it withcraft9 Nothing of the
sort; for there, close to him, smiling and
blushing in the moonlight, with her
veil thrown aside, was Miss Betsey.
And it was Miss Betsey to whom he had
proposed, and Miss Betsey who had &C.
cepted him. ....-.
Peter Peck gave convulsive grasp
for breath. What was he to do? Should
ne tell Miss Betsey that it was all q
mistake-that he had taken her for her
niece or should he
But at that instant he caught aeet.
ing glimpse of Jessie's radiant face
turned up to Jellifer's, and it was like a
revelation to him.
"Hang it ALL" groaned Peter to him :.
self; "that other fellow has been ahead
of mel And don't care copper cent
she's only feather. headed little coquet,
after all, and Miss Betsey is worth two
of her, and amt so very young myself,
and there never was q Peck yet that
didn't stick by thing when once he'd
said it."
so, taking Miss Betsey's arm tender
ly under his own, he proceeded valiant
ly into the house to ask the squire's
consent and blessing.
As for Jessie, she fingered long under
the trees in the moonlight, talking with
Mr.. Jellifer; and when, at last, she came
up stairs to the room which aunt and
niece shared together, she looked earn
estly at her companion.
''Aunt Bess," said she. "what is the
matter? Why do You look so happy ?"
Because Mr.. Peck has asked me to
marry him." replied Aunt Bess. softly,
land have answered him yes"
SWELL, if that isn't strange!" cried
Jessie, squeezing and kissing her still
youthful aunt. "And have engaged
myself to Hiram Jellifer. Oh, Aunt
OOoot Whne o"OOt OAA6asS AoRRI "OAAA
this is I"
at is-it is I" answered Aunt Bess;
and then strange to say, they both cried.
Granny Peck was sitting up, by her
candle and fire, when at last Peter came
home.
"Well, Peter" said she, "what luck ?"
"lt's all right, grannYl' said Peter.
"I've asked her, and she has consented,
and I'm to bring her here in three
months"
Granny Peck looked doubtfully
around.
"Well," said she. "I'm glad you've
succeeded, Peter. But I'm q little
afeard all these home-spun things won't
be fine enough for Miss Jessie Field"
sJessie |" echoed Peter, with an ex-
cellent imitation Of surprise. at amt
Jessie at all. Jessie is going to marry
that Jellifer fellow. It's Miss Bessie
Field, the squirrels sister. as I've pro-
posed to-"
"Well, Inever |" said Granny Peck.
"How could / have been so mistook?"
"Tm sure don't know" said Peter,
stolidly. HELEN FoRREsr GRAVES.
An odd toilet, made for a lady in
Newport, is black and gold brocaded