The Red Cloud chief., 1882-09-08

mates In childhood. The year before
MoIIis went away % school Jack was
sent 70 . distant city 10 study law. and
they did not meet sgain for four years.
when. his studies over. Jack came home
70 spend . few weeks before beginning
life ~ q lawyer. MoIlie was home on
her annual vacation at the same time.
and they met. fell In love. and became
engaged with the sull consent and 40
prevail Of the elders. They were 10 be
married ~ soon a. Jack was well
established in business, but no "a
outside Of the two families was aware Of
the exis ing engagement.
sunday morning broke. clear and
lovely. and Mr.. Piper cautiously I'm.
closed his blinds and took . survey Of
his neighbor's premises. Every thing
was quiet as usual. so he said TO him.
self: Guess the young lady is % up
yet. or. perhaps. IL being Sunday. she
will be quiet Time enough for her
racket yet"
As he finished speaking afemaie form
appeared At the door, aud fair Miss Mol
lie stepped out upon the lawn. making
q charming picture as she stood shad-
ing her eyes with one hand from the
sum-. and drinking in the beauty Of the
summer morning. Mr.. Piper stood
spell bound before such loveliness. As
he gazed. his previously formed preju-
dice against his fair ncighbor vanished.
and he was only recalled to himself by
the appearance Of Miss Marcia calling
her niece TO breakfast
From that time Mr.. Piper knew NO
rest until he had called and been in
troduced TO Mollie. He called frequent
ly after that, aud the neighbors began
TO wonder ut the change in shy Mr..
Piper. After two or three visits astute
Mollie saw how the land lay, and re-
solved upon some fun To while away the
tedious weeks until Jack should come to
turn C~herryfield into ar earthly para
disc.
Although as desperately in love ~ old
bachelors are apt to be when they finally
do succumb to the charms of some fair
one. Mr.. Piper was SD bashful that he
hardly looked at Mollie. but spent his
time during his frequent calls in con-
versing with her aun This just suited
Mollie, and the miscellaneous girl set
about deluding her aunt into the belief
that Mr.. Piper was "courting' her.
Miss Marcia would not listen TO q word
on the subject at first. but as Mr.. Pipcr's
visits became more frequent as the days
went by. and Mollic never let an OPP
p%ortunity slip to sing his praises and
descant upon his apparent devotion 10
her. that lady was at last forced to be-
lieve that he really intended asking her
to become his wife.
Great was Mollic's amusement at the
many little attempts at personal adorn-
ment ON the part Of her aunt. Miss
Marcia was in her youth quite pretty.
and even now, at forty-five. few women
of her age could boast such thick glossy
hair. clear eyes and smooth skin. She
seemed to be growing young again.
June passed. and July was drawing
to a close. when Mr.. Piper was called
to the city on business. During his
absence Jack Morris came. and pro-
ceeded to spend much Of his time with
his fair betrothed. He was duly en-
lightened concerning Mr.. Piper, and.
together with Mollic. pictured with great
relish that gentleman's chagrin when
he learned Of their engagement.
After n weeks absence. Mr.. Piper re-
turned. and proved the truth Of the old
saying that :. absence makes the heart
grow fonder' by realizing himself more
desperately in love than before. He
arose the morning following his arrival
home. after spending a restless night
considering the case. fully determined
On asking Mollie to marry him, and
while in this frame of mind expressed
himself rs at the beginning of this story.
After breakfast. he toox q walk in his
garden. and seeing Mollie on the lawn
called out:
miss Mollie. please tell your aunt
that | am coming over. this afternoon,
TO see her on important business
Mollic delivered the message in such
a manner that Miss Marcia was con-
WINGED that the important moment had
arrived. and Mr.. Piper must be coming
10 propose.
At four that afternoon, rs Mollie lay
swinging lazily in the hammock, a per-
feet picture in white muslin and blue
ribbons. she heard the gate turn OF its
hinges. and. looking around. bcheld Mr..
Piper coming up the walk, his face very
red from the combined effects of the
heat and his nervousness. and q look of
desperation overspreading his features.
He returned her pleasant ''good-after-
noon" in a Hurried manner. and hast
cned into the parlor. where Miss Marcia.
in her best black silk, sat awaiting his
arrival.
Hardly had his portly form vanished
within the door before Jack Morris
came ~strolfing down the street. and.
ignoring the existence of the gate. took
his six feet of humanity over the low
white fence. and approached his divini-
ty, who by this time was in commissions
Of laughter.
..Alight | ask the cause Of YOUR hilari-
| ty. fair one?:" said he. 1T must be
something uncommonly rich to cause
such merriment on such . very hot day
rs this"
20 Jack" gasped Mollie, as soon rs
her mirth subsidized sufficiently to allow
of speech. MIR. Piper has just gone
into the house TO see auntie. and | am
almost sure that he intends asking her
for me. It's too funny. and yet 1 feel
u ittiC SuihN Nath u tiiiN " Il NV
persuaded her to believe that it is her.
self. and not me, in whom our venera-
| bic friend is interested. I wish | could
see the fun! l am DYING TO know what
he will say. STAY have it. Let's 60
around to the south window. where the
honeysuckle vine grows. and we can see
and hear without being discovered"
No sooner said than done. They
FASTENED TO the spot. and, ensconcing
themselves in the shadow Of the thickly
growing vines, found they had an excel
lent view of the room and its inmates.
and were in no danger Of being seen by
them. They arrived Just As Mr.. Piper
drew his chair to Aunt Marcia's side.
and said nervously:
"I-ah--called this afternoon-ah-
awful hot day. ma'am. to-ah-tos speak
10 YOU on . very important subject
You must know from my frequent WIS.,
its" continued he, gaining courage IS
he went along. "something of my feel
ings. and may be aware Of my inten-
tons"
Here Mr.. Piper paused. bat receiving
no reply. went on.
Ito tell YOU the truth. Miss Marcia.
/ am in love. and l came over this after
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