The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1883-04-20
HER ENGAGEMENT.


but do You really mean it. Mr. Lii
fori?"
Maysel Mayton was standing ia tn
illuminated archway of the autumn
woods. her bright braidS of hair pierce,
by one or two wandering SunbeamS
her dimpled child-facc framed in. as
were. by sprays of rcd-yeincd autumn
leaves. while her apron was full of TIN
glistening brown cheSlnutS which SIN
had picked up.
Harry Lilford leaned against the tai
smooth trunk of the birch-trce, an,
looking at her with Il lazy luxuriou
sense of artistic beauty entering int,
his mind rs he gazed
"Of course | mean il" said he.
But | am only twelve years old.
cried Maysel. ilinging back the sum,
tendrils of hair that hung over her fore
| head.
lyon are exactly twelve times a.
lovely rs any of the city bellies that con
grcsatc h-rcabuut>." said Mr.. Lllford
striving To conceal Il yawn. And i
they think | am engaged-don YOU
'ee?-there will be some probability %
their leaving of prosecuting me-
Well said Maysel. every dimpl,
coming shyly out on lip and cheek II,
she stood there.
Its 10 be Il compact -eh?" said Mr.
Lilford.
Maysel nodded her fair little head.
But" she questioned rather dubi
ously. where is the ringo'
| .rEL.. h,t
| 1.-The enga%ement-ring, Mr.. Lilford, y
explained Mayselreproachfully. Don
YOU know there's always a ring in th,
novels? and most generally its a dia
mond.
If you'r believe me-" said Mr.. Lii
ford lragically. Il never thought of TN,
ring. But here's little opal, that USED
10 be my mothers. hanging on my
| watch-chain. Won't that do?'
Maysel held out her brown finger
while he fitted il on.
"Ynu-you haven't kissed me vet -
she said. when this ceremony WAS com.
pletc. Lovers always kiss their fnt..
ceeS."
Mr.. Lilforl laughed.
Come" said he. this is getting seri
Gus. But here's the kiss bcforcthe resi-
of the chestnut party get here. And
mind. this is TO be II profound secret
between YOU and me-
Maysel ran back home with VAGUE
sensation of mysterious delight. and
thought how nice Mr.. Lilford looked al
the time she was munching her roasted
chcstnuts; and Mr. I.ilford himself
took advantage of the little joke to pro.
claim himself IN engaged man.
Nor is il an cXag@cration To say tina,
the young ladies were genuinely disap
pointed.
lit must be Il recent thing said
Kate Meek. tossing her head.
"Oh, quite recent, acknowledged
Mr.. Lilford.
"Love at first .igh,?" asked Mis-.
Stanley.
"N-nO, not exactly" said Lilford.
"In fact. may say that have admired
the young lady since her infancy"
What a delightful cnigman' said
Maud Claremont, looking anything but
delighted. but of course, Mr.. Lii
ford, you'll tell us her name?"
Il am pledged to secrecy said the
engaged man solemnly.
And when he left, i'm the late au-
tlImn. and forgot all about the wild
little woodland spritc who climbed
trees and pelted him with chestnuts,
wadcd with brown dimplcd feet in the
foamy waters of the glen torrent. and
conducted him so mysteriously to the
barn-chamber to show him her empty
birds nests, butterfly wings. and dia.
mond-bri@ht pebbles, how was he tC
know that she remembered the episode
under the yellow-lcavcd chestnut-trec
as a red-lctter day in her calendar?
He ought to write to me, said May
sci gloomily, as the weeks and months
glided by, and no epistle came.
II do hope he isn't going to turn out
false, like the wicked cavaliers i'm story.
| books"
And when Mr.. Lilford sent her huge
wax doll, with its complete outfit of ele'
gantly made dresses ut Christmas, May
sci flew into Il passion.
LAS If were baby" said she. "A
doll, indeed, and twelve years old in
| March, | wonder If he takes me for |;
child? Whoever heard of Il gentleman
sending Il doll to the young lady he was
engaged TOP
" MY dear Mayscl." said her mother
half-vexed, half amused, '.what nonsense
yon are talking!'
1--WE are engaged" said Maysel
"See the ring?'
And she s6yly pulled it out from the
bosom of her dress.
1T was only q joke" said Mrs
MaytOn.
ut was sober earnest" flashed on
Maysel.
my dear" said Mrs. Mayton
.haven't you heard? Mr.. LilfOrd is Il
be married to Miss Mary Huntington,
Mrs Hartley's niece, next month. The
cards are already out"
! "Whatr' cried Maysel. her. blue
eyes blazing, her rosy lips apart. ''TC
be married! and he engaged to me!''
And she rushed away into her cham
Der and hid herself for full two hours
to sob out the current of her childish
grief.
Mrs. Mayton smiled and sighed.
.WhO would think the child would
have attached SO much Importance to {
piece of nonsense like that?" said She
"Really, Pm afraid I've made mis-
take in allowing her to read so many
novels. But she was always an impet
uous little creature"
1t could not have been more thar
eight years subsequently that the COLI
sion occurred on the Grand Canal a
Venice, in which one of the gOndolas
capsizcd. and Il beautiful young Amer
lean lady. niece TO the United States
consul, received an involuntary duck
ing.
Perhaps the romantically-dresset
gondoliers were intoxicated; perhaps
Miss Delmar had, as they asserted
risen hastily to point out something ant
destroyed the balance OF the mould.
u 4