The Cheyenne daily leader. [volume] (Cheyenne, Wyo.) 1870-1884, 1883-12-23

LllA4lt dBo anu Lut OLutl gOhA6I S
scended TO the parlor, it was with a feeling
OF some trepidation, as she naturally con-
cluded that Mr.. Gordon entertained ideas re-
ciprocal to those of her father on the subject
Of a matrimonial alliance between the two
families, and had communicates them to his
son. Tho elder Mr.. Gordon was first pre-
sented, and Mollie found him anything but
an Indian In looks or manner. The son,
Johnnie" as his father persisted in calling
him, was a grave, dignihed young fellow,
and returned Mollie's rather formal and
somewhat distant greeting in an equally
ceremonious and remote manner. Their
conversation was not at first particularly
brilliant or interesting. In lieu Of a more
suggestive topic Mollie v~entured a few gem
eral remarks concerning the weather, but,
young Mr.. Gordon not appearing 70 take
the slightest interest In the existent meteoro-
logical conditions, she was speedily reduced
TO a state Of hopeless imbecility, so far as
conversation IVES concerned But presently
she revived somewhat, and essayed another
attack. Had Mr.. Gordon seen much of the
city, and how did it impress hint
Mr.. Gordon's observation OF the metropolis
It appeared had not been Of an extensive
character, and he was not, therefore, pre-
pared to commit himself as to its general ap-
pearance. He then venturcd the assertion
NNNe 1 Nc@
ocean.
Mollie at once admitted being on forms of
personal intimacy with tnat body of water.
and went on TO describe With a girlish enthu-
siasm the beautles of the Atlantic, telling
how its apparently limitless area always Inn
pressed her, and then dilaing on the grand
eur Of the scene when the vast billows driy-
en- by the mighty energy Of a gale, came
leaping shoreward with resistless force, their
foamcrowned submits showing whits and
haggard against the dull gray of a cloudridden
sky, while here and there a vessel tossing
helplessly in the caldron OF the tempest at
tracted attention and pity. She was getting
on famously when the young man suddenly
interjected q query as to whether mackerel
were not caught in the ocean.
Mollis replied that they certainly were-at
least she had so read in books. Personally,
however with a charming sniff through the
t~ip-tilted noSe), sho knew nothing at all of
the matter.
al like mackerel," said young Mr.. Gordon,
especially when they are served with baked
potatoes and toast" And having delivered
himself of this edifying astronomical senti-
ment he gazed abstractedly ut the toe Of his
boot and appeared to be enjoying a reverie
in which unlimited mackerel and countless
baked potatoes were constantly passing be-
fore his en~raptured vision.
There is some lovely needlework at the
art exposition" suddenly exclaimed Mollie,
she having performed in the mental ocean of
her thoughts the nautical operation known as
%''jibbing," which consists in inst~antaneously
altering your course without much regard to
how 1t is done
Young Mr.. Gordon recalled himself from
tho mystic dreamland OF mackerel and baked
potatoes and gazod at her intently. 81 ex-
poet likely" was his somewhat general re-
ply.
q have got an awful cute crazy quilt
continued Mouie. "Did you ever see a crazy
quilt, Mr.. GordonH'
Asolemn and prolonged shaking of the head
conveyed the information that the person
addressed was wholly ignorant of insane bed
clothes of any description.
For another hour Mollie bravely endeav-
ored to discover a subject concerning which
young Mr.. Gordon would consent to unlock
the ~foodgates of his mind, but without sue.
cess, and then gladly retired to her room.
HE isn't bad-looldug, papa" she said to
her father In an ante-breakfast chat the
next morning, the subject being young Mr..
Gordon, "but he is such a stupidi" And then
she related the mackerel episode.
But as the days went on Mollie found
young Mr.. Gordon to improve wonderfully
OAA oS4NhhLA1hS~s SHO OWL Luhb
he could talk fuently enough when occasion
required, and that in the line Of paying the
little courtesies to which all women attach
20 much Importance he was n veritable Bay
ard. They rode, walked, took long drives,
aud awaited themselves Of various other
amusements which u country life off 1rds
Insensibly they became very confidential
with each other, but it was tho
frank confidence Of friendship-at least Mol
lie thought SO, and never was mortal more
surprised han she when one evening, as they
sat together on the piazza young Mr.. Cor
don suddenly took her hand In his and asked
her to marry him. "You must have seen
how you ave grown into my heart, Mollief'
he said, very earnestly; and / am sure you
believe my owe one that will be true and
faithful"
But instead of receiving the answer he
had hoped for, young Gordon found the lit
tie hand suddenly withdrawn from his, and a
pair OF very snapp brown eyes looking at
him.
"I am obliged for the honor, Mr.. Gordon"
she said, but you can tell your father that /
wouldn't fall In with his plans and be disposed
of like a load of hay. You can tell your
father that" and Miss Mollie was gone, leav-
ing young Mr.. Gordon alone on the piazza,
very sore ut heart and very much mystiied.
81 am sorry tha you and Johnnie should
nave fallen out, :" said the elder Mr.. Gordon
to Mollie the following day, because we are
going away tomorrow, and it seems too bad
to have anything mar the pleasure of our
visit ! bad no idea the boy would fall in
love with you-thAt wasn't what ] brought
him east for"
at wasn'tT' queried Mollie, getting sus-
piciously white about the mouth.
'NVhy, no." continued the father, "why
should r.
"oh, Of oourse not incohercntly replied
Mollie, and Immediately bolted into the
hour, leaving Mr.. Gordon to enuuciate con
tidentially to himself the proposition that
girls were he'll when they got started
The noxt morning Mollie arose very early,
and was unusually occupied with various
household duties-so much SO that it was not
until tho time for departure arrived that
young Mr.. Gordon had n chance to speak to
her. He cnme into the parlor, whore she was
assiduously busting H spotless statue.
"Good-by, Mis- Henderson," be said, very
hlowly.
"G-o-o-d-b-y," was the reply In a somewhat
falsetto tone, and young Mr.. Gordon noticed
with surprise that Mollie did not even look
at him, but kept the buster going vigorously.
rs there anything l can do for you in the
westT' he said, going close to her.
moo"
Nothing at ALL Is there nothing you
wantP'
"Y-e-eAn
"Wha 10 itf'
81 want your she suddenly exclaimed. and
before young Mr.. Gordon had time to reflect
ON this extraordinary declaration he found q
very protty young lady sobbing violently In