Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1883-02-23
DID HE PROPOSE!

lerslie, with a shudder. 1t was just
the seductive hour before the gasjets
are lighted and window-blinds turned
down-the delicious twilight when
CRATE fires shine like burning masses
of ruby, and people sitting beside
them grow strictly confidential. 1t
was showing a little outside; all the
better, for the click of the crystallized
pearl against the glass filled up the si-
lence, and made the cozy warmth of
the room luxuriously delightful. And
Martin Ellerslie's pleasant brown eyes,
fixed full on the fire, saw-no one can
tell what or how much they saw
"Suppose she should say no." he
burst out, seemingly apropos to moth,
ing at all.
"Suppose she shouldn't" observed
Guy Barnes, dryly.
81 tell you, old fellow, its just ex.
actly like having a tooth pulled out
Your friends stand by and say: B,
man; it's nothing It's not they
who are under the doctors forceps."
" Cnr, ,,l;rnanter., 2 r, n Nice I1lo., y
Nonsense You know what
mean. But really and truly, I've tried
and can't do it."
"Very well," said Barnes, indiffer-
emily; "then it is an understood thing
that you are to live and die an old
bachelor"
IL didn't say that"
"oh, beg pardon. You expect
Fanny is going to propose to you;
that's it.
"You are heartless miscreant," "
Ellerslie cried out, half laughing, half
impatient, as he sprang to his feet and
tossed heremnant of his cigar into the
fire, "and shall not waste any more
time upon you-unless indeed you &c
round to the fair with me-"
"Where Fanny Glen has stand ;
Not if l know itl The money market
is rather tight for me at present, and
these fancy fairs are no more than a
den of robbers where a defenseless
young man is concern ed"
And Martin Ellerslie went on his
way alone
The hall was glitter with gaslights
and fragrant with flowers when ht
got there. The pretty feminine
sparks each behind her well-lader
table. were all smiles and dimples
while the throng of victims ebbed and
flowed around them.
Mr.. ElleIslie found himself greeted
with acclamations.
"You will take share, Mr.. Ell
lerslieP"
"Do please put your name down
here, Mr.. Ellerslie; there are only ter
blanks left"
"Oh, Mr.. Ellerslie, you are the very
one we are waiting for l have KEEP
seven for you-seven always was
ucky number"
"Mr. Ellerslie don't, pray, spend all
your money until you have taken
share in this mammoth doll, with
trunk full of clothes"
And thus our hero was flung hithel
and Won on the waves of the fail, draw
ing nearer, however, with every sub
scription, to the table over which
shone the blue stars of Fanny Clen'i
eyes.
But when he got there he was smit
ten with sudden silence.
Fanny looked wonderingly up.
"It's a fine evening" he hazarded.
as itP" asked Fanny. "Why,
thought it was showing"
$50 it is" said our hero, growini
very red, and overturning with nj
elbow a crimson Venetian flask 10
which he Immediately had to pay.
i mean it isn't very fine evening.
"Ohp' said Fanny.
"Yes," said Martin, feeling acutei
that he had made donkey OF hin
self.
Then he went away, and didn't Sc
Fanny Glen again the whole evenin
probably because she was the onl
person in the whole room that he care
fig about seeing at all But SO III
kind is fate to lovers.
Just as he was edging his way ou
of the place, in very desperate an