Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1883-01-18

spinster's mercy before made the avowal
of nv love to Ethel.
L. found Lesbia alone one day. So
took the little KEY from nv waistcoat
pocket and handed it to her.
land what is this for. Robert?' she
asked gravely.
In a shamed faced manner / said:
IL can't marry you'll love Ethel.
oh. Robert-Robert. said Miss
Crofton. putting her handkerchief to her
ewes: what can | say to YOU? Only a
months ago I was Indispensable to your
future happiness, and yet you forsake me
for the first Young face you see:' and she
appeared to sob bitterly.
...It was the china expostulated.
IL see. and now you think YOU think
YOU can have Ethel and the china too, and
prefer young bride and old china to an
old bride and old china. Faithless man y
II lost nv temper utterly. and l am
sorry to say nv politeness followed it.
...Hang the china. cried give me
Ethel. and she can smash it all if she likes.
don't care
Women, believe. under such circum-
stances As these, like TO hear man swear.
II shows be il in earnest Anyway, my
depo-ed bride leaned back in her chair.
and laughed so heartily that knew mat
tiers would soon be arranged to my salts
faction In great delight caught her in
nv arms and for once gave her a kiss OF
real affection.
did you think was going to let you
marry me for the sake Of few cups and
.aucers o. she cried; Il am not such q
stupid old woman as that. But, in truth,
Robert. have grown very fond of you, so
if Ethel will have you, take her. But only
on conditions
Name them. dear Miss Croftono'
exclaimed; 'anythng-everything you
wish
''You must prove the earnestness OF
your love for my darling girl, and the re-
covery from your insanity. by sending me
Your Chelsea as a present. | shall then
give the whole set to the South kensing-
ton or Jermyn-street Museum
Il mustn't tell YOU all about our love-
making or Mrs. IIeadley would never
forgive me; but Ethel and | arranged
matters very quickly, and upon my return
home that evening | opened my cabinet.
and almost without pang packed my two
cups and saucers, teapot and sugar-basin
in cotton wool, and the next morning
forwarded them to Miss CroftOn. You have
seen Ethel, and dare say you think did
not make bad exchange
Il should think not | said. But
how comes the set to be in your cabinet
now ?'
The old lady kept me in great sus-
pense all the time Ethel and were en-
gagged. and, although / hid my feelings,
began soon to think that it would be very
nice to have Ethel and the china, but |
dared not hint such thing to Miss Crofton.
who, moreover. leased me dreadfully by
praising in Ethel's presence my generOsi-
" in making her SO beautiful present.
While on our honeymoon thought no
more of tin fact, gave it up for lost !;
and you may guess my JOY when we re-
turned to town to see in my room q
strange cabinet. with the set as you see it
now. So got "A good wife and completed
the service a. we'll"
just then the door opened and voice
said, with assumed petulance:
Are you gentlemen never comingP
Aunt Lesba is up stairs. Robert, and
wishes to see You before her carriage
feches her.
Let US go up, Burke said Headley.
IA we finished the last OF the claret land
if You want any more particulars OF my
Chelsea mania. Miss Crotten will give
them to YOU. Al the Year Round.