News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1884-12-18

| at dinner-time she threw on her bonnet
and tripped across the fields, to intercept
him, and bring him into allegiance
again by one of her captivating smiles.
Accordingly she hurried forward to
meet him, but, to her surprise, instead
of waiting for her to overtake him, Tim
walked leisurely and unconcernedly on.
and when at last she reached him, all
flushed and little ''spunky," he lifted
his hat, and said, in a very polite, but
COO ,one:
Good morning. Miss Mary"
Hiss Mary, indeed p echoed our
heroine, greatly surprised at this unex-
pected greeting, and Struggling her
plump shoulders; ''for how long have
we been such great strangers, Master
Tim ?''
ST believe you have broken our en-
gagement, so that is enough to make us
strangers, replied Tim, coolly.
s'Brcken the engagement! fiddle
sticks !" rejoined Mary, beginning to
get little alarmed at the cool, uncon-
cerned manner of her usually impetuous
lover, although she would not have
shown it for the world; "what are you
talking such nonsense as that for,
Tim ?"
"You told me so yourself, last night,
ma'am," responded Tim, composedly.
'Tve been thinking the matter over, an
don't know but what the plan would
suit me as well, after all. -
Had Tim spoken less coolly, or had
his voice faltered any, Miss Mary would
have turned and walked off. sure that
he would follow her before long; but
matters really appeared so alarming,
and Tim seemed so perfectly re-
signed to his lot, that she resolved to
stay and coax him into good humor
again.
"What plan do you mean ?" she
asked, somewhat family, pulling to
pieces a half-blown rose that she had
in her hand.
"Why, of our forgetting all about
each other, and taking up with some one
else," responded Tim, glibly; "I've been
thinking who to choose, an guess I'll
take Kate Somers; she's about the incest
girl know"
"But, Tim" began poor Mary.
"And she has quite a nice little sum
of money, too, in her own right" pur-
sued Tim, remorselessly, who now, that
he was fairly in for it, began to enjoy
paying his sweetheart back Sin her own
coin;" ''and she's pretty, has got an ex-
cellent temper, and would make a very
good wife. What do you think about
it, Miss Mary?'
II wish you Joy of her !" exclaimed
Mary, longing to get home to cry; and
she turned from him, determined to let
him go.
"Well, good-by." called Tim, cheer
fully, although his heart sank; "I'll
send you a piece of the wedding cake"
And he, too, turned, without looking
behind him, and walked on; but just
as he was about to despair of the sue
cess of his friends project, he heard a
light step behind him, and the next mo-
ment Mary appeared beside him.
Her pretty little eyes and nose looked
suspiciously red, and her voice trembled
a little as she said:
Chow soon will you have the we'd
ding, Tim p
"As soon as Kate is ready" replied
Tim: ''and that reminds me to ask you;
have you not got any other beau yet?"
yes" answered Mary, with an hys-
terical laugh, that with as much pro-
priety might have been styled sob.
"Would ye mind tellin' me?" pur-
sued Tim.
"Oh, Tim p cried Mary, as the last
spark of resolution deserted her; sits
you. Tim If you'll forgive me for
treating you SO badl" and she threw
herself impulsively into mis- arms and
sobbed and laughed alternately.
"Whist, Mary, darling, don't cry ?
cried Tim tenderly, as he drew her to-
ward him; "we'n make it all up if ye'll
promise something"
What is it?" asked Mary, wiping
her eyes with one hand while she held
tightly on to him with the other.
Name the day, darlint ?" and Tim
bent his beaming face and snatched a
kiss from the rosy cheek that was turned
so temptingly toward him.
you saucy fellow" cried Mary with
some of her old sprightliness, ''I'lI make
you wait for thatI I"
fThen I'll go straight off to Kate
Somers, by gracious r' returned Tim,
to disengage his hand.
"Indeed, you'll not p retorted Mary;
"beiore you shall go to that old thing,
Iii sny-whenever you like, Tim"
can that'n not be a long time
comm, cried Tim, rapturousIy; ''and
now, jewel, I'll see you home, an then
I'll 60 back to my work.
"But yoar dinner?" suggested Mary.
Here it is" and taking her in his
arms. he-but mercy If / should stop
to relate all that he said and did on that
joyous occasion, it would take up moro
time than have to spare at present.