The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1884-12-18
THE PROPOSAL.

There was a great dinner party al
Brandon Hall, which was to be followed
by ball the next night. Numerous
guests had arrived to share in these fes-
tiyities, and among these was a very
pretty girl named Florence Molyneux.
She found herself consigned to the care
of a very good-looking young man.
whom Lady Brandon had introduced tc
her as Captain Chichester. When they
had taken their places at the dinner
table, which glittered with crystal and
was tastefully decorated with wreaths
of flowers, she ventured remark:
s.How pretty all this is! / never saw
anything like it before. The flowers
are laid in wreaths upon the table-cloth
and / see some of my old country
friends, wild flowers and ferns. l am
afraid they must feel very awkward. y
ooh, no." said Captain Chichester,
smiling, lit is very pleasant to be adj
mired and thought pretty. Do you not
find it SO? / believe this is your first
dinner party, is it not?''
'.How do you know?" inquired Flor
ence, anxiously. ''Am 1 very awkwards
Have done anything wrong?'
mot at ALL" laughed Captain Chi
chester. Lady Brandon told me, so ]
thought you would know how the flow.
"But that is quite different. Flowers
can't do wrong, and besides they will
be all dead tomorrow; they will pay for
their pleasure. y
Il am afraid you will find pleasure
and pain go hand in hand" said Cap
tain Chichester, looking at her pretty,
blushing face.
What pain shall / have to bearp''
she asked; everything is delightful;
and the ball tomorrow. / have never
been at ball. y At this moment her
next neighbor awkwardly upset a glass
ofohampagne into her lap. Florence
uttered an exclamation of dismay.
q feel quite guilty." said Captain
Chichester; 81 am prophet of i'll.
Here is trouble already; let me help
you. Is your dress quite spoiltP''
''Oh, thank your cried Florence; sit
is no matter. Yes. it does matter.
though, for this was the dress l was to
wear tomorrow night. ("
'.But what viii You do?''
NNAt3 hetNS fth OlQ QTeSS. MOI
nearly as nice as this, but it must do. y
But could You not put in pieee?''
said Captain Chichester. "What is the
stuff called calieo?''
''0h, no--tarlatan, said Florence,
laughing.
'sBut if you spoke to Lady Brandon,
she would get you some. ~
''Oh. nor besought Florence. s.Pray
say nothing about it
II must say you bear your pain hero
ically,' said Captain Chichester: aand
now | have the pain of telling yol,
Lady Brandon is bowling to you, and
you must go.'
Florence ran upstairs and changed
her dress, making as little as she could
OF her misfortune; but as soon as she
had left the room she became the SUBJ
Ject Of discussion among the other Ia
dies, Miss Jane Morris, a sour-faced,
plain, and not very attractive Young
lady leading the attack.
$50 that is Miss Molyneux,'' she said.
addressing Miss Brandon. 'sMy dear
Ada, | thought you said she was pretty?
Why, she is not good looking, and she
is such q flirt, and so very forwards
she not, Janeg If you only heard the
way she went on with Captain Chiches-
ter! Shenever let him say word to me.
Once he tried, but she Instantly upset
glass of wine into her lap, and such a
fuss as she made about it, / heard her
telling him she had no other dress to
wear at the ball. =
'.Oh, | am so sorry said Ada. 81
must 60 and see what can do for her. "
"You need not trouble yourself. De-
pend upon it, that young lady can take