Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1884-12-26

it as much for mammals sake as mine, re-
membering what she said to him that night
about her love for artistic things.
''Miss Ella Mellis. How much he writes
/ like Miss Slinglander, and how simple
and pretty this Christmas card is, with its
wealth of flowers surrounding the words,
! From Spencer Royal But those words
are not in the same handwriting. All!
see. some one else has written the address.
"You dear, darling little peasant grill
! wonder what you are carrying in your
} basket. Good gracious the cover flies up
when the handle is pulled and there's
something inside. A tiny velvet box, in
it the lovelest of rings and-a note, yes,
note to mel
J my DEAR ELLA-By this rural maiden /
! send you an offer of my heart and hand. II
may seem strange To YOU that have never
! spoken 10 you of my wish that You should be-
come my wife but the fact is, have been wait
ing until my financial affairs, somewhat disor-
| dered by my fathers sudden death, should be
brought into proper shape again. Now all
I =
| give me yourself for a Christmas gift shall be
most happy
Anxiously awaiting your reply, am
! "Yours faithfully,
SPENCER ROYALL.'
His wife-his wife! Mamma, mamms.
come here instantly. 1t is the merriest
! Christmas that ever was, and | am the
happiest Girl in the whole wide world !"
Spencer Royal stood before the CRATE
! fire in his smoking-room on Christmas
afternoon with wide opened eyes, half
! burned cigar in his mouth and dainty
notelet in his hand. by Jove! here's Il
20" said he in forcible if not elegant
! phraseology; 81 send an offer of marriage
10 Miss Eleanor Slinglander and receive
a note of acceptance from Miss Ella Mel
! lis. Pretty little thing. I've always been
| more or less spooney on her, but 1t seem
ed AS though Fate insisted upon my mar
rving the other one. Perhaps Fate has
changed it's mind at the last moment.
| Pom my word it's the strangest thing
that ever happened to me. must see II
can't find out something about IL. And
ringing his bell he asked the small boy
who answered his summons: Did you
take the box gave you this morning To
Miss Slinglander?''
Yes, sir"
''By Jove! the riddle of the Spinx was
nothing to this. You may 60"
"Yes, sir-but, sir"
"Well, go on-go on"
81 stopped n minute in the kitchen to
| give the cook message from my mother
the cooks my cousin Sarah Jane-and
Miss Slinglander's maid came down with
the box and says she, Miss Slinglander
wants this box took to Miss Ella Mellis.
She told me to git messenger boy says
she, but you'll do just as well and earn
| quarter What am | ~ say, says !.
with Miss Slinglander's compliments,
and says she, and | forgot to say, with
Miss Slinglander's compliments and said
Merry Christmas instead, cause I'd been
saying that ever since | got up and it
come handiest. But that couldn't have
made no difference of no consequence,
could it, ,ir?"
"Oh, no." with mild sarcasm, "not the
slightest"
"And Miss Slinglander's maid said, sir,
that Miss Slinglander was in Il orful tenn
per ut first cause you hadn't sent heI
something more valuable, but she'd got
over it and was a-making fun Of you with
Mr.. Raymond. And"
"Therc-thcrc-thaL will do-clear out.
The riddle is read. | see it all plainly
now. Eleanor never thought, being in
tearing rage OH account of the apparent
smallneSs of my gift, OF lifting the cover
Of the basket, but dispatched the bronze
at once TO her seamstress, forgetting in
her Indignation to detach my card. Tom
forgcts to deliver the compliments which
she sends with it, and as matter Of
course, Ella Mellis thinks the figure came
straight from me. She does not look upon
it with contempt, and uncOyering her
= 81
OF marriage seemingly addressed to her
self, her name being the same rs Eioanor's
diminutve. She replies to it in the
sweetest aud most artlcss little note | ever
received. By Jovel I'll accept the sit
uation. begin to find myself very much
in love with her, and Miss SlingIauder
may continue to laugh with Jack Ray
mond."
Christmas evening at the home Of Mrs.
Melis
Ella-"lIOw happy | am. never
dreamed you loved me. thought that
you had entirely forgotten that we had
ever been friends. Imagine my surprise
when | found your letter ia the peasant
girls basket. What a cunning way 10
send it,"
Spencer-"Yes; | fatter myself it was
rather cunning. But, darling, don't say
a word about it to a soul. TO tell Of il
would break the charm"
EIa-"Not for the world If you don't
wish it, dear, not even to Miss SIinglan-
der"
Something About Cremation.
There are several processes used for
cremation. The Siemen's furnace, which
4. n.