The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1884-06-07
From Home CHINESE
THE PROPOSAL.

hL l. hOl OoAAs
There was great dinner party at the
Brandon Hall, which was to be followed
by ball the next night. Numerous
guests had arrived to share in these
festivities, and among these was very
pretty young girl named Florence
Molyneux. She found herself con.
signed to the care of good-looking
young man, whom Lady Brandon had
introduced to her as Capt. Chiches.
ter. When they had taken their places
at the dinner table, which glittered
with crystal and was tastefully decorat-
ed with wreaths of flowers, she vent
ured remark.
Glow pretty all this is! I never saw
anything like it before. The flowers
are laid in wreaths upon the table-cloth,
and 1 see some of my old country
friends, wild flowers and ferns. 1 am
afraid they must feel very awkward"
ooh, no." said Capt. Chichester,
smiling, ut is very pleasant to be add
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 very awkward
Have 1 done anything wrong?"
Not at ALL" laughed Capt. Chi
chester. Lady Brandon told me, so l
thought you would know how the
flowers felt
"But that is quite different. Flowers
can't do wrong, and besides they will all
be dead tomorrow; they will pay for
their pleasure"
81 am afraid you will find pleasure
and pain go hand in hand" said Capt.
Chichester, looking at her pretty,
blushing face.
what pain shall have to bear?" she
asked, everything is delightful; and
the ball tomorrow ] have never been
at a ball"
At this moment her next neighbor
awkwardly upset glass of champagne
into her lap. Florence uttered an ex-
clamation of dismay.
81 feel quite guilty" said Capt
Chichester; Il am a prophet of ill.
Here is trouble come already. Let me
help you. Is your dress quite spoilt %
ooh, thank you," cried Florence, at
is no matter. Yes, it does matter
though, for this is the dress 1 was to
wear tomorrow night"
But what will you do?"
well, | have an old black dress
not Learly as nice as this, but il must
do"
"But could you not put in piece?'
said Capt. Chichester What is the
stuff called-calico?
ooh No torla4o,, eo,J
laughing.
But if you spoke to Lady Brandon
she would get you some"
"Oh, nor besought Florence. 'Pray
say nothing about it."
Il must say You bear your pain he
roically," said Capt. Chichester; land
now | have the pain of telling you Lady
Brandon is bowling to you, and you
must go"
Florence ran up stairs and changed
her dress, making as little as she could
of her misfortune; but as soon as she
left the room she became the subject OF
discussion among the Other ladies, Miss
Jane Morris, a sourfaced, plain, and
not very young lady leading the attack
SO that is Miss Molyneux," she said
addressing Miss Brandon. "My deal
Ada, thought you said she was pretty
Why, she is not good looking, and she
is such firt and so very forwards
not she, Jane? If you only heard the
way she went on with Capt. Chichester
She never let him say word to me
Once he tried to, but she instantly up
set glass of wine into her lap, and
such 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 go and see what can do for her.
You need not bother yourself. De
pend upon it, that young lady can take
care of herself. She probably has {
piece of muslin in her box
oh, nonsense, janet You are toe
hard, said Ada and l think she is very
pretty; she has such lovely complex
Ion, and such penciled eyebrows"
Penclled indeed" said Miss Morris
black lead pencils! L wonder does
she know Capt, Chichester is engaged
to Lady Ida Leigh. If not, somebod,
Dug ut to tell her there is no use in hel
setting her cap at him."
Next day, on going to her room
fiorence to her surprise, found Ada's
maio ousily engaged in repairing he1
damaged dress. On being asked where
she had got the muslin, she said the
footman had found it on the hall table
and as 1t was addressed to Miss Molly
neux, he sent it up stairs.
Florence flew to thank Lady Brandon
out neither she nor Ada knew anything
about it.
@
she tired to pursue her inquiries. but
the gentleman turned off the converse
tion' Capt. Chichester having appar.
entity forgotten the accident.
Mary and Jane Morris exchanged
giances and smiles, and whispered;
told you so. just as if he cared
ABOUT her dressi You will see he will
NOT 60 near her tonight; 1 prophecy
-, MISS Morris prophecy was not full
nHeo' however, for Capt. Chichester
danced SO often with Florence. and paid
her SO much attention, that Miss Nor
MS thought it her duty to tell her next
morning that he was engaged to Lady
Ida Leigh, and that there was no nse
wasting her time trying to catch him
And, oh! if you had seen her faoa
my dear Adai she was as red "a q tnr'
key cock, and almost told me was
Impairment" ~
Meanwhile the days few by agreea-
to Florence. Captain Chichester was
always by her side, ever charming and
tender. She did not dare to analyze
her feelings, She was drifting down
rapid current, leading she knew not
where, but there was no escape. No
one spoke OF Lady Ida now. Every day