The Penn's Grove record., 1884-08-30
THE PROPOSAL.

AhC1C Nho y AACoN IA RAAA Wv
Brandon Hall, which was to be followed
by a ball the next night. Numerous
guests had arrived to share In these fes-
ttvitles, and among these was a very
pretty young girl named Florence Mol
yneux. She found herself consigned
to the care of a very good looking
young man, whom Lady Brandon had
introduced to her as Captain Chichester.
When they had taken their places at
the dinner table, which glittered with
crystal and was t%astefully decorated
with wreaths of flowers, she ventured
q remark.
"How pretty all this isl 1 never saw
anything like it before. The flowers
are laid in wreaths upon the table cloth,
and l see some of my old country
friends, wild flowers and ferns. l am
afraid they must feel very awkward"
"Oh, no." said Captain Chichester,
smiling. ''It is very pleasant to be adj
mired and thought pretty. Do you
not find it SOP 1 believe this is your
first dinner party, is it not?"
"Hew do you know2" inquired Flor
ence. anxiously. "Am 1 very awk-
ward? Have 1 done anything wrong2"
"Not at ALL" laughed Captain Chi
chester, Lady Brandon told me, so /
thought you would know how the 1ow-
ers felt"
but that is quite different. Flow
ers can't do wrong, and besides they
will be all dead tomorrow. They will
all pay for their pleasure.
~ 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 l have to bear2'
she asked. Everything is delightful;
and the ball tomorrow I have @
been at a ball." At this moment her
next neighbor awkwardly upset a glass
Of champagne into her lap. Florence
ute red an exclamation of dismay.
az feel quite guilty." said Captain
Chichester; CT am a prophet Of Ill.
Here is trouble come already; lot me
help you Is your dress quite spoiltP"
"Oh, thank you'll" cried Florence;
SIT Ia no matter. Yes 1t does matter
though, for this was the dress I was to
wear tomorrow night"
But what will you doP"
swell, Ihave an old black dress, not
nearly as nice as this, but it must do"
"But could you not put In a piece?"
said Captain Chichester. What is the
stuff called-calicoS"
"Oh, no-tarlatan," said Florence
laughing.
"But If you spoke to Lady Brandon,
she would get you some"
sob, mol" besought Florence. "Pray
say nothing about it,"
81 must say you bear your pain hero
ioally, " said Captain Chichester, sand
10 l have the pain Of telling you
Lady Brandon is bowling to you, and
you must CO."
Florence an 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 sub
ject If discussion among the other la
dies, Miss Jane Morris, q sour-faced,
plain. INT not very young lady leading
the attack.
80 that is Miss Molyneux, ?" she said,
addressing Miss Brandon. "My dear
Ada, l thought you said she was pretty2
Why, she is not good looking, and she
is such h dirt, and so very Forwards
she not, Jane? If you only heard the
way she went on with Captain Chiches-
teri She never let him say a word to
me. Once he tried, but instantly up
set a glass of wine into her lap, and
such a fuss as she made about i'll !
heard her telling him she had no other
dress to wear at the bail"
'Oh, l am 81 sorry," said Ada, 81