The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1867-188?, 1884-05-21
I. He is very old and ugly"

handsome husbands are as plentiful rs
but dear, cross-grsincd,
snuffy old darling! And one need new
or be jealous Of him.
"Mr. Dempsey goes long way to-
ward fulfilling your requirements"
'Yes; but | shall be obliged to refuse
him."
"Whyp"
Because / have promised myseit to
you. -Heigh-ho."
"Why do you sigh, Miss Deenepr
"Can't one sigh, without being called
upon for an explanationP''
II thought that perhaps you were
signing because you had lost the chance
of marrying Mr.. Dempsey"
"You are great goose, and you
thought nothing Of the kind. Besides,
Mr.. Clever, If I wanted to marry Mr..
Dempsey, what is there to hinder mo
from jilting youP"
Nothing"
Then behave yourself property
see Mr.. Dempsey coming this way. U
dear! what shall / say to him?"
Frank sprang to his feet $50 long
as am here, the old gentlemen will
hardly venture on his confession"
"But don't want you here; | want
you to go away"
"You do, do youP" said Frank, open
ing wide his eyes.
"Of course do. / shall probably
never have another offer Of marriage as
long as / live"
''And you do not want to miss this
oneP'
"N course don't. What girl wouldp"
'Tn that case will say Gu reooir."
"You will not be long awayPn ~.
..Not more than half an hour"
'fNot so long as that! l shall put Mr..
Dempsey out OF his misery very quick
ly." lN gks IN III
Frank laughed and nodded. and dis
appeared behind o clump Of trees.
Elma resumed her seat and embroidery.
Mr.. Dempsey, picking his way care
fully, and wearing bis hat little more
on one side than usual, came slowly
forward. His eyesight was defective,
and he had not seen Frobisher. He
took of his hat with an elaborate flour
ish. Elma looked up with heightened
color, but with a mischievous smile
playing round her lips.
IL am fortunate in finding you alone,
Miss Deene," said the elderly beau. with
q smirk.
"Why fortunate, Mr.. Dempsey"
because l have something to say to
you that concerns ourselves alone"
"a secret! that will be delightful. Go
"Miss Deene, / am plain man"
''Hum --well-you ought to know
best, perhaps"
"a plain-spoken man, Miss Deene. l
cannot indulge in any of those senti-
mental rhapsodies, proper enough at
twenty, dare say, but which are slight
ly ridiculous at --hum--at fifty. must
come TO the point at once. | respect
you'll admire you'll love you, IL you
will allow me TO say so; and | nm here
to ask you to become my wife,
10 Mr.. Dempsey!"
II am not poor man. A liberal
allowance would be yours. You would
have handsome settlement, diamonds,
your own carriage, every comfort, in
fact. Such an offer is not TO be had
every day. What say you. Miss Deene,
what say youp"
II say with you, Mr. Dempsey, that
such AN offer is not to be had every day.
Were q leopard, or an owl, or a bear,
/ would say Yes TO it; but being only a
woman, must say No."
~ should do my best to make you
Il do not doubt that, as you do your
best to make your birds and animals
happy; you keep them warm, and you
feed them well, but-you shut them up
in cages. Now. l don't want to be shut
up in a cage, even though it were a
gilded one. "
"You are frankness itself, Miss
Deene; but l hope am not TO take this
decision as final oneP"
~ certainly wish you to look upon II
as SUCH"
"Well, well. l ought to have been
in the field couple Of years ago. Young
ladies Of twenty nowadays can generally
plead the excuse Of prior attach
ment."
"a prior attachment, Mr.. Dempsey
Why, | had been the victim Of half-a-
dozen prior attachments before l was
sixteen"
"Ehr'
"When was six years old, there wa
a little boy with curly hair whom ab
solutely adored. He wore red shoes
and think that was the reason why
loved him. He must be grown up by
this time. wonder whether he wear
red shoes now. Then, when / was a
school, thought my dancng-mastel
the most delightful Of mer. he wa
a Frenchman, and very bald, and oh
SO fat; but loved him. He spoke tn,
most charming broken English, and
fancy that was the reason why | was 81
fond OF him. These are touching rem
iniscences, Mr.. Dempsey"
ITO you, doubtless, Miss Deene," an
swered the old beau stiilly al leave
you sadder, II not wiser man."
"And l have been doing my bes. Il
amuse you! 0 dear"
"Is there absolutely no hope"
absolutely none"
Mr.. Dempsey lifted his hat ant
bowed tremendously. Miss Deene ros,
and dropped an elaborate courtesy.
Mr.. Dempsey turned TO go, but ha'
not proceeded half-a-dozen yards befor'