McCook weekly tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 188?-1886, 1884-12-25

tnat nave never spoken to you OF my
wish that you should become my wife,
but the fact is, l have been waiting until
my financial affairs, somewhat disor-
dered by my fathers sudden death,
should be brought into proper shape
again. Now seems all clear ahead, and
If you will consent to give me yourself
for Christmas gift L shall be most
happy.
"'Anxiously awaiting your reply, 1
am :" Yours faithfully,
50 SPENCER ROYALL.'
''His wife-his wife! Mamma, man.
ma, come here instantly. 1t is the
merriest Christmas that ever was, and |
am the happiest girl in the whole wide
worldr'
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 a
dainty notelet. '.By Jove, here's CO."
said he in forcible if not elegant phrase
olOgy: Il send an offer of marriage to
Miss Eleanor Slingslander, and receive
a note of acceptance from Miss Ella
Mellis. Pretty little thing. I've al
ways been more or less spooney on her,
but it seems as though Fate insisted |
upon my marrying the other. Perhaps
Fate has changed its mind at the last
moment. Pom my word, it's the |
strangest thing that ever happened to
me. | must see if | can't find out |
something about it." And ringing his
bell, he asked the small boy who ans
wered his summons: ''Did you take
that box | gave you this morning to
Miss Slingslander?''
Eyes SIR"
''By Jove! the riddle of the sphinx
was nothing to this. You may 60"
Eyes, sir-but, sir
''Well, 90 On-gO on!'
81 stopped a minute in the kitchen to
give the cook a message from my
cooks nv cousin Sarah
Jane-and Miss Slingslander's maid
came down with the box, and says she.
Miss Slingslander wants this box took
to Miss Ella Mellis. She told me to
git messenger-boy,' says she, but
you'll do just as we and earn quar-
ter. what am to say? says |. with
Miss Slingslanders compliments says
she. and [ forgot to say with Miss
compliments, and said
Merry Christmas instead, cause I'd
been saying that ever since | got up,
and it come the handiest. But that
coulGn' have made no difference of no
could it, STRIP
"Oh! no." with mild sarcasm, mot
the slightest,
"And Miss Slingslander's maid said
fhat Mics Gin |
orful temper at first cause you hadn't
sent her something more valuable, but
she'd got over it, and was a-making fun
Of you with Mr.. Raynor. AMI
''There-there-that will do-clear
out. The riddle is read. l see it all
plainly now. Eleanor never thought,
being in tearing rage on account of
he apparent smallness of my gift,
If lifting the cover of the basket, but
dispatched the bronze at once to her
eamstress, forgetting in her indigna-
ion to detatch my card. Tom forgets
o deliver the compliments which she
ends with it, and as a matter of &C urse.
ella Mellis thinks the figure came
traight from me. She does not
ook upon it with contempt, and I'M
overing the peasant girls basket finds !
here a proposal of marriage seemingly
ddressed to herself, her name being ..
he same as Eleanor's dimunitive. She
eplies to it in the sweetest and most
rtless little note that / ever received. ,
By Jove! I'll accept the situation. !!
egin to find myself very much in love &
18th her, and Miss Slingslander may 1
ontinue to laugh with Jack Ray nor 1
Christmas evening at the home of y
Irs. Mellis. .
Ella-''How happy 1 am. 1 never y
reamed that you loved me. l thought =
Oh had entirely forgotten that we had Y
yer been friends. Imagine my surprise ?
hen found your letter in the peasant y
rl's basket. What cunning way to (
md it" d
Spencer fatter myself it was Il
lther cunning. But, darling, don't u u
'eathe a word about it to a soul. To "
ii of it would break the charm"
Ella-''Not for the world if you don't
ish it, dear, not even to Miss Sling