The Delaware ledger. (Newark, Del.) 1879-19??, 1885-01-03

letter which yet remained idly be
tween his finger and thumb.
"Jane!' he said, addressing Cap
tain Hilton by his nickname "Jane!
what on earth does it mean when
you receive message from young
lady to Bring Myrtle ?' and he
handed the envelope 10 Captain
Hilton.
Jane, who had rolling eye and
rollicking smile, took the envelope
daintily, and, after reading it, press
ed it to his heart, and said, with q
strong.brogue; "Why, man, it's a
proposal What do the ladies wear
on their festal brows and twist about
the flowing satin of their bridal
gowns but myrtle? Bring Myrtle" ;"
| tell you, is a proposal-a bona tide
proposal. | tell you every joy She
is IL sweet girl, if bold one"
Without word Colonel Haldane
sprang, in melodramatic manner,
at the throat of Captain Hilton and
held him with grip of iron.
"How dare you speak of Miss
White like that? She is the most
distinguished girl Of my ncquaint-
ance. Apologize!'
Captain Hilton rolled his eye with
a ghastly appeal on Colonel Hal
dane, when the latter as suddenly
relaxed his grasp and said
"Forgive me, Hilton but really |
-I-obiect to such an unseemly
idea"
II beg your pardon, Colonel, said
Captain Hilton, stifily; 81 object
equally to being throttled. Allow
me to wish you good morning"
"stop, my FRIEND" said Colonel
Haldane, confusedly : 81 don't know
what is the matter with me! l'm
half asleep, l think. Sea and senti-
ment, as you said just now. Come,
my friend, Do tell me what on
earth Miss White means"
"Means? something green" said
Hilton, viciously; "but whether
sprouting in tub, after the fashion
of blossoning shrub, or done up
in glass case, after the artificial
mode, | know not. | wish you good
morning, Colonel" b"
And with that he retreated to the
mess-room.
"Blossoming shrub" murmurcd
Colonel Haldane. "Bless his Hiber-
ian wit Eureka Now | have it p
And with that he sat down at his
writing table and penned the follow
ing letter;
"Au Myosotis, 10, Ave, Victor Emmanuel,
"a Mention, Alpes Maritimes.
send the finest Towering myrtle you
possess to the following address: Miss
Florence White, The Grange, POrterdOwn,
Sussex The myrtle must arrive on the
afternoon of September 7, one week from
this date"
Then Colonel Haldine rang the
bell hastily and told his man to post
the letter. This done, he placed the
note from Miss Florence White in
the pocket of his frogged coat, and
then proceeded to read the rest Of
his correspondence.
i 4 \ x 4 A
The afternoon Of the 7th duly
arrived, and with strange palpita,
ton at his heart Ga sensation which
ought TO have aroused his suspicious
as to the exact state of his suscepti.
bilities) Colonel Haldane drove ur
in his little hooded carriage, with
the tiger jumping up and dowr
behind, to the gates of The Grange
Here comes the pig in the poke,
said Felicity White, a younger
daughter, who was given to using
her brains in off-hand criticism. 81
man will drive Il carriage with {
hood, what is one to call him, but
pig-in-a-pokc, you know? He il
fidgeting at the gate most awfully
Florence; do come and look"
81 like that hooded carriage, sal,
Florence. "Le style e'est lhomm
meme" And then she turned will
! ready grace to meet Colonel Hal
dane, who had just entered tn
room.
Felicity and | were drawn to tn
window by the magnetical inhuenc
of your charming little carriage" sh
said, 81 so admire your poke"
"Do you2" said Colonel Haldane
gratefully. 1t is very kind of you !
and then he looked steadfastly Il
Florence, absolutely blushing as h
J did so.
Florence, catching the glance,intel
rogative, was arrested in her amiabl
, intention of transporting him to tn
: other end of the long lone drawing
, room and introducing him to Mrs
Harrington, the rector's wife. Thi
agitated gentleman did not look ex
actly in a fit state to be DISCOURSE
to about winter blanket clubs an,
working-men's clubs and friendl