The Osceola times., 1885-02-14
"Hum--well-you' ought 10 know

| can not lnuulge IN any OF those sent1-
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-I love you. IL you
will allow me to say so; and | am here
to ask YOU to become my wife,"
20 MIR. Dempseyr
81 am not n poor man. A liberal
allowance would be yours. You would
have a 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.
We're leopard, or an owl, or bear,
| would say Yes 10 it; but being only a
woman, l must say No."
IL should do my best to make you
happy Pr y NO, ,on,, ,,,, a.. ,..,, l.. ..,,
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. don't want to be shut
up in cage, even though it were
| gllded one.
"You are frankness itself, Miss
Deene; but hope / am not TO take this
decision as final one?"
Il certainly wish you to look upon it
as such"
"Well. well. I 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 | was
SIXTEEN
"Eh?"
"When | was six years old, there was
little boy with curly hair whom l abb
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 wears
red shoes now. Then, when l was at
school, thought my dancing master
the most delightful OF mer. He was
Frenchman. and very bald, and oh!
so fat; but loved him. He spoke the
most charming broken English, and
fancy that was the reason why was so
fond of him These are touching rem
| iniscences, Mr.. Dempsey"
ITO you, doubtless, Miss Deene," an
swered the old beau stiffly ~ leave
you sadder, II not a wiser man."
"And have been doing my best Il
amuse you! o dear"'
lis there absolutely no hopeP"
Absolutely none"
Mr.. Dempsey lifted his hat and
bowed tremendously. Miss Deene rose
and dropped an elaborate courtesy.
Mr.. Dempsey turned to 90, but had
not proceeded half-a-dozen yards before
he came to n stand.
"Miss Deene!n
"Yes, Mr. Dempsey"
II have some good news for you.
had telegram this morning. and the
pelican is much better-much better"
"rm so very glad TO hear it"
"He can now take his usual allowance
of fish for breakfast"
.How nice! should like his photo
graph. am particularly fond Of pei
leans"
No. reallyP You shall have photo
graph next week without fail. Au
rer0ir, du rer0ir."
IAN offer of marriage, even from a
Dempsey, is calculated to futter ones
nerves little" said Elma to herself.
"Crewel-work seems very tame after it.
| wonder what Clunie would say il she
knew. She would say l was fool
for refusing him, and she would believe
1t, too"
Frobisher. when he left Miss Deene,
took the first foot-path through the
trees that presented itself, without car
ing whittier it might lead him, his
thoughts being far away. He had
gone no great distance, when a sudden
turn brought him face to face with Mr..
Pebworth, who had discreetly fingered
behind Mr.. Dempsey, being probably
quite aware what object that gentleman
had in view in seeking tete-d-tete with
Miss Deene.
"Ah, my dear Mr.. Richard, word
with you, if you please" he said. with
sickly smile, the moment his eyes fell
on Frobisher.
"a hundred, If you wish it, Mr.. Peb-
worth"
Mr.. Pebworth laid his band on Frob-
isher's arm, and then glanced suspi-
ciously around. "Any news of the sec
ond will?' he whispered.
mot yet, Mr.. Pebworth. But | am
busy, very busy, going through Mr..
Askew's papers; and should not be
surprised in the lcast-not in the least.
Mr.. Pebworth assure you--if l were
to come across some such document be-
fore the present week is over"
The two men looked meaningly at
each other for moment, and then Mr..
Pebworth's eyes fell. He was wondering
what he should say next, when Frank
spoke.
II am right in assuming that Miss
Deene's fortune is eight thousand
poundsn
THAT Is the amount to a penny-de-
pendent entirely on my consent to her
marriage"
Precisely so. That is clearly under
stood"
Another pause, then Pebworth said:
81 am going in search of sherry and
seltzer. viii you not go back and join
me?"
"Thanks-no. They tell me there is
a charming view from the high ground
over yonder. l am going in search of
it."
Then you will probably meet my
daughter and Captain Dyson. They
went that way half an hour ago."
"Richard Drummond. hate you as 1
never hated man before" was Mr..
Pebworth's unspoken thought as the
two men turned their backs on each
other and went each his own way. But
,,rcsopt1x b;o v,,nuiprS oevnv,ol v,,ara