The St. Charles herald. [volume] (Hahnville, La.) 1873-1993, 1885-02-28

people everywhere, suppose, matches
are made much as they are among
royal personages. Loveisn't consulted
at all.
ooh! dear, if papa hadn't lost all his
money might-for | think Spencer
used to like me a little in those days.
But how perfectly lovely of him to
send me this, though no doubt he sent
it as much for mammals sake as mine,
remembering what she said to him.that
night about her love for artistic things.
| miss Ella MeElis. How much he
writes like Miss Slinglander, and how
simple and pretty this Christmas card
is, with its wealth of flowers surround
ing the words, From Spencer Royal
But those words are not in the same
handwriting. All! l see, some one
else has written the address.
''You dear, darling little peasant'girl!
l wonder what you are carrying in
your basket. Good gracious! the cover
flies up when the handle is pulled and
there's something inside. A tiny VelS
vet box, in it the loveliest of rings and
"a note, yes, a note to me!
"'MY DEAR ELLA-By this rural maiden !
send you an offerof my heart and hand It
may seem strange to you that l have never
spoken to you of my wish that you should
become my wife, but the fact is. have been
waiting until my financial affairs somewhat
| disordered by my fathers sudden death,
| should be brought into proper shape again.
Now all seems clear ahead, and if you will
! consent to give me yourself for q Christmas
| gift shall be most happy.
| "'AnXiously awaiting your reply, am
"'Yours faithfully,
Z" SPENCER ROYALL'
ellis 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 worldi'f y --
Spencer Royal stood before the CRATE
fire in his smoking-room on Christmas
afternoon with wide-opened eyes, a
half-burned cigar in his mouth and a
dainty notelet in his hand. ''By Jove!
here's a go, said he, in forcible if not
elegant phraseology; 81 send an offer
of marriage to Miss Eleanor Sling
lander and receive note of acceptance
from Miss Ella Mellis. Pretty little
thing. I've always been more or less
spooney on her, but it seemed as
though Fate insisted upon my marry
ing the other one. 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 1 can't find out something about it. "
And ringing his bell he asked the
small boy who answered his summons:
''Did you take the box gave you this
morning to Miss SlinglanderP"
Eyes sir
"By Jove! the riddle of the sphinx
was nothing to this. You may co.
Eyes, sir-but, sir"
''Well, go on-go on!'
81 stopped minute in the kitchen
to give the cook a message from my
mother-the cooks my cousin Sarah
Jane-and Miss S1inglander's maid
came down with the box and says she,
Miss Slinglander wants this box took
to Miss Ella Mellis. She told me to
git messenger boy says she, but
you'll do just as well and earn quar-
ter What am | to sayP' says /.
with Miss Slinglander' compliments
and says she, and forgot to say, with
Miss Slinglander's compliments, and
said Merry Christmas instead, cause
I'd been saying that ever since 1 got
up and it come handiest. But that
couldn't have made no difference of no
consequence, could it sir?"
"Oh! no." with mild sarcasm, ''not
the slightest
Sand Miss Shnglander's maid said,
sir, that Miss Slinglander was in or
full temper at first cause you hadn' b
sent her something more valuable, but
she'd got over it and wasa~making fun
of you with Mr.. Raynor. And
"There-there-tha will do-clear
out. The riddle is read see it all
plainly now. Eleanor never thought,
| being in a tearing rage on account OF
the apparent smallness of my gift, of
lifting the cover of the basket, but dis
patched the bronze at once to her
seamstress, forgetting in her indigna-
ton to detach my card. Tom forgets
to deliver the compliments which she
sends with it, and as matter of course
Ella Mellis thinks the figure came
straight from me. She does not look
upon it with contempt, and uncovering
the peasant girls basket finds there a
proposal of marriage apparently adj
dressed to herself, her name being the
same as Eleanor's diminutive, She re-
plies to it in he'sweetest and most art
less little note ever received. ByJove!
III accept the situation. l begin to
/ find myself very much in love with her,
and Miss Slinglander may continue to
laugh with Jack Raynor."
Christmas evening at the home OF
Mrs. Mellis.
Ella-"How happy I am! never
/ dreamed you loved me. / thought that
you had entirely forgotten that we had
ever been friends. Imagine my sur.
prise when found your letter in the
peasant girls basket. What a cunning
way to send it.
Spencer Eyes; [ f1atter myself il
was rather cunning. But, darling,
don't breathe atword about it to a soul.
To tell of it would break the charm ~
Ella-''Not for the world if you don't
wish it, dear, not even to Miss Sling.
lander. "-Margaret Eytinge ian Detroit
Free PTeSS.
Young Swipes has quit visiting
Mrs. Loosetongue's daughter on Col.