The Arkansaw traveler., 1885-01-24
heart. And then Ella ...onished herb

heart. And then Ella astonashed her by saying:
 "Carie, do you know what l would do if I thought could have the love ofsuch a man as that ?"
 "What you would do2 Why, Ella, what could you do9"
 "What could do9 Well, 1 could do lots of things. But viii tell you what would do: Now, don't blush, for think many of the rules that are laid down for the guidance (0 of women were made to keep men above us; why, I'd propose that is, I'd let him know that he could propose without any fears of no."
 70, Ella, that would be un-"
 "There; you need not finish that. I know what you were going to say: that it would be unmaidenly, etc. Well, I think that educated women like you should know that nothing can be really unmaidenly that will insure lifelong hap piness to two people-and that is just what you can do."
 Then there was silence for few min- utes as the two young girls sat gazing into the fire. Finally, Carrie asked:
 "But, you haven't told me how am to do as you suggest without going farther than even you, with your new philosophy, as you call it would have me go."
 "Well, you know that we are to have church fair the night after Christmas. You are to have charge of the postoffice with me. Let me whisper in your ear now, so that even the walls cannot hear." And then Carrie hugged her, when Ella had whispered something to her and kissed her, and said that she was "just the best and sweetest girl in the world ;" and Ella added, as they went to rejoin the others in the parlor:
 "Yes; he thinks that as you are rich and he is yet poor, struggling doctor, that it would be unmanly to propose to you until he Is able to take you to fine home of his own. O, he is as full of the old-fashioned foolishness as you are another evidence that you are just suited to each other. Now run along, and talk sweet to him as you go home"
 
 It was clear, starlight night and the air was crisp with frost. Just above the horizon the evening star hung as clear and sparkling as 8 jewel of thought in the Armament of mind. The stars ap- peared to wink and nod at those who looked on their silvery beauty as if they were eyes of heavenly sentries twinkling with sleepiness. It was just such night as makes loving hearts glow with the electric thrill of love's sweetest and purest impressions.
 The church was brilliantly lighted, and the hum of many voices told that merry hearts were behind the nipples of silvery laughter that would float out on the Chiiiy SiE every Ee~ minUsSS.
 Among the many fair women who "kept stands" at the church fair that night was Ella Ward, who was acknew- ledged to be the "pretticst girl in ten counties" as young man phrased it. Beside her was Carrie Carothers, as her assistant in the "postoffice."
 70, MT. Montgomery" said Ella, as a young man of tall, commanding carriage approached the post-office," am sure that there must be letter in there for you. It is only ten cents. Come over and get one."
 He walked over, and spoke to her and to Carrie, and remarked khat he did not care much for letters. They did not have much pleasure for him. Ella ex- changed significant glance with Carrie, and said:
 "Well, am sure you will let Carrie, here, give you a letter. She may give you one that she wrote herself-we mixed them all up, the ones she wrote and those l wrote. Cone on. Go get him letter, Carrie" Ia.
 Then, as Carrie whispered to her that she could not think of carrying out the scheme since she said what she did, Ella said back, in hurried whisper:
 Don't you dare to back down now don't you sec how eager he is since said you might give him one of yours Here it is."
 70, Ella, you give it to-"
 But Ella did not appear to hear her, for she said: L<
 Why, Carrie. don't. keep MT. Mont gomery waiting so long. Here is the one you had in your hand just now give him this," and she tossed her a note that seemed more daintily written than the others, and Carrie snatched it up, and fneood if fN Clorda -s<A :. ..>-.lY: