Custer chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, Black Hills, D.T. [S.D.]) 1880-1890, 1889-11-09

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''Matty's eyes sparkled.
What did he sayP'
"Ill tell YOU after the lamp is put
out" said Mis- Hewitt, hanging down
her head
you don't mean"
yes, | do whispered Miss Hewitt.
'He really and actually did PROPOSE"
''Nonsense!' said Matty Vail. biting
her lip. You must have misunder-
stood him."
misunderstood, indeedy" retorted
Miss Hewitt. I'm sure he spoke plain
enough
But you wouldn't accept a man who
was caught in such a trap as that?'
"A trap." stammcred Miss Hewitt.
Yes, Of course. lie thought it was
me-"
"Do You suppose he did?" (in fslter-
ing ~accents.)
There can't be a doubt about it."
''Then, of course. there's an end of
this matter" said Matilda, with a little
culver in her voice.
"ButyouH tell me just what he said?"
no; | certainly shall not betray his
confidence"
Confidence. indeed!n flashed out
Matty Vail. "A pretty confidence! But
do tell me, just for the joke of the mat
ter
Matilda was silent. To her it was no
joke.
I'D Have you to know that I have
had a proposal, too" added Matty,
brushing out her luxuriant blonde
treSses. That ridiculous Pratt. OF
course, / only put him of. / DO think
all men are crazy!'
Matty Hewitt made no answer. but
she shed a few silent, bitter tears after
she was in bed. The sensation of be
ing engaged" was very pleasant. II
was IA pity that it had been so brief!
las good as engaged to Natty Vail.
are you?" said Mr.. Warren, who had
met Sam Pratt ut the p~ostofice next
day. MAY | ask when this happeued?"
Last night, coming home from the
picnic"
AS it happened, she came homo with
me-"
Sam Pratt rubbed his hands glee
fully.
"All that was a joke, old fellow
said he. You brought home the little
New York school-teacher, who boards
at Ma'am Dunkley's! Natty Vail
managed all that. You don't mean to
say you never found it out? tell you.
Mat and | had a good laugh over 1t go
ing home.
Frank Warren set his teeth tightly
together. The girl who could enjoy IS
good laugh" with Sam Pratt over such
a practical joke as this WAS rapidly
losing caste in his estimation.
81 congratulate YOU" said he, some.
what bitterly.
"Knew you'd be pleased, old fellow"
said Sam, smiling proudly. But they
tell me the school-teacher takes it terri
bly, hard. Cried all night. Went home
before daylight on foot, all the way tc
the swamp. Thought that you were
dead in love with her. Didn't like the
idea of it's being all a put-up job"
Frank Warren turned upon him with
a sudden fash in his eyes.
"And who told you," said he 'that it
vas a put-up jobg"
"EhP" Sam'sgooscberry-colored orbs
dilated with surprise. You don't tell
me-
Il tell you that it would be a par
ticularly good idea for you to mind
your own affairs"
Frank Warren went straight to the
Widow Dunkley's and asked for Miss
Hewitt. Matty came to him with cheeks
u~nnaturally red and q restless sparkle
in her dark gray eyes.
sTT an, va~p cnt-rx- - eLa lnoan
''Sorry for what? Not that i asked
you to be my wife, / hope" said the
young man cheerily.
She was not as pretty as Matty Vail,
he thought, but she was dainty aad deli
cate, like a violet poisoning in the
But you didn'. moan itF" she fall
Il am not in the habit of saying what
don't mean. / am here to confirm
my last nights words. Will you con
hrm yours, Miss sIowittt" |
But ! know 50 little Of you. Nj.
Warren"
That is a disability which can easily
be remedied by time. Won't you trust
me, Matty?" and he held out his hand.
And she decided to trust him.
The village belle wa discounted be-
yond measure when she heard that her
practical joke had turned into reality.
For in her secret heart she had loved
Frank Warren rs much ~ it was in her
to love anybody.
Engaged to you. indesdr she cried
to Sam Pratt, with blazing eyes. How
dare you say such . thingl IwouldI't
marry you If the1e wasn't another man
in the worldi"
And Mr.. Pratt departed, inconsola-
bic.
As for MI. Warren, he never had
cause to repent his sudden resolve.
Matilda Hewitt made him the best Of
gentle little wives.
Although it VA rather uncsnven-
tional. that wooing Of yours, Frank"
said she. Now, wasn't itf"
"Wcli, rather 90. / must admit said
tho young husband. However. Matty.
alI's we'll that ends well. you know
And Matty Wallis practical joke has
ended In . fine prospect 81 her being an
old maid at lasts-N Z. Ledger.
EA #1h No