The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1890-07-19

Melodies, or course;7 but all the same
they were better than nothing.
When one young fellow went home
suddenly, pale and forlorn, Denise guessed
what had happened
"He has offered and you have refused
him, she said
Cecilia nodded merrily.
''It was such fun, she said. "He went
down on his little knees. Heis only one
and-twenty, and is in dry goods shop
Of course l refused him"
But you led him on, F" said Denise, at
which Cecilia laughed more than ever.
IL was after this youths departure that
one of the young sportsmen who had at
first paid very little attention to the la
dies began TO devote himself TO them.
He was very handsome young fellow
with a ready smile and a bright twinkle
in his eye, intelligent and evidently well
educated Even Cecilia could not deny
that this nobody was pleasant
Once grown better acquainted, he
proved great acquisition. He was never
weary of showing them the beauties Of
the place, which were many. He rowed
them on the river, he drove them out
and to the great astonishment of little
Denise he never neglected her. She was
so used to being overlooked that she had
expected it, wonder she thought him
the most delightful person possible, and
that she pleaded his cause with Cecilia.
81 know You mean to refuse him, she
said. 'But, oh, Cecilial you could be SO
happy with him. Think it over dear"
"Think over marrying young man
like that" said Cecilia ''He is very
nice, but no doubt he would expect his
wife to live in cottage in the suburbs
and be content with one best black silk.
/ aim higher, Denise"
Il do not think so if Charles Ceilings
by is your object, said little Denise; but
again Cecilia only laughed.
Secretly she liked Richard extremely;
but she had questioned him little, and
his answers had convinced her that he
was poor 1t was enough. All she could
look forward to was to add her refusal of
him to her other triumphs
But suddenly a change came, She was
sitting upon the porch one evening when
garden path speaking Of Richard Rodney
''He is a nice fellow" said one.
"And very happy fellow, too, said
the other Zone of the richest young
men in New York. Rich Rodney they
called his father, and he inherited every
thing,
Richl An eligible matchi Could it
really be? Was it possible? Oh, how
delightful! for surely he was at her feet,
and now she would not refuse him when
he offered himself; she would say yes.
After all he was handsomer better, and
in every way more pleasing than Charles
Collingsby, She did not feel sure but
that she was a little in love with him.
She ran into the house to look for Denise
to tell her the wonderful news, but the
girl was not to be found. For once in
her life Denise had had an invitation of
her own Richard Rodney had asked
her to row with him upon the river, and
at that very moment they were slowly
drifting along in the soft moonlight, and
Richard held both the girls tiny brown
hands.
"Say yes, dearest, he was whispering.
II love you better than life. l cannot
be happy without you"
"It is so strange" said Denise 81
! thought it was Cecilia with you, as with
all the rest.
"You mean that you thought that ]
loved Miss Britton2" asked Richard.
Every one else seemed to, said Den
ise
"Ah," said Richard, ''that is possible,
but loved you at first sight, and as l
happened to overhear certain conver-
sation between you and Miss Blitton on
the day of your arrival l am well armed
against her destinations. And then how
shamefully she used little Smith.
"Ah!" cried Denise. "You were the
person in the back of the wagon that
day?"
eyes, 1 was the person" replied Rich
ard. But you have not answered me
will you be my wife?"
Denise said nothing, but she let him
kiss her, and he was quite content,
"Only think, Denise, said Cecilia, as
the girl came into their little room later
on-"only think, l have heard the most
wonderful news tonight. Richard Rod
ney is tremendously rich. That, you
know, alters the aspect of things. l
shall accept him when he offers.
"Ahr' cried Denise, "but he will not
offer"
IF should try to make him he viii, "
said Cecilia,
Il think not, said Denise, 81 am a
plain little thing, but now that we are
engaged he will be true to me"
| Engaged" gasped Cecilia. ''Not to
your
Denise nodded and held under the light
little hand ON which an unwonted dia-
mond sparkled.
He slipped it on tonight, she said.
"You knew how rich he was" cried
Cecilia, "and never told mep
But Denise had not known, She il
Mrs. Richard Rodney now, and, being
rich, people call her piquant and charm
ing.
As for Cecilia, she has not made her
conquest of fortune yet, and relies upon
her cousin Denise for her social pleasures
since papas failure. Mary Kyle Dalla.
in Fireside Companion.
Too Bad.
Il hear you went to the art photog
rapher's to get your picture taken. How
did it come out?'
Badly. 1t looks so much like me
? everybody SAYS it's hideous. Epoch