Oxford eagle. (Oxford, Lafayette Co., Miss.) 1876-current, 1890-04-17

from the euects OF disappointment;
but before Belle arrived she had settled
70 break the existing engagement and
bring about a match between ny sister
and my most intimate friend.
Il am afraid ! remarked n few even
ings after she had come TO this doughty
determination, that there are more diff
hcultics in the way of making a match
between Belle and Charlie thar you
have reckOned upon"
What DO you mean?"
Mitchell dropped in to see me. to-
day about that very piece of ground of
Edwards. He want to settle down. he
says; and as he has no one dependent
upon him. that can mean only one
thing He looked pretty sheepish, too,
like an engaged man is apt to-"
Why didn't you ask him all about
II? ! hope it isn't that horrid Clara
Manning, but I'm afraid il is. Well.
there's n consolation: he'll soon get
tired of her. And I'm sure IL he knew
Belle better, it would all come right.
They just seem made for each other
From this it would appear that she
was not daunted By the prospect before
her. she had two engagements to break.
and another one to make: but she did
not doubt her own ability in the least.
| had one or two other short talks
with Mitchell which confirmed me in
the belief that he was going to be mar
ried. and hat very speedily; but he
seemed to take it for granted that /
knew all about il, so that | did not like
TO confess my ignorance. Once, indeed,
he said TO me:
wait until your sister comes, and
then you'll hear the full particulars"
knew that he had made occasional
visits TO the small town where nv rela-
tives live. and at once concluded that
his ladylove was some one whom Belle
knew; but I rejoined:
Il reckon Belle will be so taken IN
with her own affairs. that she will not
have much time or thought 10 devote To
Others.
Il hope not" returned Mitchell. with
a queer smile; and just the we were
interrupted.
/ duly communicated the result OF
these conversations TO my wife; for she
closely questioned me regarding NV in
tercourse with him. She had been I'M
able TO ascertain from outsiders the
name OF Mitchelrs faRee: hut as Miss
Manning had simpered and bridled when
the subject was limited at. she was firm
ly convinced that her original supposi.
tion was true.
Llke 4 wise general. she had he plan
of campaign arranged beforehand. She
had made up her mind u ignore both
existing engagements, and throw Belle
and Charlie together as much As posi-
BILE was sworn to secrecy regarding
her intentions.
"FOrifeither one of them should get to
hear Of it-should get even 4 suspicion of
it-opposition would be aroused At once.
and might as we'll give up. am sure
that If they are together a great deal.
each will learn to like the other a great
deal better than those that they are en-
gagged 10 now
With much ungrammatical conclusion
she rested content until Belle came.
am afraid 10 say how far ahead She
had planned for this intercourse: | know
that she had written down her projects
Tor at least three weeks. four or more
evenings IN each week; Charlie was 20
be invited TO the hOuse-without Miss
Manning. of course; We we're not sup
posed 10 know OF their engacement-or
asked TO be one Of 4 party bent on some
expedition; when. Of course. he was &c
BE- detailed a. Bellies escort
Ny sister arrived Al last She was
evidently very anxious 10 tell nv wife
about her bstrothaL. but that clever lit
tie woman deferred The confidence for
sOne time; she must have had a feeling
that after b had been told the news
she would be acting a t~reacheroas par,
IN endeAvoring to break the engagement
But AZ last Belle conquered She had
arrived late in the evening: the news
was told the next DAY. l was o pres
entatthe time. but nv wife beekoned me
upstairs as / entered the house that
evening.
They're in the parlor." she an
nounced. As she softly closed the bed
o door; hes been hers nearly an
hour. now"
As had not the least idea who il wa,
that she meant, l simply looked inauir-
ingiy. She has, in general, a contempt
for antecedents. which is quite pulling
Belle and her fGAce. of course" she
reloined. impstiently. in answer TO the
look, and who do you think h is
Il am SURE | can not guess
It's the most horrid thing I eve
heard Of; it's Charlie Mitchell HIMSELF,
"Horridi Why"
Yes. horrid- Just as was looking
forward to so much pleasure, breaking
the engagement between Belle and that |
dreadful fellow l didn't know, and
Charlie and that d~espicable Clara Man
ming, and then getting them TO fall in
love with each other-but nothing ever
does turn out as l want it TO. They are
the most provoking couple l ever saw.
and | hope Mr.. Edwards has sold his
lawn TO somebody else, i do so. Idon',
care il he sells il for . site for a row OF
tenement houses-"-Miriam K. Davis II
Good Housekeeping.
A Tennessee paper, reporting the
passage OF an important Dill. saws.
There was great enthu ilsm. some dis
II