Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1891-07-16

broken Ae0xeeo II yoQ oon'GS
I breathed rather quickly, and then
leaned toward him with a smile, which I
suppose he considered to be quite suA-
cient answer, for IN . moment his arms
were abeut me. Why are mems arns so
awfnAy big when they hsve on their over
COATS and gloves fels as II were in the
embrace Of an affectienate bear, aud gave
o historical little giggle as the thought
occurred to me, and then felt perfectly
happy.
But there remains something else to be
told before begin to recount the expert
enoes Of my married life.
The nsxt evening was seated al alone
In our little parfor contemplating basket
of lovely roses which Psnay had sent mo-
was alone, because I had insisted that he
should 60 to dinner at Mrs Fssdhsm's,
though he wanted to stay away, and WIS
now enjoying myself by fancytng the man
rer in which the news OF our engagement
would be recsived-I had resolved to an
nouuoe it on the night Of the second as
ssmbly, Of course, I had iRsnared my
promesso sposo very quietly. Several gtrls
had congratulated me on my supposed en-
esgemsnt 70 Mr.. Buullter. but nobody had
suspected the true state OF affairs. So
much wrapped up was I in my contempia-
ton that must have entirely forgotten to
say that I was not at home, AID II I did
hear the door bell rig it could have made
no impression on me, for ! suddenly .oo1sd
up 70 see Bran himself closing the parior
door behind him. / rose somewhat sbrupt-
II, and began to consider wflstasr could
ask him to excuse me. My eye WIS caught
by something unusual in his appearance,
and looked at him attentircly. He WIS
not in evening dress, thing remarkable
in itself, and his hair was little more
tumbled than usual, but chiefly noticed
a sort Of determined look about his face.
He came quickly forward ard took my
hand, which he pressed eagerly.
"My dear iitsle girfp' he said-luy heart
gave leap and then-sank. l knew what
was going to happen. "My dear little
grip he repeated, Il say that to you,
Ethel, because Pm in love with you"
Then he paused for a moment and went on,
81 won't say it again II you object, you
know
'Mr. Boullter,' said I, as calmly as pos
sible, I'm very sorry to hesr you say So
and think had better tell you that am
engaged"
"Oh, heavens.' he said, starting and look
ing awfHlly taken sback, ''you don't say
that-you don't mean to say you're en-
gagged to somebody else, do youG'
81 am engaged to Mr.. Charter" said l.
''Now don't get up" he said quickly
''Let me speak to you for a minute, you
know. dare say l oughtn't to ask you to
do it, but you needn't fear personal vio-
lence l SHAH break the furniture-or do
any high tragedy"
I made up my mind to listen, and he
went on, looking away from me and clench-
ing his hands together.
You see," he said, ~ expected that you
would say that l wasn't good enough, or
that 1 was too oonfoanded lazy, or that
you would prefer more first class article
and l thought that l might argue the
point with you and get you to give me
chance-but to find you engaged to another
man Is bewilderirg. l didn't want to fall
in love, you see, and had been laying nay
self out to cure myself all winter; but last
night | saw you, and, by Jove! couldn't
stand it. And today argued it all over
with myself; and l staid away from Mrs.
Feedham's dinner because l heard you
weren't going, and came to see you. Well"
said he, with a big sigh, Penny Charter
is good fellow-and devlish lucky mani
Don't be too sorry for me; | dare say that
my trivial nature will soon recover; and it
may please you to hear that you're the
only girl / ever proposed toll take an
afidayis 10 it, II you hike. | have sue
cumbed at last. My scalp is gone and my
glory has departed. Goodbye
I think there was a tear in my own eye
as I shook hands with him, and l know
that his glistene6. AS the front door shut
behind hin never felt more iks crying in
my life. Not that l had discovered too
late that was in love with him, but was
so awfally sorry for him. l never imagined
that l was going to mako him fall in love
with me; / thought he was girl proof. l
wouldn't have done it for worlds, said to
myself mournfully. If it had been Neddy
TryfiehaEn, indeed, should have censid-
cred myself public benefactor. But dear
Branl So N used and so l mourned over
him. didn't mind his thinking me fiirt
one bit, because he had always been
most egregious firt himself l regarded it
as the irony Of fate, and wished taat it
could have been proper for me to have
patted his head and told him how sorry
was. had just arrived at this point in my
reflections when the parlor door once more
opened chow on earth could I have expect
ed two people On one nightly and in walked
Middleton Halt Good gracious" said
to myself, "he has come to propose to me
tool'' This WIS too much. He walked to-
me, looking rather pale, but very dignifed
and lofty. He was in full evening dress,
and l could not help wondering whether
be had brought home a new crush hat
from Lincoln g. Benefits.
This Is an unexpected pleasure, Mr.
Hail." said, wishing inwardly it were all
over.
81 arrived here only this morning, Miss
Jones'" said ne. 81 have come direct from
Havre. I viii tell you without further
preface that have come homo on your &C
count. 1t has seemed to me that your con-
duct last summer was an evidence Of great
and a generous character, and I
tell you that still love you and to ask you
to be my wife,
"Oh, Mr.. HaHr' stammered, this time
! am engaged"
He walked over to the fireplace and stood
looking into it for few minutes, while 1
felt horribly nervous. Then he came back
to where was sttsing.
II ought not to have gone abroad" he
said. 81 ought not to have doubted you ct
all It is Ey own fault. think have
heard you sing the little Heidelberg song,
have I not' 'AcA. Scheiden und Meiden
TINT Wehp find it true. Goodby."
There was . selem1ity about the awful
ncssof this last occurrence which Ibid not
by any means appreciate at the time. I
knew it was awful, but l was 30 much
pleased with Penny and mysaif that 1