Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1891-07-12

broken hearted IL you don't,''
l brealhed rather quickly, and then
leaned toward him with smile. which 1
suppose ne considered TO be quite T. suff-
Gent snsver. for in a moment his arms
were about me. Why ara mems arms so
awfully big when they have ON their over
coats and gloves. felt as if | were in the
embrace OF an afectionate bear. aud gave
4 hystericaI little giggie as the thought
occurred TO me, and then felt perfectly
happy.
But there remains something else to be
told before begin 10 recount the expert
ences Of my married hfe.
The next evening was seated all alone
in our little pSrior contemplating basket
OF lovely roses which Penny had sent me-
l was alone, because I had insisted that he
should 20 to a dinner Ut Mrs. Feedham's,
though he wanted to STAY away, and was
now enjoying myseif by fsncying Lhe man
rer in which the news OF our engagement
would be rerctved-I had resolved to an
nounce 1t On the night OF the second IS
sembly, OF course l had ipsnlred my
promeso sposo very quietly. Several girls
hsd congratulated me on my supposed en-
Gaeeniens to Mr.. Boullter, but nobody had
suspected the true state Of affairs. So
much wrapped up Was in my coEterrpis
ton that must have entirely forgotten 10
say that was not al home, and il did
hear the door bsll rig it could have made
no impression on me, FOR ! suddenly looked
up to see Bran himself closing the parlor
door behind him rose somewhat abrupt
Is, and began to consider whether l could
ask him to excuse me. My eye WAS caught
by something unusual in his appearance,
and looked at him attertively. He was
not in evening dress, q thing remarkable
in itself, ard his hair was little moro
tumhled than usual, but l chiefly noticed
q sort Of determined look ABOUT his face.
BE came quickly forward and took my
hand, which hc pressed eagerly.
my dear lietIe girIF' he sail-iny heart
gave a leap and then-Sank. l knew what
was going 10 happen. My dear little
giriF' he repeated, L s1sy that to you,
Ethel, becarse I'm in love with you.n
Then he paused for moment and went on,
II won't say it again If you object, you
know
Mr.. Boullter," said I, as calmly ss pos
sible, Pm very sorry TO hear you say SO,
and think had better tell yea that am
engaged"
"Oh, heavens he said, starting and look
ing awfully taken EbacI5, You don't say
that-you don't mean TO say you're en-
gagged to somebody else, do yon?''
Il am engaged to Mr.. Charter" said I.
'Now don't get up," he said quickly.
''Let me speak to you for a minute. you
know. I dsre say oughtn't to ask you to
do it, but you needn't fear personal VIC
lence. sha'n't break the furniture-or do
any high tragedy"
made up my mind TO listen. and he
went On, looking away from me and eleHch-
ing his hands together
You See" be said, 4 expected that you
would say thar l wasn't good enough, or
that [ was too COMPOUNDED lazy, or that
you would prefer more first class article
and l thought TINT / might argue the
point with you and get you to give me a
chance to find you engaged to another
man il bewildering. / didn't want to fall
in love, you see, and had been laying my
self out to cure myself all winter; buG last
night I saw you, aaa, by JoveI couldn't
stand It. And today argued Il all over
with myself; and staid away from Mrs.
Eeedhauls dinner because / heard you
weren't going, and cane 70 see you Well"
said he with a big sigh, Penny Charter
is a good feliow-and devlish lucky maa,
Don't be too sorry for me; dare say that
my trivial nature will soon recover; and it
may please you to hear that yea're the
only girl l ever proposed to--ItH take al
affidavit to it, if you like. I have sue
cunbsd st last Ny scalp is gone and nay
glory mas departed. Goodbyi9
l think there was a tear in my own eye
as I shook hands with him, and know
that his glissened. AS the front door shut
bahind him never felt nore ike crying in
my life. Not that l had discovered too
late that was in love with him, bus was
SO awfuIly sorry for hin. | never imagined
that l was going to make MIN fail in love
with me; l thought he was girl proof ]
Wouldn't have done 1t for worlds, said to
myself mournfully. II it had been Eeddy
Tryfilehan, indeed, bhould have consid-
cred myself public benefactor. But dear
Brani So / unused ind so ! mourned over
him. Didn't mind his thinking nc q girt
one bit, because he had always been a
most egcgious firt himself. Regarded It
az the irony OF fste, aud wished that It
could hrve been proper for me to have
patted his head and tod him how sorry
was had just arrived at this point in my
reflections when the parlor door once more
opened chow on earth could have expect
ed two people on one nightly and in walked
Middleton Hall. Good gracious" said
to myself, ''he has come to propose TO me
tool, This was 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
he had brought home a new crush hat
from Lincoln 6 Benefits
This is an unexpected pleasure Mr.
Hall, l said, wishing inwardly IL were all
over.
81 arrived here only this morning, Miss
Jones'" said hs. Il have come direct from
Hayre. will tell you without further
preface that have come nome on your ac-
count. 1t has seemed to me that your con
duct last summer was an evidence Of great
sincerity and a generous character, and
have been unable TO forget you wiah to
tell you that l still love you and TO ask you
TO be my win"
'Oh, Mr.. Hair I stsmmared, this time
I am engaged"
BE walked over to the fireplace and stood
looking into 1t Tor few minutes, while l
felt horribly nervous Than he came back
to where was sitting.
81 ought not to haye gone abroad, 4" he
said. Il ough5 not to have doubted you at
all 1t is my own faalt. think have
heard you sing the little Heidelberg song,
have 1 not, 'Ach, Scnebien uRd Meiten
thut Wehf 1 find it true. Gsodby."
There was asoaennity about the awful
ness Of this last occurrence which did not
by any means appreciate ct the time. ]
knew It was awful, but 1 wss 90 much