Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-12-25
heir engagement is off,"

"NO.' ~
"Well, their engagement is off,"
"You don't say so. Which was TO blame?"
81 really don't know, but Rosalind De
Jones told me that Mans father wanted
Jack to give up his clubs, and Jack said
something about life withou: clubs would
| be as useless as q deck of cards without
them. And then Mr.. Featherstone raved,
| and, believe, swore, but wouldn't say for
sure that he dill that, and ordered Jack out
of the house"
"The old idiot"
"But Willie, you will admit that it
wasn't very fattering to Nan"
"Of course, will; but, tell me, are you
going to Gray5rides this evening""
''No, l was invited, though, and
would y"
"AIiss Selwick," broke in the clerk, "do
you want either of these picture frames?''
60 really. forgot all about them.
Willie, do tell me which of these you think
the prettier."
'Tt all depends on which one you put
your photograph in"
''You fatterer; but you don't mear it.
Put mine in one and Peggy Blane's in the
other and I know which one you would
take"
"where did you hear about Peggy"
Gas though everybody hadn't heard of
your engagement"
"My engagement! No such luck, Ethel"
She gave a sly wink, as much as to say
she didn't believe me, and, turning to the
clerk, made her selection of frames, and
giving directions for the delivery of all she
had bought. insisted on my calling Christ
mas afternoon and bade me adieu.
Taking the seat she had vacated, asked
Mr.. Lawford if he would wait on me, and
taking my list from my pocket, 1 settled
down to do my duty.
'Now, as L call these amounts of, you
take them down." said to him. 'I want
four things in silver at $40 apiece for girls;
six pins or buttons, or anything like that,
at $40 apiece. No, wait a minute: don't
put that down. Let me see-Dick Peters,
what did he give me last year? Oh, yes, q
silver pencil. Make that last five at TWEEN
ty and one at five. Then 1 want something
for sister at SIS, and something for my
mother at about the same price. 1 will
want, too, something rather rummy for
well, it must be pretty, but I'll look around
for it myself
Mr.. Lawford smiled, and seemed to un-
derstand. SNow you PICK out the best and
most showy things you can, within the
price limit that have given you; 1 am GO
ing to rely wholly upon your Judgment"
"Well, I'll do my best, )" he replied, "and
hope it will please you"
While he was looking around fell into
a deep brown study over what would buy
for Peggy. My, how love that girl She
has completely ensnarcd my heart, and
somehow or other can't come out like a
man and tell her all and ask her to be
mine. Knowing that it would take Mr..
Lawford some little time, I grew i'm
patient, and went to join Mr. and Mrs.
Jasamyne at the other end of the shop.
They were looking at some very expensive
rings, AMI had just made a selection OF one,
an emerald set with diamonds.
"What do you think of this?" said Mr..
Jasamyne, holding it up to the light
Beautiful, replied; 'is it for Mrs.
Jasamyne?"
"My dear Willie" exclaimed that lady,
''vou are even greener than the stone.
We've been married for several years. That
is for Mr.. Jasamyne's sister"
thought to myself that If Peggy and 1
had been married for 100 years we would
exchange beautiful presents Just the same.
"Yes, this is for sister," said Mr.. Jasa-
myne, 'but then she always gives Margie
(his wife) and me something very expen-
sive."
With that they moved away and 1 sat
down and began looking at the tray of
rings, thoroughly fascinated by the brilliant
stones. While thus engaged, the door
opened, and before 1 knew it some one was
standing by my side. glanced up and
there was Peggy, my sweet, dear Peggy. I
imagined I saw the color come to her cheeks