Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1892-10-06
THAT ENGAGEMENT.

nII AC@ Ahn
t;ngbam was not popular among 'he
ladies of her acquaintance ..;,h
..Ob yes." said Mrs. Sibthorpe, win
.sog,cious nod of the head. Il nave
il from the very best authority
own aunt"
Indeed said Mrs. Whitley. q,
"A rich widower," said MIS-, on"
tborpe. nFiftv years old and bald.
.s0br said Mrs. Whitley, "lhefe
no fool like an old fool.
Owns half a hotel on Broadway
wont on Mrs. SibthorPe, eager TO AIS
sominote her news. sand a block OF
tenement-houses on 9th avenue. heeps
his own carriage aud horses and mas
bought an elegant country seat up the
Hudson"
Julia will queen it now" said Mrs.
wbitelev almost obviously. MRS.
Wbitelev, be il understood, was q
widow not quite past the boundaries OF
voutb. and not at all averse to a sec
oud marriage with some eligible pars'
"And how about Clarence EgeytonF
ooh, she's thrown him over, OF
course" said Mrs. Sibthorpe. "lbat
was nothing but a Irritation
..Some people have all the luck
sighed Mrs. Whiteley.
And while her good fortune was the
subject of popular gossip Miss Noting
ham herself sat in her ~ roo at
home c~omplaccutly surveying the set
of solitaire pearls Embedded in blue
velvet and the magnificent dead gold
bracelets which had just arrived, with
Mr. philnott's card attached,
How superbr' said Mrs. Noting
ham. a brisk little woman with gray
curls and Il suspieiously uuchanSing
bloom on each check:
.Oh. YES said Julia, indifferently.
But | wish his name was anything
but PhilpOtts."
shakespeare says, What's in a
name?'" archIy reioined the mother.
VERY likely, said Miss Nottingham,
with a toss of her head; but you see
Shakespeare wasn't Il young lady Just
about to be married"
And she thoughtregretfully notwith-
standing her calioused, coquettish heart,
of poor Clarence Egcrton, who had
ambrosial curls, a profile like Adonis,
and p salary of nine hundred a year.
But size sent smiling down to meet
her middle-aged fiauce that afternoon.
,.My own Juliar' said Mr.. PhilpOtts,
beamiugly. ,
Dear HiramI' sweetly answered
Julia, with o little swallow of the I'M
romantic Christian flame in her throat.
IL have brought you a bouquet Tor
Mrs. POddington's reception tonight, ~
said Mr.. Philpotts, producing a mlr*-
Gle IF the florists art, wrapped IN as
many silver paprr5 as a mummy.
How kind of you, Loves" said Miss
Nottingham.
Il will call for You IN the carriage at
9 precisely added Philpotts. =,
I'm sureit's very considerable, dear"
smiled Julia.
"And here" bringing out Of his
pocket a heavy gold necklace, from
which hung Il d~iamoud-Set lOckets 'is
a t-iffe which | hope yor will obhge
me by wearing Tonight"
Julia's eyes sparkIed. She was q
miser at heart, and gold and diam0nds
were very beautiful in her eyes. 1t
was worth while, she reflected. to
MARY 4 fhgn old enough to be her
father for the sake Of tttGsures such As
these.
But when the carriage came that
evening TO convey her to Mrs. Pod
dington's ball it was empty, and the
servant handed her n note from Mr..
PhilpUtts. He had Gu attack of his
old enemy. the rheumatism, he wrote.
and found himself reluctantly COM
PEELED to remain at bone-
a N ~ .a4..u - Ill Me- Tn1.H ~
herself, with a last glance at the mir
TOR before she wrapped the white cash
mere opera cloak about her shoulders.
and tripped lightly downstairs. Il
can have q charming time with poor.
dear Clarence, who Is reyef ut a loss
for something to say, and waltkes like
an angelln
Mis-. Nottingham was not tispieased
With her -~N-~pp~arnn~e, 49,
| green silk. half hidden by clouds of
! Euaue .tulle. and a set of eineralds
which lad been Nj. Philyotts' gift.
Yes" said she, with a compliment
little nod, as her mother complimented
her on her becoming dress, sits all
we'll enough, but just wait until leone
DIT m black velvet and diamonds as a
matron."
Miss Nottingham enjoyed herself
hat evening. She waltzcd TO her
hearts content, flirted enough for
three, and finally disappeared in the
green rceesses of the conservatory
with the stfaightenosed Clarence Eyer
ton.
The PoddingtOns had more money
than they knew what to do with. and
they had expended d goodly portion of
it in the decoration of the great arshed
palace of plate glass which opened out
of the suppersrcom. Banana trees
waved their immense tfdpisal fdus
overhead-acacias brushed the roof
PASSION vines swung their purple cups
on every side: and q little grove of
palms and olanders In the center in
closed a sparkling fountain OF cool
spray, which tinkled down among
mOssv rocks and into clusters of pale
green ferns, like a forest waterfall.
Just within this enchanted nook a rus
tie seat Of twisted bamboo afforded an
excellent corner for firtation-and, of
course, Miss Julia Nottingham aud her
rejected swain found their way to it ia
snort order.
"N6w; don't be ridiculous, Clare"
said Julia. Let 60 ms haud!n
But you shall answer me first
persisted Clarence. s'You shall tell
me whether you really love tins Old
money-msking machine you're going
to marry on the 9TH Of NEXT month";
'Of course / don't love kifutT
"And YOU do love me?"
well, yes, | do-if that will be any
satisfaction TO ron
Then, Julia, it is me you should
we'd cried out the young man.
Now yoa are getting silly again."
said Julia, imperiously Withdrawing
the hand which Mr.. Egerton had con-
triSed to keep captive until then.
when you know very well that your
entire income would hardly keep me
in gloves aud slippers"
"Julia!n
''ifs as we'll to be honest about it,"
said Miss Nottingham. Il do like YOU
the best-and / shall appoint Won my
chevalier in chief when ] am married.
TO carry my fan and bouquets, YOU
know. and take me out to morning
concerts and matInees, when nv HIS
band Is at the bank. But old Philpot,s
is rich, aud that's why | am marrying
him. Of course | don't love him
who could be expected TO love a bald
headed old fogy like that! But | dare
say | shall make a very good sort of
8 wife, and he can't live forever. YOU
know, Sc when | AM a rich widow /
a marry to suit myself
Don't, | beg of you, wait for that,r
aRrAA Au.r n =. 80 - LIZ