The free press. (Poplarville, Miss.) 1890-19??, 1893-03-02

The other Dusenbury came again very
soon-"Moneybags," Ruby called him
and did the honors for him more be.
witchingly than ever. How entertaining
she was and how delighted Papa St. Maui
was.
And then, in few days, Moneybags
came again, and this time he brought
Miss St. Maur the most magnificent
present with hlm--a set of rabies that
made her pretty eyes sparkle with de-
lightful vivacity.
"These," he said, significantly, care
for the future Mrs. Dusenbury."
"Oh!" Ruby said, innocently, 81
thought they were for ma"
"Do you like them?'
'I never saw anything half so beauti-
full"
"rd give you them, and great deal
more besides,i you'd promise to be Mrs.
Dusenbury."
Ruby played with the sparkling stones,
and looked persistently at her slipper at
least two minutes. Then, liftins to her
aged suitor pair of eyes, whose radl-
ance dazzled him so that he didn't know
whether he was in his counting room,
and somebody had thrown a brick
through the window, or thunder storm
had come up, and the lightning was
playing ftfully around his wrinkled old
| face.
eff I'm going to be bribed," she said,
sweetly, s'it must be with something
more than ruby necklace"
Anything in the world, sweet girl,
to- the half Of all I possess. :" -'. KS
"You are not in earnest, Mr.. Dusen-
bury, of course not. You gentlemen are
a great deal fonder of making promises
than you are of keeping thsm," Ruby
said, archly.
"Never was so much in earnest in my
life; get me pen and paper and I'll show
YOU"
Taking him at his word, and tantaliz-
ing him with roguishly expressed doubt,
Ruby danced away and brought him the
required articles. lie did not expect to
be taken so at his word; but humoring
her whim, as he called it, Moneybags
drew up, in regular business form, a
paper in which he obligated himself to
hestow on Miss Ruby st. Maur the half
of all he possessed the day she became
Mrs. Dusenbury.
Ruby kept up constant fire OF jest
and laugh and general witchery, but
took possession of the document In
triumph, and promised Moneybags that
she should claim the fulfllment of the
obligation it contained at an early day.
Both Mr.. st. Maur aud Moneybags were
in ecstasy.
A week dropped slowly away, and
Moncybags quite neglected his business
at the counting room in order to dino
with his old friend, st. Maur. He really
seemed to be getting humanizsd.
One night Miss St. Maur kept dinner
waiting again, till the two gentlemen
grew somewhat impatient, AMI Mr.. st.
Maur, summoning a servant, sent to in-
qure after her.
Before the servant returned, however,
Ruby herself came-not in dinner attire,
however, nor alone; but with bridal
flowers in her hat, and hei little snowily
gIoved hand confdingly resting upon
the arm of Mr.. Hunt Dusenbury.
Greatly, upon my word," began Mr..
st. Maur.
"You won't let papa scold, will you!"
Ruby SAID, putting out coaxlng hand
to Moneybags, and in comically aud
IDLE aside, "ShaIl we kneel down,
Hunt?"
Moneybags looked iiercely at the little
olive branch Ruby held ont to him
about half minute.
"Humph,' he growled, 81 suppose
you're marrled2"
"Oh, yes" Ruby said, placidly, sits
all right; Pm Mrs. Da'enbury fast
enough"
Moneybags tried to look Plutonian
srimness, and frowned till his gray eye
brows bristled. But it wouldn't do.
The humor of the thing was too ap'
parent. Besides, he was glad of an ex-
cuse to welcome back that young hope
full of his. So, melting suddenly, he
shook Ruby's small hand cordially,
grumbled something about its being bet
ter so, and, turning to Hunt, "Glad to
see you, my boy, and if you'll let this
young sunbeam you've caught sparkle at
the head of my table at home, you may
sit at the foot of it, and you may study
law all the days of your life for aught |
care"
Mr.. st. Maur could hut follow Money.
bags example, and they all went out TO
dinner, which still waited, as gay a
party as you often see.--New York
News.