The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1894-07-27

his footing or how it happened he did
not know; but certain it is that. just
at that moment, one of the beehiveS
fell-crash!-over among the raspberry
bushes. Fannie fled in wild fright,
and Julian himself, recovering his bal
ance as best he might, was driven to
ignominious flight.
''Who did that?' said Squire Car
buncle. issuing out of the door.
I'm afraid L did, sir!'' confessed
Julian.
And what am l to say to Miss Be
linda Bubble?" sternly demanded his
uncle.
I'm sure, sir, l don't know" an
swered Julian
''Such a thing never happened before
in all the years that we have lived as
neighbor To each other" said Mr.. Car
buncle. ''Of course, the bees have got
away and the glass honey boxes are
broken?"
II am very sorry, sir" said Julian.
The squire, an eminently Just man.
harnessed up his gray pony and drove
to town the next day. That evening
he called at the Bubble farmhouse
with Il square package, neatly done up
in brown paper. in his arms Fannie
Halkett came To the door.
My dear" SAID Squire Carbuncle, "is
your cousin ut home?"
Yes, sir" said Fa nnie, fiuttering all
over and showing the way into the best
parlor, where the blue paper shades
were down and the stuffed owl on the
mantel ira nstiXed the chance visit Drs
with its eyes OF glitte. ing green glass.
Il ell her I've called on very par
l.
norously.
''..es, sirr said Fannie, and away she
ran.
Cousin Belinda, take your hair out
of those crimping pins at once" said
she, and Let mc fasten this blue-rib bon
bow at your throat. He's in the parlor.
Hes come to propose"
Nonsense, Fanuier'
But he has! lie as good as told me
so!' cried Fannie, Standing on tiptoe
to kiss Miss Bciinda's withercd apple of
a cheek. DO make haste. Don't
keep him waiting. Men dom: like to
be kept waiting" And she fairly
room
Miss Bubble" said the squire, sol
emnly, rising To his feet, Il have called
Sc iSh IL ou Will dCcCpl-
Yes, Seth" cried MIS-, Belinda, fl ling
ing herself into his arms. Luckily he
had bethCusht himself to lay the
square package down on the table
Yes, dear Seth, l will. Fannie told
me you was going to propose to me, but
| didn't believe it And I'll be as good
Il wife to you as | know how. And.
oh, Seth, Eve always loved you since
singing school together."
The squire opened and shut his
mouth as if it were some curious piece
of machinery.
"Ehl'' said he. staring mechanically
at the owl.
Il hope, " faltered Miss Bubble, you
don't think I've been too hasty in ac-
cepting your offer?''
No, Belinda. no." said Mr.. Carbun-
Gle. swallowing down n lump in his,
throat Il am much obliged to you for
saying yes and l am quite convinced,
my dear, that you will be a good vie
to me"
And so this autumnal couple became
engaged; and the squire never told Be
linda that il WAS the colony OF Italian
bees he had brought her, not himself,
to lay as an offering at he shrine.
But it's just as well" said the squire
to himself Il ought really to be set
tied in life, and Belinda is a most
worthy woman. 1t is best at times to
abandon oneself entirely to circum-
stances"
Didn't | tell you so, Cousin Belinda?"
said Fannie, eXultantly.
One wedding makes many, and
neither of the elders was surprised
when Julian and Fannie became en-
gagged shortly after
The hummng of bees will be the
sweetest music in all the world To my
ears after this" said Julian, fervently.
Il always was partial to bees" reit-
Grated Miss Belinda.--AmV Randolph,
in y. Y. Ledger.