The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1894-12-28

suppose THE match VIII be very suit
able. He's getting old and yous not so
very young yourself. Those city women
have knack of hiding their age, too.
Oh, yes, l should think that you are
very we'll suited. It's nothing to me.
I'm sure"
Good, and hope that you will ac-
cept an invitation ITO my wedding"
"Oh, 1 am the last person in the
world to go to weddings. OF course If
| it's romantic affair l don't mind 60
| ing, but a cut and dried marriage never
| did catch me. Oh, by the way, what
will those three strange men think?"
II don't know, but | have invited
| them TO the wedding"
Miss, | must say that you are about
| the curisest critter l ever saw, and 1t
strikes me that the less a body has to
do with you the better it will be for
en-
Several months pasted, and the eX-
| piration of the lease was approaching.
And so was the time set for Polly's mar
lavishly and the old man wore a new
| homespun suit. "You know we had a
sort of a contract" he said to Polly one
! evening.
Yes but if you speak of the engage
ment I'll break it,"
I 81 CAD, you've got me wound up in a
close place. I'd like to, ask you if it
amt about time you was gettin' your
dress ready, and all that sort Of thing"
Look out now, Mr.. Aimes."
The old man ducked his head as
though a stone had been thrown at
him. "All right, miss, but don't forget
to blow your horn when you are ready"
1t was morning, and Polly and Nell
were sitting in the parlor at home,
Polly had said that as the lease was
about to expire there was no need of
going to the office. 1--WE will wait"
she said, "and let the owner Of the paper
come here if he wants to see us"
do you think of taking it again %
Nell asked, with touch of sadness in
her voice.
mo, think not"
80 then you are in earnest about
marrying father"
mo, think not.
"You think not? Don't you know?"
"Yes, think l do"
Polly, you have one of your mysteri-
Gus fits today. What's the use of keep
ing up this foolishness? Tell him that
you can't marry him. You have let il
run on so long already that he has gone
to the expense of getting new suit OF
clothes"
Yes, but he hasn't any more clothes
now than he needs"
Nell sighed and Polly looked dream.
lily out into the garden. Your coming
and your stay has been a romance tc
me, Polly, and now it must end" She
sat with her elbow on table and med
itatively and deftly was touching hel
hair. The sunlight, streaming through
the high window, fell upon her, illu
mined her, and the sad glow of wish
dream was in her eyes. Out in the
broad, lodging about, stalked young
man, smitten clown, dying to catch {
glimpse of her. "Yes, your coming wa!
so strange a romance, bringing to me {
mind that 1 could admire and now thu
music must end in dry crackle."
Polly went to her, leaned over her
kissed her. Your romance may no
end" she said. But suppose that
should tell you that your romance hat
been brought by circus woman"
You a circus woman? didn't know
that they were so noble and brave"
II did not say that was a circu
woman, but suppose I were one; ant
suppose those three men came to per
suade me to go back into the ring"
"Oh, you are clearing up one mystery
Go on and you may clear up another.
But is there any other mystery t
clear up?"
"Oh, not exactly mystery, but hov
are you going to satisfy father that yol
should not marry him?"
"Oh, probably he will laugh at tn
idea tomorrow"
"But why should he when his mind /
now so set upon it? Do you think tina
he will decline to marry you becaus
you have been circus woman?"
NO. not particularly"
"Oh, you are becoming mysteriou
again, Polly. Why don't you be abso
lutely frank with me?"
81 will be, but not until after twelv
o'clock today"