The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1894-09-14

trout fishing, and who had developed
very strong propensity for reading
novels under the old pear-tree that
overshadowed Miss. Bubbles garden
fence
Wouldn't IL be niceS' said Fannie.
"SplendioT' Julian answered, lean
ing over 10 put heodtul o! raapberries
Into the biue-edged bowl
Whether be leaned too Ear and lost
bis footing or how II happened he did
not know; but certain 1t Is that Just
at that 9oment one Of the beehives
fen-crash!-over among the raspberry
bushes Fannie Bed In Wild fright,
and Julian himself, rceoreri<y his bal
anee as best be might ues driven to
ignoninious fight
who did thatp- Sold Squire Car
ouncle, issuing out of the door.
"l'n afraid / did, sirr' confessed
Julian.
And whst am b say TO Miss Be-
linda Babbleo" sternly demanded his
uncle
I'm sure, sir, dont knowi- en-.
swercd Jplian
'-Suoh thing never happened before
in al the years that we have lived as
neighbor 20 each ether" said Mr., Car
bnncie 'Ot course, the bees have got
away and the glass honey boxes are
broken7"
~ am very sorry, SIR said Julian
The squire, an eminently just man
harnessed up his gray pony and drove
10 town the next day. That evening
he called at the Bubble farmhouse
with square package, neatly done mp
Ia brown paper, in his arms Fannie
Halkett came TO the door.
My dear, " said Squire Carbuncle, -is
your cousin at homer
Yes, sir" said Fa ME. flutteTing all
over ond showing the way into the hest
parlor, where the blue paper shades
were down and the stuffed owl on the
mante. trn nsfxed the chance visitors
with its eyes Of glittering green glass
Tell her I've called on very par
ticular business" said the squire So
uorously
Yes, sirl'' said Fannie, aud away she
ran
Cousin Belinda take your hair out
Of those crimping pins at once" said
she, "snd let me fasten this bluc-ribbon
bow at your throat He's in the psrlor.
He's come 70 propose"
Nonsense, Fanniel'
Put he hasl he as good as told me
sol" cried Fannie, standing on tiptoe
70 kiss Miss Belinda's withered apple Of
cheek 'Do make haste Don't
keep him waiting. Men don't like to
be kept waiting And she fairly
pushed Belinda Bubble into the best
room
Mis- Bubble" SAID the squire, sol.
EMMY, rising 20 his feet II have called
20 ask IL you Will accept
"Yes, Seth" cried Miss Belinda, fling
ing herself Into his arms Luckily he
had bethought himself 10 lay the
square package down on the table
"Yes, dear Seth, will Fannie told
me you was going TO propose TO me, but
didn't believe it And I'll be as good
a wife to you as know how. And,
Oh, Seth, I've always loved you since
We were young people and went to
singing school toge,her-
The squire opened and shut his
mouth as II IL were some curious piece
Of machinery.
"Ehl" said he, staring mechanically
at the owl
II hope" fa'tered Miss Bubble, you
don't think I've been too hasty In &C
ceptng your offer9''
NO, Belinda, no." said Mr. Ca<pun-
Gle, swallowing down a lump in his
throat. II am much obliged TO you for
saying yes and am quite convinced,
my dear, that you will be good wife
20 me"
And 50 this autumnai couple became
engaged; aud the squire never told Be
linda that it was the colony of italian
bees he had brought her, not himself,
20 lay as an Offering 1T her shrine
But it's just Us WE'LL said the squire
TO himself II ought really 10 be set
tied In life, and Belinda is q most
worthy woman. II is best ct times to
abandon oneself entirely TO circu1n-
s:ances~
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 humming Of bees will be the
sweetest music In all the world to my
ears after this" said Julian, fervently.
II always was partial TO bees" reit-
Grated Miss Belinda. Amy Randolph,
in \. Y. Ledger.