The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1894-09-01
He lntrusted It to a Servant to Deliver
and After Many Adventures 1t
Reached the Eyes of the Young
Lady of His Choice an Hour After
She Had, Out of Pique, Agreed to
Marry His Rival.

NON, dO Nv, ANU RIOWllB SAmOluOlJ
stout, he was as romantic as ever. Mr..
Softheart was very we'll off and not i'll
looking.
For six months Belinda Bellows had
been waiting for Mr.. Softheart to pro-
pose and growing every day more cer-
tain that he positively intended to place
his brownstone mansion and bank &C
count at her disposal
But though Mrs. Bellows was kind
enough to allow the cook to summon
her to consultations when Mr.. Softheart
called, and 80 leave the pair tete-a-tete,
and although Miss Angelina was equal
ly considerate, and invariably remem-
bered that something she wanted very
particularly was up stairs when her
mother went to speak to the cook, poor
Mr.. Softheart could never bring himself
to the point of saying, "Will you have
me?"
"Pll do it by letter." he said to him
self after long consideration. women,
SO far, have misunderstood me. I'll do
it in black and white now."
And So on the last day Of March, Mr..
Softheart wrote an offer of his hand and
heart, enyeloped, sealed it and put it in
his pocket before he made his evening
call ON his beloved Belinda
Now, it so happened that that very
evening Belinda herself had come to a
resolution. Her twenty-flfth birthday
was approaching, and she could not af-
J ford ''to waste time. "'
If Mr.. Softheart meant anything, he
should say it; if he did not, she would
accept young Spooney,
When Mr.. Softheart rang the bell, he
found the field quite clear at the Bel
lowses'. Miss Belinda had artfully con-
trived that it should be so. That per-
fidious young person had actually pur-
chased tickets for a concert; requested
young Spooney, who was half mad with
joy at the idea, to accompany Angelina
and herself and on the evening in ques-
tion was smitten with a terrible attack
of neuralgia; but, after all, Mr.. Spooney
should not have his trouble for nothing
mamma and Angelina would Co.
Ten minutes after tho departure Of
the trio Miss Belinda, arrayed in blue
silk, was playing at such a rate ON the
piano that it seemed quite certain thai
the demon neuralgia must have vanish
ed.
She did not even hear Mr.. Softheart's
ring and started in sweet confusion OIL
his appearance
'I'm all alone" she said. "Mammi
and Lima won't be home until II
o'clock" and the two talked together
in very low voices, sitting very close t.
each other ON twin chairs.
Mr.. Softheart looked and sighed ant
uttered romantic sentiments, but he die
not pop the question. Miss Belinda die
all that modest young lady could t.
further this object, but in vain.
She did not lnow-how should she?-
that at the door Mr.. Softheart had sale
to Biddy:
'Look here, girl, put this in Mis-
Belinda's room, where she will be sur,
to see it, and I'll give you quarter, )
and had presented her with the billie
containing his proposal, crowned by ;
silver 20 cent piece.
If the man did not avail himself O
such chance after six months court
ship, plain even to the servants i'll TIN
kitchen, why, he meant nothing. Ant
the unhappy, unlucky Mr., Softheart di'
| not utter the expected words and left q
, 1916.
"He's contemplate thing" sal,
Miss Belinda. "I'll show him my hear
is not broken. I'll marry Spooney."
And Belinda wept, for she was hit
terly mortified, and Spooney did no
own q brownstone house.
Belinda wept, as we have said, an,
went to bed in the dark. OF course sh
. did not see the letter in the workhasket
and no one else saw it until the 1st G
April dawned.
Now, in their normal condition, wit
no love affairs ON the tapis, the Be
lows were merry people, who indulge
y in practical jokes, and April FOOLS da
$ was always religiously kept in the fan
!, lily.
. But this year the three particular Bel
y lows with whom we have to deal wer
4 not prepared with any practical joke
d though each suspected the other An
d when Angelina, sitting pin bed besid
her sister, saw the glittering white not
In the workbasket she Immediately mad
up her mind that it was trick.
She orept softly toward it and rea
the inscription = Miss Belinda Be
lows"-and retired to her pillow agair
"What a fiat trickp' she said to hel
self. "Why, Bell will guess at ono
unless she forgets that it is the 1st {
April"
Then thought struck her. She creI
tiptoe out of the room and down stall
to the kitchen, where Bridget, with
smutty face, was making the fire, tai
ing the letter with her.
"Biddy," she said in q whispe
"come up stairs and awaken my sistt
and tell her Mr.. Softheart brought tn
this morning."
And Angelina tiptoed back to bet
But Belinda was awake this time. ISL
r is going to try to fool me, / know,
: said she to herself, with her eyes shl
u and in very cross mood, and swaite
the denouement
: Biddy meanwhile had recognized tt
letter.