The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1895-12-28

married OH before she even got pliCe dS
stenographer thought so myself.
remember it was the last day Of 93
that | was sitting in the smoking room,
and all the others were in the next room
(Which they called the warm room
because it WASH quite as cold as the 9TH
ers) when the next mail came Gregory
brought me letter from the boss,
and was reading it when heard
Maud say in her quiet way ''Auntie,
| may as well tell you, | am engaged.
Then heard Mrs, Gregory get up and
20 over and kiss Maud, and as den t
like to overhear conversations meant for
other ears | went up TO my room and
stocked up the fire.
[ may as well own that | was cut up
quite little, for | had begun to like
Maud little too well for my own comfort
and while | had no real hope Of ever
winning her, it was rather a shock to learn
that she was actually engaged, and that |
was to have no chance at all
| pulled out my writing material with
a jerk, and answered the letter | had re-
ceived in pretty bad mood, and then
smoked IA pipe and read bit, and before
| knew it it was late.
Gregory came in and sat on the bed
awhile and talked about Il curling match
that was to come off the next day. and
then he incidentally remarked &: You
heard Maud say she was engaged at last,
didn' you?' Yes, | said, II did
hear something of the kind. Who's got
her. Simpson his name. said Greg
ory; rich old fellow. runs 4 furniture
factory in Toronto
oh = | said
Then Gregory left, and pulled out my
note book. | took L new leaf and set
about writing some resolutions for 81. |
do it every year-and usually keep them.
This time | thought for quite awhile be-
fore | could think Of any reforming |
needed and at length | gave it up and
simply wrote Resolved; That | will
be bachelor all my life.
Then shut the book and went to bed
and naturally dreamed of Maud. You
see how lar gone | was.
The next morning we were all at break
fast when some one introduced the subject
of Maud engagement.
You are the only one to neglect to
congratulate me. MIR. Butler. she said,
fcignng otfenSe.
But I do congratulate you, Miss
Maud. said. sincerely, and | hope
your engagement may lead to nothing but
happiness for YOU.
,.Oh it will = she said IF you
knew Mr. Simpson. ynu could not doubt
it. He is Just the kinde~t man. He is
just the man | should have picked Of all
the men know.
Indeed? | imagined that You did
choose him, in way? In such Il matter
one usually
.Of course. the said. Il chose him,
but still it lay with him. too. for without
his CONSENT
His consent r. | cried.
Why. yes. she said, he had to ac
cept me before
..Acccpt you, Miss Mand = | ex-
claimed You certainly did not propose
to him
..Certainly, l did" she said. You
don't think could have @ot the posi-
tiuli-
The position = said. auaze,
What position p
Why, as Stenographer, OF course.
What did you think had and then
she must have seen through my stupid
hlundcr. for she hlushed
And as for me, there was no staying at
the same table with Gregory' after that, 50
| went up to my room and tore up the
only resolution | had made for the New
Year; and. to make long story short, we
were married at Sutton West. Maud and
|. that summer, and Gregory was my best
man, which position he filled very well. in
spite ni' Il boil on his neck.