The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1896-03-04

her to show some one was glad to go
with him.
jim, too, was very quiet. He drove
carefully over the deep ruts in the road,
his whole attention apparently CEN
tered on doing as little injury as possi-
BILE to the springs of his buggy. AS
they came near the end of the siX-mile
drive he suddenly turned to her.
Jennie" he said, II have always
liked you first rate, as you know. Do
you suppose you could ever love me
enough to marry me?"
She stared at him, dumfounded
Was one of the Whitney girls having u
! proposal! Another feeling succeeded
the surprise and she looked away
quickly, while the color rushed to her
pale cheeks. Before she had time TO
| speak they turned corner and found
themselves surrounded by the pic
| nickers.
| "Come along" called Bess Springer.
"You are the very last. Hurry up and
tie your horse, and let's climb the bluffs
before supper-time."
| The sisters were waiting to talk it
! all over with .Jenniewhen she got home.
| After her speeches of the morning
they hesitated about questioning her,
| but she sat down by the kitchen table
where Peg was finishing the ironing,
| and told all about it.
YES, very good supper. We spread
ii on the grass beneath the big elm
tree. The only trouble was that there
were too many black ants. We had
lots of good cake and fried chicken.
Mrs. Woods lemon pies and your cook
les, Sue, were the best things" She
! did not tell that when the cookies were
passed, after several rich cakes, Bess
Springer had exclaimed: Cookies!
Oh, yes, from the Whitneys!"
"Was the river pretty?" asked Nan;
she had never been to bluff picnic.
'Oh, yes, real pretty, and everybody
enjoyed climbing the bluffs. The
Brown girls were afraid they were 60
ing to fall, and made lots of fun" She
rose, went to the shelf where the bucket
of water stood, and drank little sips
aimlessly from the tin cup.
Hurry and get your drink and tell
us what happened besides supper and
climbing the Bluffs" said Nan, impa-
tiently.
Jennie turned and faced the sisters.
"On the way over" she said, quietly,
Jim said he loved = liked me, and
wanted me to marry him."
Peg dropped her iron. They all
gazed silently at Jennie. Through
De- -
! two-story home of her own on the
next farm, nice parlor with tides on
every chair-tidies made by Jennie's
sisters-sweet little children about the
place, always clamoring to go over and
see their aunties. Her thoughts trav-
eled SO rapidly that before the silence
was broken one of these children had
grown into very pretty girl, who
stopped on her way home from picnics
to tell her dear old aunts what lovely
time she had They knew she had
been the belle of the picnic, though she
was much too sweet to mention the
fact. Lza's voice dispelled the vision.
Liza was always the first to speak.
"You dear GIRL she said, II just
know you will be real happy. Jim was
always good boy"
81 am not going to marry him." said
Jennie.
Jennie! why not?" The four asked
the question together.
Jennie hesitated. We'll" she said,
81 am not set on it; and suppose am
liable to have consumption some day.
and perhaps l ought not to get mar
ried."
''That's silly" said Sue. because
mother had it is no sign you will. You
have never had any cough to speak Of
The others began their protests, bus
she interrupted them.
Consumption hasn't got anything
| to do with it," she said. II wanted to
| think it over-proposals being sort Oh
new to me, you know-so went off by
| bank for minute or SO after supper
Less Springer and Tom johnson were
there, and heard Bess telling how jim
proposed to Sally last night and was
awfully cut up because she would no.
| have him. So it was not much of ar
offer after all, you see. Goodnight
| girls"
| AS she turned to leave the kitchen
she stopped for second by the iron
| ing board and laid her hand on Pegs
shoulder. Peggy" she said, tenderly
with her voice trembling little
''there certainly never was as good a
man in all Missouri as pa-unless it was
| grandpa. midland Monthly.
Adventure in the Sahara.