Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1896-02-13
he stepped behind the screen. There was
nobody there.

"What does this mean?'
''It simply means, Mr.. Beaumont,
that you have asked me to marry you,
and have consented.
II merely did SO at your suggestion
because''-
Exactly, and it was good of you to
adopt my suggestion. 1 have accepted
your offer, and hope 1 shall not have
reason to regret it,.
Nonsense, Miss Nellie! You knew
it was only in jest like good prac-
teal joke, but surely this one is little
undignified. 1t was understood that you
would refuse. II
II made no such promise, Mr.. Beau
mont "
"Why, Molly, dear, whatever is the
matter?''
Don't come near mel I'll ne-never
for-forgive you. You are horrid, mean
th-thing. I'm packing up and go-going
away. "
"Now, don't be silly girl What
have I done?'
You pro-promised to refuse him, and
then actually accepted him. You treach-
erous creaturel III never speak to you
again. To play such vile trick on me !
How could you be 80 heartless?''
But saw you leave the room before
gave him my answer.
81 came back and listened outside the
door, heard you accept him, and then
rushed away.
Ny dearest Molly, it was all prac-
tical joke. l thought you were out of
hearing, and was just teasing him. /
am SO sorry have hurt your feelings
and will confess all have been hoax
ing both Of you.
"How?'
Mr.. Beaumont never meant to pro
pose to me-he loves you alone-but he
went through the farce at my request.
He is waiting down stairs to see you.
So bathe your eyes, make yourself pret
ty, and come down. gave the poor man
quite a fright, but am awfully peni-
tent and he has forgiven me. / will tell
you all about it. There-we're good
friends again, aren't we:'
"My darling Molly, you have made
me SO happy"
But don't you feel terrible big
amist-accepted by two women in the
same day?''
'It was cruel jest of Nellie's.
'Yet she meant no HARM
Nevertheless | should like to pay
her back in her own coin. -
Yes. How can we manage it?"
Look, Molly Here is Captain Ours
ton coming up the drive. We will pre-
tend that Nellie and / are engaged. /"
Delightful Y
The captain entered and exchanged
greetings.
"Have you heard the news, Captain
Durston?" said Molly.
"What news?"
"Nellie has accepted an offer of mar
riage.
Eyes? I am delighted to say l am
quite aware of it. I"
Molly and Mr. Beaumont exchanged
glances.
"Why, who told your
"Ha. hal Who in the world should
tell me but your cousin hersslf?'
Nellie? ImpossibleP'
''Not at all. l have just authorized
the announcement in the county news
paper.
"The deuce you have =" exclaimed Mr.
Beaumont excitedly.
"And why not, sir2''
Because it is utterly false, sir. I"
"Sh-hl What is the matter?" cried
Nellie, running into the room. rSurely
you two gentlemen are not going to
quarrel here. =
Captain Durston states on your au-
thority. Miss Nellie, that you are en-
gagged to be married.
''It is perfectly true. I believe am. -
Molly threw herself into an easy chair
and began to sob and show signs of be-
coming hysterical Nellie and Durston
stood looking bewildered, while Beau
mont regarded Nellie with a glance of
mingled surprise and contempt.
II thought, N said Beaumont, ''this
farce was at an end, Miss Nellie"
Farce What do you mean?"
Suddenly smile broke over her face,
and she burst into peal of laughter.
As soon as she was capable of speech she
explained that she was privately en-
gagged to Captain Durston three days be-
fore, and that he had actually come that
afternoon to announce the fact She also
enlightened her future husband as to the
cause of all the confusion.
Then everybody laughed, everybody
congratulated everybody else and every
body was in the end supremely happy.
But three of the company insisted that
Nellie was a wicked. meddlesome, mis-
chievous little thing, and that she would
have to be kept well in hand when she
became Mrs. Durston. London Tit
Bits.