The Dickinson press., 1896-03-14
M~ISCHIEVOUS
HMA


Il nm sure, Cousin Molly, that Mr..
Beaumont Is in love with you"
Nonsense, Nellie! He knows very
little about me-. have only been stay
ing win you three weeks"
"But don't you believe in love at
first sight?"
Il am surf l don't know; but"
Now, be sensible, Molly. You know
you are very fond of him."
Il don't know anything Of the sort.
I don't care a bit about lhm-that is, I
think he is very agreeable, and hand
some, and kinl-hearted, and all that"
r:4sht add clever, virtuous and
fascinating"
"Why"
Because then you would have given
him all the qualities that a woman can
expect in the a she would marry"
Really, Nellie, l believe you are
nothing but a scheming little match
maker"
"ln this instance perhaps I am. But
it is certainly a. very desirable match,
uIlu yOu dIS Uutu ue6V OScE CoI0 ~
love with each other"
Il protest, l don't love him a bit"
You don't know your OWN mind"
"On. yes, l do. l don't love him. and
I wouldn't marry him."
do you meal that?
"Well, Of course l do"
e." marry him. myself"
"You."
ON1yL,. ~.AsS,
ooh, of course. it is nothing to me"
"Quite 3d..
"But l think it very mea of you
very, very mean-not to nave told me
that you cared for him."
Now, Molly, just listen Mr.. Beau
mont, l am sure, thinks you do not
like him, and that you would refuse
him il he asked you to marry"
do you think So"
"ies; so l believe, from something
he dropped. that he is going to propose
to me this afternoon. Now, IL you slip
into the drawing room and hide behind
the screen"
II shouldn't think Of doing any such
thing. The ideal!
do as l tell you, dear, and you will
hear me refuse him. l was only jest
luS Wlcu ! SuIU 1 WOulu AloAAy NAAs
Beaumont myself"
'"Iaen you are sure you don't love
him the least little BIT, Nellie, dear"
mot in the least. You will hear me
tell him so If you wait"
"Well, Mr.. beaumont, I have sound.
ed my cousin molly"
And do you really think l may hope
for s%uccess!"
II am. sure Of 1t. She Is very fond of
fact. We women are curious c eat.
ures."
ut was very good of you to o,ler me-
your advice and help"
mot at all; we are very old friends.
spoil everything. You must d. exactly
as / tell you. You must come into the
drawing room and propose to me-"
Propose to your
"Yes; and mind you act your part
WE'LL"
II don't understand you"
"Well, while you are proposing te
me, Molly will be behind the screen
When she hears your protestations OF
love for me she will think she has lost
you and will discover the true state OF
her heart"
"Rut really, this seems rather"
"Now, don't argue. Do just az l tell
you. Come into the drawing room al
once, or she will suspect COLLISION"
zone moment. Don't you think"
mot a. word. l hear Molly coming
down stairs. l will sit here on this
sofa. When I raise my hand begin
Can you tell me of q good novel, Mr.
Beaumont"
"Well-er-it is rather a responsible
ity recommending novels to ladies now
adays. There are as many different
schools IT readers as Of writer's"
But you know by this time my taste
in fiction"
"Not 80 we'll, I am afraid. as I could
wish. Hem! II you would-er-only
let me become your sole literary read
er. faster and adviser for life!"
II am afraid l don't understand you
MIR. Beaumont"
"Cannot you guess what has brought
me here this afternoon? Let me bt
flank with you. Oh, Nellie. we have
been friends now a long time. Every
year you become dearer to me ani
more necessary for my happiness. viii
you not become my wife? Speak, darl
ing! Say you consent. You cannot
guess how l long to have you Away.
by my side. Say 'yes,' and make m,
the happieet man in all the wide
world"
From where she sat Nellie saw tn,
lutter of a light blue gown as 1t pass
ed quickly from behind the screen t.
the open door. Molly had prematurel,
lied.
do not keep me in suspense" b,
went on. "Say you will be my wife,"
She bent her head to hide an IRE
sistible smile.
"Yes!"-
Mr.. Beaumont leaped to his feet II