The Kootenai herald. [volume] (Kootenai, Idaho) 1891-1904, 1896-04-04
A MIsCHIEvOUs MATCHMAKER.

staying WITH you three weeks.
But don't you believe in love at first
sight?"
Il am sure don't know but"
Now, be sensible, Molly. You know
you are very fond of him"
Il don't know anything of the sort
1 don't care bit about him-that is. 1
think he is very agreeable, and hand
some, and kind-hearted. and all
that"
You might add clever vlrtuous and
fascinating"
"Why?"
Because then you would have given
him all the qualities that a woman can
expect in the man she would marry"
Really, Nellie, / believe you are moth
ing but scheming little ma tch- maker"
In this instance perhaps I am But
1t is certainly very desirable match,
and you are both head over ears in
love with each other"
Il protest. l don't love him a bit"
You don't know your own mind"
"Oh, yes do. don't love him. and
wouldn't marry him"
DO you mean that?"
"Well, of course / do"
Then I'll marry him myself"
"You?"
why not?"
"Oh, Of course it is nothing to me-"
quite So"
But l think it very mean of you
very. very mean-not to have told me
chat 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
lf he asked you to marry"
do you think SOP
Yes; so ! believe. from something
ne dropped, that he is going to propose
to me this afternoon. Now, if you slip
into the drawing room and hide behind
the screen"
Il shouldn't think of doing any such
thing. The ideal"
do as 1 tell you, dear. and you will
hear me refuse him. I was only testing
when I said I would marry Mr. Beau
mont myself"
"Then you are sure you don't love him
the least little bit Nellie, dear?"
Not in the least. You will hear me
tell him so If you wait"
well. Mr.. Beaumont. have sounded
my cousin, Molly
And do you really think l may hope
for SUGGEST"
Il am sure of it. She is very fond of
you. but not yet fully aware of the fact.
We women are curious creatures"
''It was very good Of you to offer me
your advice and help"
mot at all; we are very old friends.
Now, don't you be rash, or you will
spoil everything You must do exactly
as 1 tell you. You must come into the
drawing room and propose to me"
Propose to you?"
YES; and mind you act the part
we'll"
Il don't understand you"
well, while you are proposing 70 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"
But. really, she seems rather
Now, don't argue. Do just as I tell
you. Come into the drawing room at
once or she will suspect collision"
zone moment. Don't you think
Not a word. 1 hear Molly coming
down stairs. l will sit here on this sofa
When 1 raise my head begin. Can you
tell me a good novel, Mr.. Beaumont
"Well-er-it is rather a responsible
nowadays. There are as many differ.
ent schools of reading as writer's"
"But you know by this time my tast,
in fiction"
mot so well, am afraid, as 1 could
wish Hem If you would-er-only
let me become your sole literary reader
faster and adviser for life"
Il am afraid 1 don't understand you
Mr. Beaumont"
Cannot you guess what has brough
me here this afternoon? Let me b'
frank with you. Oh, Nellie. we hav
been friends now for "A long time. Ever!
year you become dearer to me ant
more necessary for my happiness. viii
you become my wife? Speak, darling
Say you consent. You cannot CUES
how 1 long to have you always by IN,
side Say yes and make me the hap
piest man in all the wide worldr
From where she sat Nellie saw tn
futter of a light blue gown as it passe
quickly from behind the screen to tn
open door Molly had prematurely FLED
She bent her head to hide an irresist
ible smile.
YES"
MT Beaumont leapt % his feet !: