Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1897-10-08
MILE AND MOLL1E.

1--WE come to ask you for the hand of
your daughter" said young Bromley.
stumbling to the seat offered him by
the girls father.
(Which One% asked old Dimmock.
the coal merchant. laying down the
newspaper which he had been reading
and eyfng the young nan curiOusly.
Sometimes l think it is MOllie, and
again 1 am sure it is Millie." replied
young Bromley, genuinely perplexed.
The old coal merchant looked sympa-
rhctic.
you can't have botll," said he, after
an awkward pause.
"They're splendid girls, good enough
for anybody" exclaimed the young
man.
well, I rather Think said the old
man, proudly.
Il could be happy with either of
them,' went on young Bromley.
I'm disposed to think" observed
old Dimmock. 'that YOU have been
happy with both of them"
80 they've told me more than once"
sHiu AShOuilSSs Will luc lllCdtSitIG llSlL
of recollection in his eyes.
well. can't you make up your mind
which girl YOU want to marry::"
The old coal merchant looked at the
young man with the fresh color and
the loyal blue eyes as il lie would like
TO have him for a sOn-in-law.
Young Bromley did not answer for IL
moment, and then lie said slowly:
(Which do you think sounds the bet
ter-'Millic Bromley or 'Mollic BrGm-
leyy Sometimes I've looked mt it in
that way"
Il don't think there's much to
choose" returned the old coal mer-
chant. weighing the question with ev-
cry desire to he fair.
You KNOW continued the young
man. there have been times when I'v,
zone To he'd perfectly charmed with
the name 'Millie Bromley and in the
morning 'Mollie Bromley has caught
my fancy. Millie. Mollic: Mollic, Millic
its an awful puzzle"
"Of course. you've proposed to one
of the girls!' inquired their father.
20, yes. indeed" said young Brom-
ley.
'Tlcn that is the girl you want TO
marry exclaimed the old man, trium-
phantly. "Why, it's simple enough. af-
ter all. You've taken quite n load Of
my mind. Which one was it,"
at was Millie-I Think" answered
young Bromley. hcsitatingly.
'Think! Don't you know"
The young man flushed and looked
reproachfully at the coal merchant.
MIR. Dimmock." said he. I'll put. it
to YOU as nan to man: Which is Millie
and which is Mollie!:'
Don't crOss-cXamine me. SIR" re-
joined the old man. IF YOU want to
marry one of the girls it's your bust
ness to find out"
Heaven Knows" cried young Brum.
fey in anguish. II want to marry either
Millic or Mollie and have her all to my
self. Its trying enough for a fellow t
be over head and ears in love with one
girl, but when there are two of them
it's more than flesh and blood can
stand"
''Therc. there, my hoy" said the old
coal merchant soothingly, don't take
OH so. Either girl is yours with my
blessing, but l wan to keep one for
myself. Let me see If l can help you
And going to the open French window
he called:
"Millic, Mollic! Mollic. Millic.!"
Eyes. papa. we're coming" sounded
two sweet, well-brcd voices from the
s%lrubhery.
There vas a tripping of light feet
along the stony walk under the grape
vine. and Millie and MOllie bloomed
into the room.
How do you do. MI. Bromley?' they
said together, with the same iiltona-
ton and the same merry CLINT in their
eyes.
Millic had auburn hair and brown
eyes: SO had MOllie. Millie had II Gu
pid's bow of Il mouth. little teeth like
pearls, and Il dimrled chin: so had
MOllie. Miles rms seen through her
muslin sleeves. We're round and white:
SD were Mollic's.
From waist to tips of their little feet
tile figures of Millic and Mollie were
tIlc SitlilS, lllc lOE Hit, iIlu UOlu were
dressed in white muslin. with lilac
bows behind their white nccks and
lilac saslcs at their waists. lilac stock
ings without IL wrinkle. and each wore
white satin shoes. Their hair was loose
over their fair brows and was braided
down their backs. of just the same
length, and tied ut the end with lilac
ribbons. Millie tied MOllie's bows and
Mollie tied Miles.
We'll, papa?"
'Young Bromley tells me-" began old
Mr.. Dimmock. after he had taken
drafts of their fresh young beauty by
looking first at one and then Mt the
other. and then dwelling upon the fea-