Walker Lake bulletin. (Hawthorne, Nev.) 1883-1926, 1897-10-06
MILE AND MOLLIE.

ave come to ask you for the hand OIL
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 eying the young man curiously.
Sometimes l think it Is Molle, and
again l am sure it Is Millie," replied
young Bromley, genuinely perplexed.
The old coal merchant looked sympa-
thetic.
"You can't have BOTH" said he after
an awkward pause.
They're splendid girls, good enough
for anybodyw 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.
.'Im disposed to think" observed
old Dimmock, that you have been
happy with both of them"
80 they've told me more than once"
said Bromley, with the pleasant light
Vi TecOllectiOn III MS eyes.
'Well, can't you make up your mind
which girl you want to marryY"
The old coal merchant looked at the
young man with the fresh color and
the loyal blue eyes as If he would like
to have him for a son-in-law.
Young Bromley did not answer for
moment, and then he said slowly:
ioh IA i,l-
ter-'Mlllie Bromley or 'Mollie Brom-
leyY Sometimes I've looked at it In
that way"
Il don't think there's much to
choose" returned the old coal mer-
chant, weighing the question with ey-
cry desire to be fair.
you know" continued the young
man, there have been times when I've
gone to bed perfectly charmed with
the name 'Mille Bromley and in the
morning 'Mollie Bromley has caught
my fancy. Mile, Mollie; Mollie, Mile
Its an awful puzzle"
"Of course. you've proposed to one
of the glrls?' inquired their father.
20, yes, indeed" said young Brom-
ley.
''Then 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 load off
my mind. Which one was it?'
1T was Millie-I think" answered
young Bromley, hesitatingly.
"Thnk! Don't you known
The young man flushed and looked
reproachfully at the coal merchant.
MIR. Dimmock," said he, III put It
to you as man to man. Which is Mile
and which Is Molle?'
Don't crosseXamine 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 Brom-
ley In anguish, Il want to marry either
Mile or Mollle and have her all to nv
self. It's trying enough for fellow to
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"
There, there, my boy" said the old
coal merchant soothlngly, don't take
on so. Either girl is yours with my
blessing. but l want to keep one for
myself. Let me see If / can help YOU"
And going to the open French window
he called:
"Millie, Mollie Mollie, Miller
"Yes, papa, we're coming" sounded
two sweet, well-bred voices from the
shrubbery.
There was tripping of light feet
along the stony walk under the grape
vine, and Mile and Mollie bloomed
into the room.
How do you do, Mr.. Bromley ~ they
said together, with the same intona.
tion and the same merry CLINT in their
eyes.
Mile had auburn hair and brown
eyes; so had Mollie Mile had a Gu
pid's bow of mouth, little teeth like
pearls, and dlmpled chin; so had
Mollle. Miles arms, seen through her
muslin sleeves were round and white:
so were Mollle's.
From waist to tips of their little feet
the figures of Mile and Mollie were
the same. line for line, and both were
dressed in white muslin. with lilac
bows behind their white necks and
lilac sashes 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. Mile tied Molles bows and
Molle tied Miles.
well, 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 at the
other. and then dwelling upon the fea-