Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1897-06-26

mucu, 5Hu quite appToVeu Oh nim ior
Sissie. | began, too, woman-like, to |
wish he would make me bis conf |
dante. How | should crow over
Tony. So l asked, abruptly:
"Haye you seen Sissie Walton re-
Gently, Mr.. Moore?'
"Seen her recently?' he repeated.
sob, yes. | believe she is with the
Oldenshaws. Would you kindly
give me another cup OF your excel
lent tea p
"Bother the man. ] thought.
"What way to speak. | begin to
fear for my wager
Soon after some OF the others
came strolIing in, and our talk was
stopped.
"Well, auntie,n quizically, show
about your filagree spectacle case ~
"How about your rscket, miss Z"
| retorted.
"0h. did not say picnics were
dangerous pleasures where proposals
were sure to be made" she laughed.
1t was about month after that,
as we sat at afternoon tea, that Maud
Bridget, the carry-gossip Of the
neighborhood, entered in all excite
ment.
"Have you heard the news?" she
cried. sThe news about Clarence
Moore 2"
NO." exclaimed Tony. "What
news?"
"He is engaged to Kate Walton !"
''What p / calculated.
ITO Kate cried Tony, and then
began pas seul with a meaning
glance at me.
"You are sure it's Kate Z" l said.
Certain. He proposed, she ac-
cepted him, that goes without say
ing. And now you should see her ;
she can scarcely contain her happi.
ness. She is in the seventh heaven
of delight, as we'll she may be. She
must have given mp all hopes of mar,
riage years ago."
MY DEAR" said, "no woman
ever does that. Besides, it is not
the youngest who always goes off
first nowadays
mo; but she is much older than
he"
'That's true. The seniority is On
the wrong side. Still, where there
is love"
ooh, there are heaps of that on
her side," laughed our yisitor-a
girl who will, CIR at least ought to,
die an old maid. "She simply adores
him, while she told ne she had been
aware Of his affection ever so long"
Tony's twinkling eyes looked at
me. | slightly shook my head. l
own I could not make it out.
swat until we see Sissie," l
thought, and as if my words had
summoned her, at that very moment
she was announced.
Il came to tell you the news, but
| perceive | am forestalled," she
said. "It is stated i'll news flies
apace," she went on in her gay,
light-hearted way, "but this is good
news. Kate is such dear girl, and
you see the very one to rule and
manage Moat Lodge
l examined her furtively, but
closely. She was most certainly
genuine. No bravado, no covering
regret beneath mask of gaiety was
there. She was, | felt convinced,
supremely glad of her sisters en-
gagement. was vexed, had been
so at fault, and that that puss Tony
had won the wager.
Soon after / saw Kate. Great
happiness had improved her, as it
does every one. No longer under
the necessity to conceal her passion
she let it have way, and her whole
being seemed absorbed and illumin-
ed by a great unselish love, and
thorough belief in her betrothed.
Well, they were married. Tony
and Sissie were two of the brides.
maids. Clarence Moore took his
happiness calmly. While they knelt
and he was about to place the ring
on Katie's finger, he looked sudden
ly up, and, to me, his gaze seemed
to rest upon Sissie but if so, swift
ly it was averted, and the ceremony
concluded.
After the breakfast they went of
to a pretty bay In North Wales, /
just now forgot the name, and there
spent their honeymoon scarcely a
month, for old Mr.. Moore could not
bear his son to be absent therefore
they returned somewhat earlier.
just at that time / got an invita-.
tion from an old friend to spend the
winter with her at Caen, so packed
my pormanteau, and started.
It was far in the sweet spring
weather when | returned to Slo.
combe, just in time again for Mrs.
Waltons' garden party. On this &C.
casioD, however, / came on purpose
to be present, for felt like enc OF
the family, Sissie, my favorite, being
engaged to Jack.
OF course Mr.. and Mrs. Moore
roro fboro che LOOKING ra4ho- dol;