The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1897-09-24
MILLIE AND MOLLIE.

the coal ulofcuiuI, ldyluS uOWH lue
newspaper which he had been reading
md eying the young man curiously.
Sometimes l think it is Mollie, 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 anybodyp' exclaimed the young
man.
"Well. l rather think" said the old
man. proudly.
81 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"
so they've told me more than once"
said Bromley. with the pleasant light
of recollection in his eyes.
We'll. 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 If he would like
to have him for son-in-law.
Young Bromley did not answer for a
moment. and then he said slowly:
(which do you think sounds the bet
ter-'Millie Bromley or 'Mollie Brom-
leyT 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 ev-
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 'Millie Bromley and in the
morning 'Mollie Bromley has caught
my fancy. Millie, Mollie; Mollie, Millie
its an awful puzzle
''Of course, you've proposed to one
of the girls?" 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?"
''It was Millie-I think" answered
young Bromley, hesitatingly.
Think! Don't you know?"
The young man flushed and looked
reproachfully at the coal merchant.
"Mr. Dimmock," said he. 'I'n put it
to you as man to man: Which is Millie
and which is Mollie"
Don't cross-eXamine me, sir,'' re-
Joined the old man. 'If you want to
marry one of the girls it's your busi-
ness to find out"
Heaven knows" cried young Brom-
ley in anguish, 81 want to marry either
Millie or Mollie and have her all to my
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 soothingly, 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
Eyes, papa, we're coming" sounded
two sweet, well-bred voices from the
shrubbery.
There was 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. Mr. Bromley?'' they
said together. with the same intona
ton and the same merry CLINT in their
eyes.
1,o1 o.1t, hot
eyes; so had Mollie Millie had a Gu
pid's bow of a mouth. little teeth like
pearls. and a dimpled chin; so had
Mollie. Miles arms, seen through her
muslin sleeves, were round and white;
so were Mollie's.
From waist to tips of their little feet
the figures of Millie 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 a 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 at the end with lilac
ribbons. Millie tied Mollie's bows and
Mollie tied Miles.
well, papa"
young Bromley tells me-" began old
Mr.. Dimmock after he had taken
draffs of their fresh young beauty by
looking first at one and then at the
other. and then dwelling upon the fea-
lures of both with one eye sweep.
that he proposed to you last night"
20, not to both. you know. Mr.. Dim
mock interjected young Bromley.
HE asked me to be his wife," said
Millie demurely.
''Hc told me that he could not live
without me-" said Mollie mischiev-
ously.
How is this?" said the old man.
turning to young Bromley with Sc
we're look.
The young man blushed furiously
and lifted his hands in protest.
"I'm sure,' he stammered. zone Of
you is mistaken. l asked you, Millie,
to be my wife in the summer-house~
and-and-I kissed you. That was be-
fore supper, and later in the evening,
when we sat on the front steps, I saw
that couldn't live without you, and
that we must get married.
Before we 60 any further" inter-
rupted the old coal merchant, (which