Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1897-08-07

ing uOWn the newspaper WHICH ue Hdtt
been reading, and eyeing the young
man curiously.
sometimes 1 think it is Mollie,
and again / am sure it is Millie," re-
piled young Bromley, genuinely per-
picked.
The old coal merchant looked SYM
pathetic.
"You can't have both," said he,
after an awkward pause.
'"They're splendid girls, good
enough for anybody" exclaimed the
young man.
"Well, rather think" said the old
man, proudly.
II 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"
$50 they've told me more than
once" said Bromley, with the pleasant
light 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 if he would like
to have him for son-inlaw.
Young Bromley did not answer for n
moment, and then he said slowly:
(Which do you think sounds the bet
ter-'Millie Bromley or 'Mollie
Bromley?' Sometimes I've looked at
IL in that wav."
II don't think there's much to
choose" returned the old coal mer-
chant, weighing the question with
every 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 Mile Bromley, and
in the morning 'Mollie Bromley has
caught my fancy. Millie, Mollie;
Mollie, Millie-it's an awful puzzle. ="
"Of course, you've proposed to one
of the girls?" inquired their father.
"Oh, yes, indeed" said young
Bromley.
"Then that is the girl you want to
marry" exclaimed the old man,
triumphantly. "Why, it's simple
enough after all. You've taken quite
a load of 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'll put
it to you as man to man: Which is
Millie and which is Mollie?"
"Dont cross-examine 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, 81 want to marry eth
er Millie or Mollie, and have her all
to myself. It's trying enough for a
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 want to keep one
for myself. Let me see if I can help
you" And going to the open French
window he called:
"Nlillie, Mollie! Mollie, Miller
eyes, papa, we're coming" sounded
two sweet, well-bred voices from the
shrubbery.
There was tripping OF light feet
along the stone 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 i'll
tonation and the same merry CLINT in
their eyes.
Miliie had auburn hair and brown
eyes; SO had Mollie. Millie had a
Cupid's bow of o mouth, little teeth
like pearls, and 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, lilne
stockings without a wrinkle, and each
wore white satin shoes. Their han
was loose over their fair brows and
was braided down their backs. of jus,
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