Gulf Coast breeze. [volume] (Crawfordville, Fla.) 1897-19??, 1898-05-20

hearted young gentleman held MS
sides with laughter when explained
the situation.
$50 I'm to court your fiancee--she
used to DO pretty little girl-and
take her off your hands for an allow
ance VI $500 year9" he said, wiping
his ey es; "f5OO aud f3OO make $500
--f400 apiece"
''Exactly!" I said, approvingly.
''You always were smart at figures,
Frank"
"But, my dear uncle, suppose she
won't have me? Besides, I'm not
sure, but / think I'm just little
gone on Nellie Marchant2 Suppose
1 don't care for your Amanda9"
"She's awfully nice, Frank; you
couldn't help it." 1 was surprised at
my doleful tone.
,"Then," said he, ''whyever don't
you marry her yourselfP"
~ lit o cigar and drummed on the
fender with my slipper, "I'm too old
too settled in my bachelor ways,
Frank" / said, rogretfully. ~ don't
know I'm not sure-if il would do. F"
81 believe il would be the best thing
in the world for you" Frank leaned
over the table earnestly. He's an
honest, unseltsh lad; that's why I'm
so fond of him. And I know he'd be
good to her.
"Well," I said, slowly, "I'll be
honest with you, Frank. I'm fond OF
the child--very fond, indeed. II /
thought that she could like me--in
that way--I'm hanged il / wouldn't
chance it. But she only looks upon
me as an elder brother. Some day,
she -" 1 paused to blow my handker-
chief--''she would find out. Itwouldn't
do; I'm sure it wouldn't do"
So it was arranged that / should be
busy finishing my book and see less
of Amanda. And Frank was to see
her every day, to find out IL she would
like him better than mo or II he could
like her better than Nellie Marchant.
This arrangement lasted for fort
night, but none Of us seemed quite
ourselves. Mandy grew staid and
silent. I couldn't do anything right
with the book, aud something seemed
wrong with my liver. Even cheerful
Frank grew bit bad-tempered. AT
the end of the fortnight no burst in
upon me in the evening, when L was
busy with the Cerebral Convoia-
tons"
"Look here, uncle" said he, cody,
Ainging himself into an armchair and
taking one of my cigars, you're an
assv
"That," I observed, mildly, "is very
strong language, Frank"
"Well," said he, 81 like Nellie ever
so much better than your Amanda
that's flat"
"Then," said /, bringing my hand
down on the table with T. thump,
"you're FOOL" .....
"Amanda," said he, firmly, 'fs as
dull as dishwater."
took off my reading glasses ant
glared at him. "She'D the brightest
little creature in tho world" l as.
serted. resolutely.
He took long draw at the cigar
and blew smoke rings--a thing
never could manage. Amanda" he
continued. in q matter-of-fact tone,
sis dull-because she's in love-"
let my pipe drop on the floor with
a crash. "With whom?" My voice
sounded strange to me.
"Why, with you, of course. Man
alive! You must be blindl You're
pretending you don't care for her and
breaking her poor'little heart"
looked at him in silence for few
seconds; then got up and fetched my
hat. "Im going out" told him, and
/ went.
When I arrived at their drawing
room Amanda was sitting on the rug,
with her back against the sofa. She
had dropped her book on the floor and
was looking into the fire with her
cheek on her hand, and I could see
tears in her eyes.
She jumped up to meet me with an
eager little laugh. "What! Deserted
the 'Convolutions?'"
Hang the 'Convolutions,'" said.
"The fact is they're awfully uninter.
esting compared with you, Mandy"
care they? Then they must be
stupid"
put my arm round her waist and
drew her close to mo. Mandy"
said, passionately, ''my dear little
girl, we've been playing at sweet
hearts long enough; shall we begin in
earnest?"
Amanda said nothing--only laid her
head down on my shoulder with a
happy little Sob. A. Flynn, in
The Madame.