Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1898-06-22
MILLIE AND MOLLIE.

''I've come to ask you for the hand Of
your daughter" said young Bromley,
stumbling to the seat offered him by the
girls father.
(Which one?" asked old Dmmock, the
coal merchant, laying down the newspaper
which he had been reading and eying the
young man curiously.
Sometimes l think it is Mollie, and
again l am sure it is AIillie," 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
anybody" exclaimed the young man.
well, I rather Think said the old
man, proudly.
L 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.
''WeI, can't you make up Your mind
which girl you want TO marry?
The old coal merchant looked at the
Young llldu VIII TIE lItSn tOiOI anu Liz
loyal blue eyes as if he would like to have
him for 4 son-in-law.
Young Bromley did not answer for
moment, and then he said slowly: (which
Go you think sounds the better-'Millie
Bromley or 'Mollie Bromley? Sometimes
I've looked at it in that way
Il don't think there's much to choose"
returned the old coal merchant, 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 Mil
lie Bromley and in the morning 'M0llie
Bromley has caught my fancy. Mile,
MoIie; Mollie, Millie-it's an awful puz-
zle"
''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 mar
~" exclaimed the old man. triumphantly.
"Why, it's simple enough, after all.
You've taken quite a load off my mind.
Which one was it,
1T was Millie-I think" answered
young Bromley, hesitatingly.
think! Good Lord, don't you know?'
The young man flushed, and looked re-
proachfully at the coal merchant.
Mr.. Dimmock," said he. I'll put it to
you as man to man: Which is Mile and
which rs Mollie?"
Don't cross-examine me- sir" rejoined
litc O1I HILL IL SOu W ant " manly OlAc
of the girls, it's your business to find
out"
Heaven knows" cried young Bromley
in anguish, Il want to marry either Mile
or Mollje, and have her all to myself, It's
trying enough for fellow to be over
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, ''dsn't take on
so. Either girl is yours with my blessing
but I want to keep one for myself. Let
me see if I can help you OUT And GO
ing to the open French window he called:
''Millie, Mollie; Mollie. Millie"'
eyes, papa, we're coming, sounded two
sweet, Well-bred voices from the shrub
berry.
There was a tripping of light feet along
Mile and Mollie bloomed into the room.
How do you do. Mr.. Bromley" they
said together, With the same intOnatiOdl
and the same merry CLINT in their eyes.
Mile had auburn hair and brown eyes;
so had Noble. Mile had Cupid's bow
of a mouth, little teeth like pearls, and a
dimDled chin: so had Mollie. Miles arms,
seen through her muslin sleeves, were
round and white; SO were Mollie's. There
was nothing to choose between Miles
bust and Mollie's bust as they stood side
by side.
Both We're full. but not too full, and
rose and fell together in one motion, for
Mile and Mollie were out of breath from
answering their fathers summons 50
Obediently. From waist TO tips of their
little feet the figures of Mile and MOlle
We're the same, line for line, and both
We're dressed in white muslin with lilac
bows behind their white necks and lilac
sashes at their waists, lilac stockings
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 Mile
tied Mollie's bows and Mollie tied Mile $
well, papa?'
Young Bromley tells me-" began Old
Mr.. Dimmock, after he had taken
draughts of their fresh young beauty by
looking first at one and then at the other
and then dwelling upon the features Of
both with one eye-Sweep, that he pro-
posed to you last night
''Oh. not to both, you know. Mr.. Dim
mock" interiected young Bromley.
He asked me to be his wife, said
NIillie, demurely.
HE told me that he couldn't live with
out me- said Mollie. mischievously.
How is this?" said the old man, turn
ing to young Bromley with severe look
The, young man blushed fuTiously and
lifted his hands in protest.
I'm sure" he stammered zone of you
is mistaken. | asked you, Mile, to be
my wife in the summer house-and-and
I kissed you. That was before supper
and later in the evening. when we sat on
the front steps, l said that l couldn't live
without you, and that we must get mar
ried"
Before we go any further" interrupted
the old coal merchant, (which is Mile
and which is Mollie? When your dear
mother was alive she could tell the diff