The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1898-07-29
HE WAS BEWITCHED.

pretenses; my feelings have been
most cruelty lacerated, and assault
and battery committed on my heart.
am young man of good family,
with handsome allowance and first
rate expectations. / am captain in a
crack regiment, my height is feet and
my mustache is certainly fetching.
One morning last July, while loung-
Ing in my quarters at Dover, and doing
nothing in particular, ! received the
following note:
Dear Capt. Branthwyate. We have
all been very busy here getting up a
fancy fair in aid of the endowment
fund of new church at Claycum-
Sickle. Rev. Augustus Needall has
kindly consented to undertake the re-
sponsible duties of the incumbent, but
his principles will not allow him to
enter on his new and arduous sphere
until the endowment fund is completed.
So we want about $4,000 more to make
up nice little income, and build him
commodious parsonage, and then we
shall do charmingly. The day is fixed
for next Thursday. Bring your friends
to lunch at my house and do not fail
me. Yours sincerely,
Cecilia Pryor.
"Pluckwell, Saturday.
"P. S.-There will be ball in the
evening at the assembly rooms, for the
same object. Tickets SIS. How many
will you have?
Now, knew Mrs. Pryor for busy,
meddlesome person, but l also knew
that pretty girls were generally to be
met at her house; besides old Pryor
had bin Of champagne in his cellar
that wa, BY no means to be despised.
So wrse off forthwith, promising to
bring rvss half a dozen friends, for
whom uckscs might be secured.
We reached the large field in which
the tents were pitched-entrance so
cents, which we paid cheerfully, it be-
ing the first demand. In the field we
found the usual wheel of fortune,
gypsy's tent, refreshment stall, and
one large marquee with gayly dressed
counters, and still more gayly dressed
girls behind them. Suddenly one of
my companions exclaimed;
Hello! Branthwyate, look at that
little creature there, standing on a
chair"
l looked around, of course, little
thinking what would be the conse.
quence, and my gaze was spellbound
by the sweetest little fairy eyes ever
looked upon. There she stood on a
chair before little cooking glass, try
ing on pink hood, which she was en-
deavoring to persuade some idiot to
buy.
My first feeling on seeing her was that
/ had never truly loved till then, my
second, an almost irresistible inclina-
tion to knock down that driveling ma
MAC who was actually hesitating about
buying the hood. He said 1t would be
of no use to him, Fool!
In moment / was beside the chair,
and, speeches with emotion, rendered
a SIS bill for the precious article.
"Ah! that's capital" she said, with
the sweetest look of gratitude. why,
Mr.. Screwker has been doubling
whether he would give me SO for it. l
hope you don't want any changer"
"Change! l gasped; "never!"
'"Then come to our STALL" she said,
jumping daintily down from her ele-
waited post, "and l will find some of
my very own work for you"
l, of course, followed her to a large
stall, where three other charming girls
and handsome mamma presided, and
of course / gave a fabulous price for a
cigar case, which she said she had
worked. q don't believe she had, for
1t was hideous.) OF course, too, had to
buy something quite useless of all the
three sisters, and to put it into all the
n nc w n nj 1lu ut los ~
doll, several sizes bigger than child
of six months.
you make capital shopwoman," l
said
"Ah, yes; I have some tolerable
lodges. did good business before
you came in faded 1O-cent bouquets
which l sold for 81, They were SO
worthless that good many people
gave them back to ME and sold them
over again. l sold one nine times and
made SO by it." and she gave merry
little laugh "at the folly of some peo-
pie" with sly glance at me. l ven
tured on tender reproach.
And nothing whispered to you to
keep bouquet for me?" mo, indeed,
but | can get you rosebud beauty,
II you like"
She soon came running back breath
less, her hands full of lovely rosebuds.
Nov, what will you give me for
this?'
Anything, everything; all the
money | have left" I cried, thrusting
my hands into my pockets. But, alas!
all my searching could not bring to
light more than one miserable 6-cent
piece. Imagine my dismay!
My dear GIRL" stammered, you
see, tins is all have left"
ooh, you surely can't intend to be so
mean, when ran all the way up the
garden to fetch them, and pricked my
finger and made it blaed?" and she
held out little white, punctured fore
finger to verify her words. "You have
your watch" she added, "and you can
redeem it tomorrow.
l own l felt rather staggered at this.
My watch was valuable family relic,
set with brilliants, and on the safety of
which depended the favor of an aged
and equity uncle, of Grabbed disposition
and enormous wealth. But the blue
eyes were fixed on me and seemed to
wonder at my delay. / placed my
watch in one outstretchei hand aud re-
ceived the rosebud from the other.
Wear 1t tonight and | will dance
with you" she whispered, as our eyes
met for moment.
started for the ball at 10 O'Clock,
fully determined to propose at once.
She was late, but at last saw her COM
ing up the stairs, followed by her three
sisters, with the mamma and the
clergyman had seen with them in the
afternoon.
I seized hold of the first steward |
met, and begged him to introduce me
to that young lady," pointing her out.
The usual formula was pronounced:
capt Branthwyate-Miss Nevill.''
Was that the name? | could not be
sure. | had no time to think about it.
for the waltz began at once, and ]
seemed to be floating in sea of bliss
with an angel in my arms, keeping
time to the music of the spheres.
At last we landed on an out-of-the-
way sofa. where resolved 10 ask hei
to be mine forever. But when l man.