Mower County transcript., 1898-08-17
MILLIE AND MOLLIE.

MILLIE AND MOLLIE.
"1've come to ask you for the hand
Of your daughter" said young Brom-
ley, stumbling to the seat offered him
by the girls father. /.
(Which one2" asked old Dimmock,
the coal merchant, laying down the
newspaper.
"Sometimes think it is Mollie, and
again I am sure it is Mile, replied
young Bromley, genuinely perplexed.
The old coal merchant looked sympa-
thetic. <
"You can't have both," said he, aft
er an awkward pause.
"They're splendid girls, good enough
for anybody" exclaimed the young
man. II could be happy with either Of
them"
"I'm disposed to think" observed
old Dimmock, s'that you have been
happy with both of them.''
$50 they've told me more than once,"
said Bromley, with the pleasantest light
of recollection in his eyes.
"Well, can't you make up your mind
which girl you want to marry?''
Young Bromley did not answer for a
moment, and then he said slowly:
(Which do you think sounds the better
-'Millie Bromley or 'Mollie Bromley?'
Sometimes I've looked at it in that
way"
81 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, Mil
lie-it's an awful puzzle. -
"Of course you We proposed to one Of
the girls?" inquired their father.
"Oh, yes, indeed" said young Brom-
ley.
''Then that is the girl you want to
marry" exclaimed the old man tri-
umphantly. "Why, it's simple enough,
after all. You've taken quite load off
my mind. Which one was it?''
''It was Mile, I think, " answered
young Bromley hesitatingly.
''Think! Good Lord, 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 Mil
lie and which is Mollie?''
Don't cross examine me, sir" re-
joined the old man. eff you want to
marry one of the girls, it's your busi-
ness to find out. -
''Heaven knows" cried young Brom.
ley in anguish, "Iwant to marry either
Mil1ie or Mollie, and have her all to
myself. 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
Oh so. Either girl is yours with my
blessing, but want to keep one for my
self. Let me see if can help you out, -
and going to the open French window
he called:
"Millie, Mollie Mollie, Millie!'
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 Mile and Mollie bloomed
into the room. -
"How do you do, Mr.: Bromley?'
they said together, with the same into.
nation and the same merry CLINT in
their eyes. If
:. Mile had auburn hair and brown
eyes So had Mol]ie. Mile had Gu
pid's bow Of mouth, little teeth like
pearls, and q dimpled chin. So had Mol
lie. Miles arms, seen through her
muslin sleeves, were round and white.
So were Mollie's. There was nothing to
choose between Miles bust and Mol
lies bust as they stood side by side.
"Well. papa?"
:. Young Bromley tells me-" began
old Mr.. Dimmock, after he had taken
drafts 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"
''Oh, not to both, you know, Mr..
Dimmock, interjected young Bromley.
He asked me to be his wife, " said
Millie demurely. .ss-.
''He told me that he couldn't live
without me-" said Mollie mischievous-
ly. " ~ @
''How is this?' said the old man,
turning to young Bromley with severe
look. s.~ ~ -
The young man blushed furiously and
lifted his hands in protest.
'I'm sure,'' he stammered, tone of
you is mistaken. asked Mile to be
my wife in the summer house-and-I