The Somerset reporter., 1898-08-04

you Is mistaken. | asked Mile 10 be
my wife in the summer house-and--l
kissed you. That was before supper,
and later in the evening, when we rat
on the front steps ! said that | couldn't
live without you, and that we must get
married
"Before we 60 any further, " inter
rupted the coal merchant, (which is
Mile and which is Mollie? When your
dear mother was alive, she could tell
the difference sometimes, but | don t
know to this day"
"Oh, how dull you arel" said the
girls i'll duet.
81 think this is Mile on the right, I"
spoke up young Bromley.
am Mollie.
VERY good; now let's go on, said
their father. Where were we? Oh, yes,
young Bromley says that he asked you
to be his wife, Mile, and declared he
couldn't live without you.
II beg your pardon. papa, ;" said Mol
lie. "He told me that he couldn't live
without me-"
We'll, let's get our bearings, con-
tinued the old coal merchant. "Brom-
ley, you asked Mile to marry you down
in the summer house, and you kissed
her? That's correct, ism it?''
There's no doubt about that. sir, 1"
said Bromley eagerly.
And after supper when you sat to-
gether on the stoop you told Mollie that
you couldn't live without herr"
THAT deny, sir. Oh, | beg your
pardon, Molly, you needn't look SO an
cry. meant no offense."
Ibid you kiss Mollie?" went on the
old man relentlessly.
mo, sir; p
Eyes, you did, Mr.. Bromley" flared
up Mollie.
81 admit" said the young man,
struggling with his emotions, that !
kissed her when I said I could not live
without her, but it wasn't Mollie. -
"Oh, Mollier' said Mile "How
could your"
Now, Mile, do be reasonable, 1"
said Mollie.
Old Mr.. Dimmock looked mystified.
ut seems to me-" said he, with a
show Of impotence, "if | were in love
with one of those girls / could tell the
difference between them. So far as l
can make out, young man, you have
asked Millie to be your wife and have
tried to make Mollie believe that you
could not live without her Now, to
any one who does not know Mile and
Mollie your conduct would appear to be
perfdious. OF course as between you
and Mollie / must believe Mollie, for
the girl certainly knows whether you
kissed her. -
The old man eyed both his daughters.
Mile was biting her neither lip and 50
was Mollie. But Mollie was trying to
keep from laughing.
Old Mr.. Dimmock had an idea.
81 would like to clear up this thing
to your satisfaction and my own, Brom-
ley, said he. LET me know whether
Mollie kissed you when you told her
you couldn't live without her?'
The young man got very red in the
face.
"You mean Mile, of course, he re-
piled. with embarrassment. perhaps
she wouldn't mind my saying that she
did kiss me in the summer house. But
she didn't kiss me on the stoop. 1 kissed
her.
"How is that, Mile, Mollie?" asked
their father.
Papa, said Mollie decidedly. 81
couldn't keep Mr.. Bromley from kiss
ing me, but assure you didn't kiss
him. "
Mollie looked her father straight in
the eye and then shot an indignant
shaft at Mr.. Bromley.
Mile hung her head and her face
was as red as poppy.
II think, said the old man dryly,
THAT it's plain III keep Mollie and
We'll have that marriage before you
make another mistake, young man. -
New York Sun.