The Hocking sentinel. [volume] (Logan, Ohio) 1871-1906, 1898-07-21
MILE AND MOLLIE.
We come to ask you for the
hand of your daughter" said


and eying the young man curiously.
Sometimes | think it is Mollie, and
again l am sure it is Millie." 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
eor anybody" exclaimed the young
man. Il 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''
so they've told me more than once"
said Bromley. with the pleasant light
of recollection in his eyes.
We'll. can't you make up your mind
which girl you want to marry?'
Young Bromley did not answer for n
moment, and then he said slowly:
Which do you think sounds the bet
ter-'Alillie Bromley or ''Mollie Brom-
ley?' Sometimes I've looked at it in
that way"
Il 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 Nellie Bromley has caught
my fancy. AIillie. Mollie; Mollie, Mil
lie-it's an awful puzzle
"Of course. you've proposed to one OF
the girlsI' 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 Il 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
reproachfully at the coal merchant.
Mr.. DimmOck," said he, "I'll put it to
you as man TO man: Which is Millie
and which is Mollie?"
Don't cross-eXamine me. sir" re-
Joined the old man. IF you want to
marry one of the girls it's your bust
ness to find out"
Heaven knows" cried young Brom-
ley in anguish. Il want to marry either
Alillie or Mollie. and have her all TO
myself. It's trying enough for a 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
on so. Either girl is yours with my
blessing, but l want to keep one for
myself. Let me see if l can help YOU
out" And going to the open French
window, he called:
'NIillie, MOilie; Mollie. Miller
'Yes, 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 Millie and Mollie bloomed |
into the room
How do you do. Mr.. Bromley" they |
said together, with the same intonation |
and the same merry CLINT in their eyes. |
Millie had auburn hair and brown |
eyes: so had Mollie. Millle had Gu
pid's bow of mouth, little teeth like |
pearls. and 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 |
Mollie's bust as they stood side by side. !;
We'll, 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 fea-
lures of both with one eye-sweep. that
he proposed TO you last night
''Oh. not to both. you know. Mr. Dim
mock, interjected young Bromley.
HE asked me to be his wife" said
Millie. demurely.
He told me that he couldn't live
without me-" said Mollie, mischievious-
ly.
How is this?' said the old man, turn
ing to young Bromley with severe
look.
The young man blushed furiously and
lifted his hands in protest
I'm sure" he stammered, zone of
you is mistaken. asked you, Millia. 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, | said that |
couldn't live without you, and that we
must get married.
Before we go any further" inter
rupted the Goa! merchant (which is
Millie and which is Mollie? When your
dear mother was alive she could tell
the difference sometimes. but l don't
know to this day"
"Oh, how dull you arew said the girls
In duet
81 think this is Millie on the right"
spoke up young Bromley.
"Why, Mr.. Bromley" said she. Il am
Mollie."
Every 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, AIillie, and declared he
couldn't live without you"
Il beg your pardon, papa" said Mol
lie. che told me that he couldn't live
without me"
well, let's get our bearings" contin-
ued the old coal merchant. Bromley,