Walker Lake bulletin. (Hawthorne, Nev.) 1883-1926, 1898-08-10
MILE AND MOLLIE.
Sc T We come to ask you for the
hand of your daughter" said


u young Bromley, stumbling to
the seat offered him by the girls father.
(Which one?' asked old Dimmock,
the coal merchant, laying down the
newspaper which he had been reading
and eying the young man curiously.
Sometimes | think it is Molle, and
again | am sure 1t is NIillie," replied
young Bromley genuinely perplexed.
The old coal merchant looked sympa-
thetic.
"You can't have both" said he, after
an awkward pause.
"Theyre splendid girls, good enough
FOR anypodyw exclaimed the young
man. 81 could be happy with either of
Them" went on young Bromley.
I'm disposed to think" observed old
Dmmock, 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
We'll, 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 bet
ter-'Millie Bromley or "Mollle Brom-
leyr 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 ey-
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 Mile Bromley and in the
morning 'Mollie Bromley has caught
my fancy. Mile, Mollie; Mollie, Mil
lle-its an awful puzzle"
"Of course, you've 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?'
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, "Tll put 1t to
you as man to man; Which is Mile
and which is MollleT
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
Mile 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
on so. Either girl is yours with my
blessing, but | want to keep one for
myself. Let me see II | can help you
out" And going to the open French
window, he called:
Mile, Mollie; 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 Mile 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.
Mile had auburn hair and brown
eyes; so had Mollie. Mile had Gu
pid's bow of a mouth. little teeth like
pearls, and a 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.. Dlmmock, 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" INTERCEPTED young Bromley.
He asked me TO he his wife" said
Mile. demurely.
He told me that he couldn't live
without me- said Mollie, mischevlous-
~.
How is this?" said the old man, turn
Ing to young Bromley with severe
look