, 1898-08-22
MILE AND MOLLIE.

the coal merchant, laying down the
newspaper.
Sometimes I think it is Mollie, and
again 1 am sure it is Millie," 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
a Il could be happy with either of
them"
"I'm disposed to think" observed
old Dimmock, 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"
II 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 Mile Bromley and in the
morning 'Mollie Bromley has caught
my fancy. Millie, Mollie! Mollie, Mil
lie-it's an awful puzzle"
"Of course you've proposed to n Of
the girls?" inquired their father.
"Oh, yes, indeed, " said young Brom-
ley.
"Then that is tho girl you want to
marry" exclaimed the old man tri-
umphantly. why, it's simple enough,
after all. You've taken quite a load Off
my mind. Which II was it?"
"It was Millie, I think" answered
young Bromley hesitatingly.
"Think! Good Lord. don't you
known"
The young man flushed and looked
reproachfully at the coal merchant.
"Mr. Dimmock," said he. "Ill put
1t to you rs mar to man. Which is Mil
lie and which is Mollie?"
"Don't cross examine me, sir, " re-
joined the old man. eff you to
marry one of the girls, it's your bust
ness to find out"
Heaven knows" cried young Brom.
ley in anguish, II want to marry either
Militia No. NT,JI;n aud l,,-n Eor oil -
myself. It's trying enough for a fellow
to BIO over head and ears in love with
ono 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 1 want to keep one for my
self. Let me see if I can help you out"
and going to the open French window
he called:
"Millie, Molliei Mollie, Millie!"
eyes, papa, we're coming" sounded
two sweet, we'll bred voices from the
shrubbery.
There was a tripping of light feet
along tho stone walk under the grape
vine, and Mile and Mollie bloomed
into the
"How do you do, Mr.. Bromley"
they said together, with the same into
nation and the same merry CLINT in
their eyes.
Mile had auburn hair and brown
eyes. So had Mollie. Mile had q Gu
pid's bow of a mouth, little teeth like
pearls, and n 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 MI. 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..
Dimmook, INTERCEPTED young Bromley.
HE asked me to be his wife" said
Mile demurely.
"He told me that he couldn't live
without me, said Mollie mischievous-
iy.
"How is this?'' said the old man,
turning to young Bromley with a severe
look.
The young man blushed furiously and
lifted his hands in protest.
"I'm sure," he stammered, "one OF
you is mistaken. l asked Mile to be
nv wife in the summer house-and-l
kissed you. That was before supper,
and later in the evening, when we sat
on the front steps, I said that l oouldn't
live without you, and that we must get
married"
before we 60 any further" inter
rupted the coal merchant, (which IL
Millio and which is Mollie? When your
dear mother was alive, abe could tell
the difference sometimes, but l don't
know 10 this day" ...,a
"Oh, how dull you arer said the
Girls in duet. -.
II think this is Mile on the right
spoke up young Bromley.
"Why, Mr.. Bromley" said she, "
am Nollie." :,
VERY good; now let's go on" sait
their father. Where were we? On, yea
young Bromley says that he asked yos
20 b his wife. Mile, and declared III
oouldn't live without you" -.
81 beg your pardon. papa" said noi
H. "He Told me that he coaldns Nv
NiAhnnt "a :