Greene County herald. (Leakesville, Miss.) 1898-current, 1898-12-29

house or take apartments?"
"What?" CALCULATED /.
s"To keep house or take apartments?"
reiterated Mr.. Silverman. Because
in the former case we should esteem it
a favor to supply the silver and table
| ware"
I muttered some not particularly
| complimentary answer, and went out
of the shop, closing the door behind
me with some emphasis.
"Going to be married, eh, old chap?"
| said Bill West, a stockbroker, familiar
ly thrusting his elbow into my side,
as I strolled into Gatti's for my lunch
that day.
'Nop' said I, taking up the bill of
fare.
"Oh, come, don't deny the soft i'm
peachment," said West, with wink.
what has put such an idea as that
into your head?" demanded I, some
what Indignantly.
"And her names Helen, said West,
with an idiotic giggle.
At this stage pretended to see
some one whom knew at an opposite
table, and bolted across the room.
Old Mr.. Jessup was trotting across
Hyde Park when unexpectedly came
face to face with him.
"Hello!" said Mr.. Jessup, turning
upon me the moony glare Of two spec
tacled eyes, "What's this 1 hear
about you, my dear young friend? Ac-
cept my congratulations. Matrimony
is always blessed condition, and"
"Oh, yes; I don't doubt it," hur-
riedly interrupted, "but-a-there's
some mistake about it"
"Miss what did you say?" said old
Mr.. Jessup, beaming1y. "Call round
this evening and tell us all about it;
there's good fellow. haven't time
to listen just now"
could have torn my hair with
rage. Mr.. Jessup was Pauline
Brooke's uncle and guardian, and I
knew that my changes in that direc-
ton would be all off if once the fatal
story of the wedding ring got to Paul
ines ears.
crossed the park and hurried up
Regent street, mentally gnashing my
teeth, and in my impetuous haste had
nearly stumbled over Pauline herself,
just coming out of florists with 8
tiny boutonniere Of violets in her
hand.
'Pauline" cried L, rapturously.
But Pauline drew back the least lit
tie distance in the world, thereby put
ting an invisible barrier between us
that froze me likelan icicle.
Dear me, Mr.. Bolton, is it you p"
said Pauline. "Tlcongratulate you, I
am sure"
"Upon whatP" Iidemanded, grow
ing desperate.
''Upon you approaching marriage,
to be sure" said Pauline, with
smile like auroral lights lowering
over a snowbank.
"But I'm not going'to be married."
protested I.
"Oh, excuse me, pray. Gentlemen
do not usually buy wedding rings
without a purpose, interposed Paul
inc. ''Only I should thing you
might have paid such old friends as
we are the compliment of some slight
intimation of your impending mar
riage."
"Pauline," said I-"Miss Brooks
hear me. There is only one woman,
in the world I would care to marry,
and she stands before me now."
Pauline's lips quivered-4he tears
sparkled in her eyes.
"Mr. Belton," said she, "you may
rnoo,1 all fh,c Gpn f<1r
surely it is not necessary to add any
more insult to it"
''Do you mean that you don't be-
lieve me?"
"How can I believe your" retorted
she.
Driven to sort of frenzy, I dragged
Percy Cresmer's letter from my
pocket.
pauline" said I, tread that, and
you will have solution of the mys
terry of the wedding ring"
Her face cleared up as she glanced
over the contents of poor Cresmer's
ecstactic missive.
"Poor fellow!' said she. "He's
very much in love, isn't hep
"Not half as much as 1 am," said I.
And then in the smilax- -bordered
shadow of the fotist's shop 1 pressed
my suit.
"Dear Pauline, let me order another
wedding ring"
"For whom?" demanded my lady
love.
"For you. I have loved you for a
long time; but I never had the cour-
age to avow my love before, dear
Pauline"
"Hushl" said Pauline, 1--WE mustn't
stand talking here.
II won't stir step until you an
swer me-"
"What shall say?" hesitated Paul
inc.
'Say yes"
I ordered the duplicate wedding
ring that very night. Pauline said it
was too soon; but I quoted the an
cient proverb, delays are danger
ous - And we are tn he N, ,arrien in n |