The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-08-29
How She
BECAME Engaged.


G HE didn't intend to become en-
y gagged, and it really wasn't her
fault. Indeed, 1t may be said he
never had asked her to marry him.
and likely she would have refused if
he had. Still, to all intents and pur-
poses she might as well have had a
diamond ring on the third finger of her
left hand. These things will happen,
especially in a small town where there
are many gossips.
He had merely escorted her to
church and had sat with her in the
family pew. There really was MOTH
ing wrong in this, and nothing would
have been thought of it if they had
not been seen by Mrs. Higgins. other
young men have taken other young
women to church and have escaped
without even the intimation of a
breach of promise suit but in those
instances both We're known to the
townspcople. In this instance the
young man was a stranger, and Mrs.
Higgins felt it called for comment.
81 wonder who that young man was
who came to church with Miss Smith,"
she said.
Dear me! I didn't see him!" ex-
claimed Mrs. Virgins. Was there a
stranger with her?"
Yes, indeed" answered Mrs. Hig-
gins, land a handsome one, too.
think he's from the east, but I'm not
sure"
That was the start. Mrs. Virgins
pondered the subject in her leisure mo-
ments, and later met Mrs. Muggins.
"Have you heard about the gentle
| Nt.In
last Sunday?" she asked.
mot a word" answered Mrs. Mug
gins. Tell me all about it,
Hes a mighty handsome young fell
low from the east-Ncw York, think
and they say he was most attentive
to her."
| "Oh, she's a sly one" asserted Mrs.
! Muggins. 'I remember she spent a
month in New York last winter, but
| it's wonder she never told anyone
| about 1t. I suppose he's worth a good
| deal of money"
surely" replied Mrs. Virgins. "1
| imagine he must be millionaire at
the very least. She wouldn't look at
anyone with less"
Naturally not
| This being a fair start. the rumor
| straightway developed wings. Mrs.
| Muggins dropped in to see Mrs. VIII
kins and could not refrain from
broachiny the subject.
| did you see that New York mil
| lionaire who is so attentive to Miss
Smith?" she asked.
mo. Who is he?" demanded Mrs.
wilkins.
'T don't know his name" answered
| Mrs. MugGins, but he's fine looking
man and fabulously rich. Belongs to
one of the old families and made his
money in real estate, think. He has
been most devoted to Miss Smith ever
since he's been her."
Engaged to her, 1 SUPPOSE"
"I shouldn't wonder. But it hasn't
beer announced yet. Perhaps it will
be before he leaves"
OF course this was too much for Mrs.
wilkins to keep to herself and she
straightway hunted up Mrs. Bilkins.
Have you heard about the engage
ment?" asked Mrs. wilkins.
mot a word" replied Mrs. Bilkins.
"Whose is it?"
Miss Smiths"
II might have guessed it if I had
stopped to think. l heard she was GO
ing to the city shopping"
Getting her bridal trousseau, / sup
pose"
"oh. of course Who's the man?"
"One of New York's four hundred
I'm told. A millionaire and all that
you know, l guess he owns a good
bit of Manhattan Island"
And when are they to be married?"
I'm sure | don't know: but IL she s
been getting her trousseau l shouldn't
wonder if he intended to take her back
to New York with him."
Naturally in these circumstances II
was easy to fix a date for the we'd
ding. Mrs. Bilkins did II when She
had her next conversation with Mrs
Stubbins.
Il suppose you know We are going to
lose one of our brightest and most at
tractive girls" she suggested
"Who?" inquired Mrs. Stubblns.
Mercy me! haven't you heard?" ex-
claimed Mrs. Bilkins In astonishment
"Why Miss Smith, of course. She be
came engaged to a New York million
aire when she was away last winter
and he has come on to marry her and
take her back home again. It's beer
kept secret because he wants the wed.
ding to be a quiet affair. but she has
time comes they'll just quietly droI
in at the parsonage and then catch
the train for the East"
Has the date been settled?'
"Oh, / suppose so, but they're keep
ing II quiet. Family bereavement or
his side makes it necessary. l believe
but it will surely take place within Z
fortnight She's a mighty luck yglrl
though. | understand the treasury re-
serve Is a pauper fund beside his
wealth"
Mrs. Stubblns being one OF thos'
curious people who like TO have theil
information from headquarters, she
Immediately hunted up Miss Smith.
Permit me TO congratulate you
she said.
"On what?" asked Miss Smith.
"On your engagement" answered
Mrs. Stubbins.
"To whom" demanded Miss Smith
evincing some surprise.
"Why. to that millionaire who wat
at church with you last Sunday"
"Milllonaire!" exclaimed Miss Smith
"Why, he's a cousin from Arizona
and he hasn't a hundred dollars tC
his name. He left last night for Chi
cago to take a SIS a week Job in
- N.u IL Il