The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1900-02-10

confidence: You are both mistaken,
gentlemen, for happen to be engaged
to Miss Smith. Here is letter that will
prove it,
History is silent as to what took
place after this, but when the much-en-
gagged young lady finally put in an ap-
pearance, the parlor was >mpty. and
she never heard word from any of the
men afterward."
swell, Lucy, living down there ip
that atmosphere, shouldn't wonder il
you hadn't been engaged yourself. ]
know you aren't now, but have you ever
been?'
"Ah, that is my secret" the south
ern girl answered, laughing.
That night she wrote her mother
long letter, telling her many of the
strange customs she had learned. Zone
thing that strikes me as so funny is the
way they call young men fellows and
say gone on girl instead of in love
with her, and fiirts are called 'jolliers.' I"
At the same hour Miss Heights was say
ing to her sister: Don't they have
queer ideas down pouth?"
The next day Lucy went with her
friend to a reception. Here they met :
very smart young man in much
shaped frock coat and much-belled
high hat. Incidentally, he had family
outlined features and straw-colored
mustache.
'Why, hello, Miss Heights. Awfully
glad to see you. Happy to meet you,
Miss Grey. Southern girl, Ell? Oh,
hear they are all terrible jolliers dowI
there. How's Miss Heights? Stun
ming tea, wasn't it? Miss Hill an aw
fully well put-up girl and dresses tip
top. Well, must chase along. Shat
do myself the pleasure of calling soon.
Awfully jolly meeting you, Miss Grey"
And Mr.. I. Cadsby Sniffen made stiff
motion through the air with his ir-
reproachable hat. and left them.
Isn't he cute?" Miss Heights ex
claimed, rapturously, mot half as nice
as Tom Lightly, but an awfully bright
fellow
One night Mr.. T. Cadsby sniffen
called, and, pleading fatigue, the
southern girl excused herself and was
sitting with the family in the Ii
brary, when Hildegarde rushed wild
ly in, hair flying, cheeks blazing, and
voice trembling SO she could scarcely
get out the words:
30, mamma, guess what's hap
pened!"
"Hildegarde! not"
Eyes, mamma, engaged. To Mr..
Sniffen. Isn't it heavenly! / wanted
to call you down in the parlor as
soon as it happened, but he's aw-
fully sentimental, and said he'd like
to keep it to ourselves! think I'll
have eight bridesmaids. You must be
one. Lucy"
For an hour everybody talked at
once, and there was wild confusion
and excitement, much laughter, and
plans broken as soon as made, and
new ones made III their places. At
last, Mr.. Heights key was heard in
the door; all flew to the stairs.
''George!" called Mrs. Heights. "Papa,"
screamed both girls, "guess what's
happened!" "rm engaged" cried the
blissful fiancee.
swell, this is good news. Well, well.
I'm proud of you, Hildegarde. Lucy,
she's been a very naughty little girl
getting engaged while her poor ia
Their was out, hasn't she? Well, bless
my soul! But you haven't told me
yet who's the lucky fellow?"
"Cadsby Sniffen, papa, as If it
could be anybody else!"
And then followed more exclama-
tons, congratulations and a great
deal of laughter and confusion.
Mr.. Sniffen came to dinner. "Cadsby,
this is lovely" Mrs. Heights said, and
kissed him. "Well, Cadsby, my boy,
congratulate you," papa said, heart
ily, and the meal was all excitement.
He had brought the ring, and gave it
to her at the table, and toasts were
drunk and all went merry as mar
rage bell.
When they were in the parlor aft
erward the bell rang and manly
voice asked for Miss Lucy Grey"
Lucy turned very pale, and introduced
her friend, ''Mr. Black, from home"
what are you doing in this part
of the world?" she asked, coldly, and
when he had answered that he came
on business she turned her back on
him and talked to Mr.. Heights all the
evening.
HiIdeparde presented Cadsl,v as"mv
fiance," and they sat on the sofa to-
gether, using each others Christian
names with every breath. Mr.. Black,
from home" showed no surprise at
anything, but a certain young woman,
who was earnestly discussing with