Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1901-03-28
A WEEKS ENGAGEMENTS.

| IL is extraordinary now wrong Ideas
get about. Some people actually call
me a firt. There is not the slightest
foundation for such an assertion-ex
cept that / happened to get engaged
think people should be more careful
what they say! I'll just tell you how
it happened, and you'll say that |
was not to blame at all.
The first engagement was Sophie
McLeod's fault. 1t wasn't an engage
ment at all, really. We were talking
one Monday afternoon, when | was
staying at Aunt Anne's, and she kept
telling me how handsome and good
and clever Fred Thomas was. | got
so tired of hearing her that I simply
had to do something. You know what
little silly thing she is.
my dear girl" I said at last, "why
do you think it necessary to tell me
his perfections?" She became excited
directly.
thought you scarcely knew him."
she said. believe l had spoken to
him twice as a matter of fact.
mot know him!" cried. do you
mean to say that you haven't heard
that he and L" l paused and look
ed mysterious.
What" she glared at me He
you'll"
cts secret" | said.
"You are engaged"
81 did not say So" | looked very
shy. | am not very shy really.
You wouldn't believe it; but the
stupid girl turned quite disagreeable
with me. She told her mother that
Fred Thomas and l were engaged; and
her mother told everybody. Fred
Thomas was away on a visit, so he
could not contradict the report.
thought it was great fun. So did my
cousins-the ridiculous boys.
Rev. Adolphus Surplice did not
think it fun at all He is Aunt
Annes tame eurate. He had grown
tanner while was staying there. He
called at half-past 8 on Tuesday
morning to inquire if it was true. Of
course, | said, mo" He became so
sentimental that / wished | had said
yes" He did not trouble to contra
dict the rumor. | fancy he thought
it would keep other people off. Wasn't
it mean?
He called again in the afternoon;
also in the evening. OF course a re-
port got about that he and | were
engaged. | didn't mind the report,
but minded him. So | told Cousin
Tom that he must do something to
protect me. He said that he would.
He is very ingenious. | am afraid
he is not always strictly truthful.
He had had a little conversation with
the curate. Then Rev. Adolphus
picked up his hat and rushed out of
the drawing room with a loud groan.
was afraid Tom had been disagree
able, so / asked him what he had
said.
OH" he replied carelessly, Il just
told him that you were engaged al
ready.
why, you great stupid" said. 81
told him this morning that | barely
knew Mr.. Thomas" Tom grinned.
| didn't say to Fred Thomas"
What? Who?" l gasped.
ME" said Tom, unabashed, could
have boxed his ears with pleasure.
"You don't want to be engaged to
me, do you" | said with horror.
mo fear" said he.
"You nasty, rude-boy!"
ooh, all right" he said, cheerfully,
81 will if you like"
OF course l knew he wouldn't. |
There happens to be somebody else |
whom he prefers. So, on the whole, I,
| thought it was good joke--if |
mother didn't hear Mother is-well |
very prim and proper. you know. IL
am considered very like her.
On Wednesday afternoon jack
he's Toms brother-came in to me
with long face.
Il say, May" he began. I've al |
ways said you were a good sort" He
looked as though he desired reassur'
Il don't mind your saying it, | in
formed him graciously.
Thanks. Err then you-er-
wouldn't mind my saying was-er-I
engaged to you" l jumped up and
shook him. At least, | tried to, but
he is six feet odd.
"You-you donkey!" cried. Il
wouldn't dream of it,
Neither would l." he said en-
phatically.
You impertinent. hateful"
You don't want" he began. Hell
caught my eye in time to stop. II
was lucky for him! The idea.
Whatever made you say such n
thing?" | asked.
We'll" he said. uneasily. Mrs
Meadows" She is an enterprisinz
widow.
Didn't ] warn you?"
That's where it was. She began to
talk about engagements. and-er-l
that sort of thing, you know, and to |