The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1901-01-11
''Neither would l." he said, emphat-

You impertinent, hateful"
"You don't want" he began. He
caught my eye in time to stop. 1t
was lucky for him! The idea!
Whatever made you say such a
thing?" I asked.
"Well," he said, uneasily, "Mrs.
Meadows" She is an enterprising
widow.
Didn't warn your"
"That's where it was. She began to
talk about engagements, and-er-
that sort of thing, you know, and to
look at me, -er-that sort of
thing, you know; and SO L said-er-"
"More of that sort of thing, you
know?" I suggested, kindly.
400, I didn't. She said it was
time I was engaged to some one; and
II said 1 was-to you'll"
"Did she scratch your eyes, and
err (mockingly) that sort of thing,
you know?"
''You always make game of a fell
low," he growled.
"Not when 1 am engaged to him."
I said, sweetly.
by the way, do you know how
many people I'm engaged to at the
present moment, Jack?" He shook
his head.
"Four!" He whistled and opened his
eyes.
II say, May, you're quite sort Of
she-Mormon!" Then he went out
portant. Yours ever, Guy"
The next morning was Thursday.
I had seven letters of congratulation,
and began to feel rather uneasy. In
the evening had four more. On FRI
day morning I had eight! Two asked
me what 1 would like for wedding
present, and three inquired who it
was, as they heard such conflicting
rumors.
AS it happened Cousin Guy came
over that morning. (Enthusiastical-
Ivy Guy is dear! My very, very
best friend. No, no! 1 only mean
friend" He is lot older than I
am, and has been appropriated for
years. Of course I told him about it..
He laughed at first. Then he was so
cross that cried. Naturally he said:
"Never mind" and kissed me. I did
MT mind that, only-Mrs. Jackson
came in at the moment, unannounced.
She put up her eye glasses and stared.
And Guy said: cts all right, Mrs.
Jackson. We're engaged"
So she tossed her head and went
out. Qmpressively.) She is the big
gest scandal monger in the place, and
(tearfully) 1 knew she'd write and
tell her nephew, Capt. Armstrong. I
4 didn't want her to. He-he (pet-
tishly)-Oh, bother!
Guy had the sense to keep out OF
my way the rest of the day. J. was
so angry that I wouldn't even say
morning I had a note:
'Dear May-Come over to mothers
this afternoon. You must. 1t Is inn
portant. Yours ever,
"Guy."
"Oh!" I cried, surely he doesn't
mean that he" Of course I knew
he didn't; but could help worrying.
Very seriously.) 1 wouldn't firt
with dear old Guy for anything in the
world.
me all the way to the house. He had
wedding present for me, he said,
in the drawing-room; but when I
went in there was nothing there; at
least, only Capt. Armstrong!
"Allow me to congratulate you on
your engagement to Guy" he said,
icily.
"But I'm not" I stammered.
"To your cousin. Jack, then" I
shook my head. ''To his brother Tom,
then?'
"No, mol"
Sand the Rev. Adolphus Surplice."
I stamped my foot.
81 hate him!'
sand Mr.. Thomas"
"You-you know I'm not"
"And-the others!" He looked very
angry. "You seem to be engaged to
nearly every fellow in the neighbor-
hood"
GA few have escaped" I assured
him, ''as yet"
"They will have their turn, no
doubt" He seemed very disagreeable.
ST suppose even might hope" I
tossed my head.
"You'd have to be great deal nicer
than you are this morning." I told
him. He looked at me very hard.
"I-I don't like being stared at"
81 am going to exchange to india"
he said, quietly.
1 went and looked out of the VIM
dow. Of course, it wasn't my bust
ness what he did; but 1 thought it
seemed pity, because Gngeniously)
you see his people wouldn't like it.
81 think you are-horrid," I said.
"You might-India is such a nasty,
hot, dirty place. Suppose you had a
fever; or something dreadful hap
pened to you?"
"a few engagements, for example ?"
YES said, feebly. "It-I-you-
they-Oh, do tell me how to get out
IL TT l.