The Lamar register., 1901-02-13

/
it was small enough to go into an or
dinary envelope. and she'll never sus'
pect until she opens it,"
Julius" said his mother. what
goose you are. Miss Forester is old
enough to be your mother"
Miss Forester is just twenty" said
julius. land I'm nearly fifteen. and I've
been dead in love with her these three
years."
He scampered off with his letter. and
the goodly, untidy matron heaved
soft sigh and went back to the basket
of unmended stockings which was the
Nemesis of her life, and Major Midge-
| held came down stairs to the once
more deserted study, quite unconscious
of the raid which had been made upon
| it.
| "Parthenia-that was the name,'
said Major Midgefeld-"what could
have induced me to think 1t was Pa
tience or Pauline? Now where the
very dickens is that letter? Surely
didn't-oh. here it is. poked away un-
der the inkstand. That housemaid
has been in here dusting as sure as
live. and it's mercy she hasn't
|
thenia Pry No. 16 Green court, Foxs-
ley street'-that's it, and I'll put my
initials in the corner. to insure speedy
persual. NJ. NJ. with a flourish to the
tail of the last NJ. I suppose my sis
ter will be very plaintive and injured
about this decision of mine. but she
has only herself and her noisy lout
of boy to thank for it,
And Major Midgefield himself went
out to drop his letter into the nearest
post-box.
st. Valentines Day came, bright
and sunshiny, with hard-frozen snow
crusting all the streets, and silver
fringe of icicles on all the caves and
tree boughs. and old Mrs. Pry stareI
hard at the letter which the morning
mail brought her.
Its from Major Midgefeld. I know
it is" said she, fumbling in her dress
pocket for her spectacles. Il know
them little curly-tailed MS of his'n as
well as know my catechism. I'll bet
cookey he wants to come back, and
a good thing for me- too, with my best
room standing empty for three weeks.
Eth! What? A gilt Cupid with no
clothes on to signify and lot of green
leaves. and 4 love you!' 1t amt pos
sible, unless the Major has gone
crazy!"
"A letter from Major Midgefield,"
said Miss Adela Forester, who was a
tall, black-browed beauty, with cherry
lips and a good high spirit of her own.
And he wants to know II l will take
him."
"Nonsense!" said Mamma Forester,
who was buttering Vienna roll with
the serenest calm.
Read it for yourself, then, and see."
said Miss Forester, with toss of her
head. He calls me dear madam the
horrid old bachelor. and dictates as to
his room, his dinner and his shirt but
tons. BY goodness" with lifting OF
the jetty brows, does he think the
girls are ready to drop, like overripe
plums. into his mouth?"
"Of course, you'll say no." said Nam
ma Forester.
"Of course" said Adela..
Then papa must see the Major at
once" said the elder lady. Though
il he were only few years younger.
the estate is"
Il wouldn't marry that horrid old
creature il he were the only man in
the world!" cried Adela. with en-
phasis, as she remembered the young
! passed midshipman now pacing the
deck of the Silvestra in the Caribbean
sea. to whom her young affections
were pledged.
| So 1t happened that Mr.. Forester
and old Mrs. Pry both met in Major.
Midgefield's room at the parsonage of
St. Adolphine. on the afternoon of that
radiant fourteenth of February.
Il am sorry, Major" said the form
mer, that my daughter declines to en-
tertain.your very complimentary pro-
posal ~ d
What proposal?" said the Major.
Il never proposed to any one in my
life, and it is not likely that l shall
commence now?"
DO you deny your own handwrit-
| ing?" flashed out Mr.. Forester, who
was of a choleric disposition, and did
not relish his word being doubted.
Il deny everything" shouted the
Major. stop minute. Forester;
here is the respectable female who has
just called to see me on business. I'll
| just see what she wants before we go
on with this discussion. Now, then.
Mrs. Pry."
But Mrs. Pry was making amazon
| ian efforts to get letter out of her