The Farmington times. [volume] (Farmington, Mo.) 1874-1902, 1901-02-14

No 10 Green court, fuNs'ey street.
that il. and I'll just put my initials
IN thr corner. TO insure a speedy per
usal. N. NJ. with flourish 10 the tail
Of the last NJ. lsupposc my sister Will
be- very plainiiNe and Injured about
,hi. decision ~ mine but she has only
herself and her noisy Iout Of boy to
thank for IT,"
Ard Maj, MidgeGeld himself went
ou. TO drop his letter into the nearest
post box.
81. Valentines day came. bright and
suushiuy. with hard frozen snow crust
ing all the streets, and n silver fringe
Of icicles on all the caves and tree
boughs. and old Mrs. Pry stared hard
nt the letter which the morning mail
brought her.
II. from Mai. Midgcfeld. know
II is said she. fumbiug In her dress
pockc, for her spectacles. II know
them little curly.tallcd Ms OF his'n as
well ns know my catcchism. III bet
cookcy he wants to come back, and
good thing for ne, too. with my best
room standing empty for three weeks,
IN, What? 4 gilt Cupid with no
clothes On 20 signify, and lot ofgreen
leaves, and 4 love you! II amt pos
sible, unless the major has gone crazy!"
~ letter from Maj. Midgefield," said
Miss Adeln FORESTER, who was tall,
black browcd beauty, with cherry lips
and n good high spirit Of her own.
And he wants 10 know II will take
| him"
"Nouscusc!" said Mamma Forester,
who was -buttcring Vienna roll with
| the screnrst calm,
Read il for Yourself then. and see. "
said Miss Forester, with toss Of her
head. "lle calls me dear madam the
horrid old bachelor, and dictates rs 10
his room. his dinner and his shirt but
tons. Ny goodness" with lifting Of
the jetty hrows, does be 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.
"'rhen papa must see the major ct
once" sBid the elder lady. Though II
he were only q few years younger. the
estate is
II wouldn't marry that horrid old
creature II he were the only man in
the world!" cried Adela, with en-
phasiy. as she remembered the young
passed midshipman now pacing the
deck OF the sllyesira In the Caribbean
seas, TO whom her young affections
we're pledged.
SO Il happened that Mr.. Forrester
and old Mrs. pty both met In Maj
MIdgeheld's room q, the parsonage Of
st. Adulphine, on the afternoon OF that
| radiant itih Of February.
81 am sorry, ma jor." said the former
"that my daughter declines TO enter
tain your very complimentary pro
possl."
"what propokal2'' said the major
"i never proposed TO anyone in my life
and II Is not likely that shall com
mence nowi"
do you deny your own hanewrst.
iDg?" flashed cut Mr. Forester, whs
was OF q cholerir disposition, and did
not relish his word being doubted.
II deny eyerything!" shouted th'
major. "Siop . minute. Forester
here Is the respectable female who hal
Just called 20 see me on bu dness. III
Just see v hst she wants before we gs
ON with this discussion, Now, then
Mrs. pry."
But Mrs. rry was making smaEoniar
Efforts to &c, letter out OF her pocket
and turned very red In the face at thui
being directly addressed.
| "i'm siHty-odd, major. ~ you please,
said Mrs. Pry. ''snd widow woman
with q small pension, as never thought
OF marrying again. And ! never sup
posed as you could demean your dig
nifty by making jokes at my expensel'
/ sJokes. womanl- thundered th'
major. .W'hat on earth do you mean
Is ell the world gone madf"
| II call valentines jokes." said Mrs
Pry. .sAnd. please. sir. here I, Il, viii
your own initials on the outside
cuplds and Ioyes and wings, and -
much Of snything else. sir. saving ycu'
| pressrcei" with : cont4mptuous s1j0
Il II rsvsr saw the thing hefore la61
| ~ liiA" sid Nal Mitss1sld. syiul