Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1901-02-28
: A Weeks Engagements


Qle Hlrt. mere Is not tHS SHS H'NSN
foundation for such an assertiou-eX'
cept that | happened to get engaged
10 five or six fellows one week. TN
iignantly.) l do think people should
be more careful what they say! (Con-
fdentially.) I'll just tell you how it
happened. and you'll see 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. l got
so tired of hearing her that ! simply
had to DO something. (ScornfullyD You
know what little silly she is.
"My dear girl" | said at last why
do you think it necessary to tell me
his perfections?" She became eX-
cited directly.
81 thought you scarcely knew him.
she said. l believe ! had spoken to
him twice. as a matter Of fact
"Not know HIM" | cried. do you
mean to say that YOU haven't heard
that he and I" paused and looked
mysterious.
"What!" she glared at me. "He-
you!"
Its a secret" | said.
"You are engaged?'
81 did not say So" looked very shy.
Like this. Oooks shy) l am not very
shy, really.
You wouldn't believe it; but the stu
pid girl turned quite disagreeable with
me. She told her mother that FREQ
Thomas and | were engaged; and her
mother told everybody. Fred Thomas
was away on a visit, so he could not
contradict the report. thought 1t was
great fun. So did lay cousins - the
ridiculous boys.
Rev. Adolphus Surplice did not think
it fun at all. He is Aunt Anne's tame
curate. (Meaningly) He had grown
tanner while ] was staying there. lie
called at haIf-past nine on Tuesday
morning to inquire if it was true. VI
course | said NO" He became so senti-
emntal that / wished had said yes.
He did not trouble to contradict the
rumor. (Rehectively) | fancy he
thought it would keep other people OIL
Wasn't it mean?
He called again in the afternoon, also
in the evening. Of course, report got
about that he and | were engaged. l
didn't mind the report; but | minded
him. So l told Cousin Tom that he
must do something to protect me. he
said that he would. He is very in
genious. (Sadly.) am afraid he is not
always strictly truthful. He 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 disagreeable, so l asked him
what he had said.
"Oh!" he replied, carelessly, u just
told him that you were engaged al
ready"
"Why. you stupid" said. Il told
him this morning that barely knew
Mr.. Thomas" Tom grinned.
81 didn't say Fred Thomas
what! Who?" l gasped.
"Me." said Tom, unabashed. 1 could
have boxed his ears with pleasure.
''You don't want to be engaged to
me. do your" I said with horror.
mo fear" said he.
you nasty, rude-boy!"
"Oh. all right" he said, cheerfully.
81 will if you like"
OF course knew he wouldn't
Oaughs) There happens to be some
body else whom he prefers. So. on the
whole. thought it was a good joke
if mother didn't hear. Mother is-well,
veryprim and proper. you know. with
much gravity) / am considered very
like her.
On Wednesday afternoon. Jack
Toms brother-came to me with along
face.
81 say, May" he began, 1--WE always
said YOU were a good sort" He looked
as though he desired reinsurance.
81 don't mind your saying it," | in
formed him, graciously.
Thanks. Er-then you-er-would-
Mt mind my saying 1 was-er-en-
raged to you'll" 1 jumped up and
shook him. At least, 1 tried to; but
he is six feet odd.
"You-you Donkey" 1 cried. 81
wouldn't dream of it," -.
Neither would l." he said, emphat-
lcally.
"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
thing?" I asked.
"Well," he said, uneasily, Mrs
Meadows" She is an enterprising
, widow.
Didn't I warn your"
THAT'S where it was. She began to
talk about engagements, and-er-
T that sort of thing, you know, and to
} look at me, and-er-that sort OF
, thing, you know; and SO I said-er-'
, "More of that sort of thing, you
know?" / suggested, kindly
, MOO, l didn't. She said 1t was
time was engaged to some one; ano
II said waste you'll"
''Did she scratch your eyes, and
err (moclingly) that sort OF thing