Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1901-02-09

No. 16 Green court, FoXsley street
that's it, and I'll just put my initials
in the corner, to insure a speedy per-
usal. NJ NJ. with a flourish to the tail
of the last NJ, ! suppose my sister will
be very plaintiye and injured about
this decision Of mine. but she has only
herself and her noisy lout of boy to
thank for it,
And Maj. Midgefeld himself went
out to drop his letter into the nearest
post box.
St. Valentines day came, bright and
sunshiny, with hard frozen snow crust
ing all the strecte, and a silver fringe
OF icicles on all the caves and tree
boughs. and old Mrs. Pry stared hard
at the letter which the morning mail
brought her
ITS from Maj. Midgefeld. l 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
a cookey he wants to come back ana
a good thing for me, too, with my pest
room standing empty for three weeks.
Eh! What? A gilt Cupid with no
clothes on to signify. and lot of green
leaves. and Il love you!' It amt pos
sible, unless the major has gone crazy.
"A letter from Maj, Midgefcld,' said
Miss AdeIa Forester, who was tall
black beauty, with cherry lips
and a good high spirit of her own
And he wants to know if 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. My goodness" with a lifting OF
the ietty brows, "does he think the
girls are ready to drop. like oyerripe
plums, into his mouth
"Of course, you'll say no, said Mann
ma Forester,
"Of course" said Adela.
"Then papa must see the major AT
once" said the elder lady. Though II
he we're only few years younger the
estate is
"I wouldn't marry that horrid old
creature if he were the only man IN
the world!" cried Adela, with en-
phass. as she remembered the young
passed midshpman now pacing the
deck of the Silvestra in the Caribbean
seas, to whom her young affections
were pledged.
So it happened that Mr. Forester
and old Mrs. Pry both met in Maj.
Midgefield's room at the parsonage OF
St. Adolphine, on the afternoon OF that
radiant 14th of February.
"I am sorry, major" said the former
"that my daughter declines to enter
tain your very complimentary pro-
| posal,"
"What proposal?' said the major
81 never proposed to anyone in my me-
and 1t is not likely that shall COM
mence now!'
"Do YOU deny your own handwrit'
ipg?" flashed out Mr.. Forester who
was of a cholerc disposition, ami dld
not relish his word being doubted
81 deny eyerything!" shouted the
major. stop minute, Forrester'
here is the respectable female who has
lust called to see me on business il
inst see what she wants before we GO
on with this discussion. Now, then
Mrs. Pry.'
But Mrs. Pry was making amazonian
efforts to get letterout of her pocket
and turned very red in the face at thus
being directly addressed
"Im sixty y-odd, major, if you please
said Mrs. Pry, "and a widow woman
with a small pension, as never thought
Of marrying again. And | never sup
posed as you could demean your dig
pity by making jokes at my expense
".Iokes. woman!" Numbered the
major. "What on earth do you mean
Is all the world gone mad"'
9" call valentines jokes" said Mrs
PRIV. And, please, sir here it is, wiz
vour own initials on the outside'
Cuplds and loves and wings and MOI
much of anything else, sir, saving youl
presence!" with eontemptuous snih
~ never saw the thing before in al
my life," said Maj Midgetield, eJinl