St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1902-08-09
|luey's Engagement
5
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nVOU don't look very amiable to.
l night, Mr.. Dalton" observed
Miss Wylde.
Whe2 Miss Wylde first frightened
the dull city warehouse with he1
presence, all observed with JOY that
the lady's left hand was unadorned
with jewelry of any description, and
the general jealousy that arose. in
the matter of paying her attentions
must have been highly gratifying
to the lady's vanity. She accepted
them all, but favored no one in par.
ticular.
Then she walked through the
contingencies one morning, un-
blushing, and holding her left hand
in manner calculated to display to
best advantage an engagement-ring,
which glittered and twinkled cheer
fullyson the correct finger.
Therefore Henry Dalton gazed at
it sorrowfully on the evening in
question.
TITS quite quarter of an hour
since we met, Mr.. Dalton,' she re-
marked, with an amused smile at
his troubled face, yet you've scarce.
ly spoken a word"
Mr.. Dalton fidgeted uneasily on the
end of his seat, and pulled out his
handkerchief. Not being sure what
he wanted it for, he put it back in
his pocket, and coughed APOLOGIZE
celly. 0~
''That's encouraging" she laughed.
"At all events, it proves that you
have voice."
EYES," he admitted Imply, with
another furtive glance at the Offend
ing ring.
II wish you'd say something" she
observed plaintively. IF I'd thought
that you were going to be so moody
and sulky and disagreeable as this
/ would never have consented to see
you, much less favor you with my
company tonight"
"You look upon it as a favor?"
limited Dalton.
''Of course I do" she said. II
know lots of other young fellows
who do, too. You ought to feel fiat
tered, instead of moping there like
an OWL"
'Yes,'' agreed Dalton absently.
"Then why do you do it?" she de-
manded 'Why don't you say some
thing PLEASANT"
Mr.. Dalton was silent He wanted
to say something very badly, but the
ring kept him back.
mice evening, isn't it?" she re-
marked, with yelled sarcaa:n, to force
the conversation.
''Splendid!" he replied. "How is
-er-your mother, Miss Wylde?"
Every well, thank YOU" She nod,
ded smilingly. ''It's awfully good of
you to inquire about her. She and
living together alone don't make
many friends. We're quite alone in
the world"
"How sad" he commented sympa-
She looked at him in surprise.
do you know, Mr.. Dalton, that I'm
getting sick of Office ife?"
Are you?"
Eyes" She looked him full in the
iace as she spoke, and colored slight
w. 81 shan't be sorry when I give
It up"
"Are you thinking Of giving it up
then, Miss Wylde?" he asked.
IT don't know exactly. It all de-
pends."
ION him, suppose" thought Dali
ton. Then he said, with nervous
laugh: II hardly see why young la
lies should 60 in for a commercial
life at all. If they're pretty, like-er
pardon me-you, they're married
md out of it before they've time to
wear out pen-nib!"
"Some prefer it to marriage" She
aughed.
..Do you?" he questioned eagerly.
CT don't know" she replied jerk
", poking up the gravel with her
;unshade. "I've-er-only tried one
ide of tho question, and I don't like
t. As for the other side, II
'.What7" he interrupted, picking Up