The midland journal., 1905-03-24
Two Discoveries.

81
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I'm always wondering" remarked
Elva, refiectively, as she handed me
my second cup of tea, when you're
really going to fall in love, and"
Don't be too hasty," l interrupted,
as 1 assisted myself to sugar; per
haps I'm even now consumed with
the disquieting fever
you're so fat" said Elva, dispar-
agingly.
"Nonsense!" I protested. "Simply
well covered. Why, my tailor altered
my measurements only yesterday"
ooh, of course, if you won't be seri-
ous," she sighed, resignedly, and pre-
pared to nibble a judiciously Drowned
muffin; "but, really, Monty, you're
let me ee-forty-you're independ-
ent, and-'um-" she regarded me
critically with her head on one side
"passably good looking; and yet you
let pretty, nice, suitable girls slip
through your fingers by dozens, be-
cause you're either too lazy or too
conceited to take sufficient interest
in them
Don't lecture me-" l pleaded. Elva
is prone to lectures; you're so dread
fully impulsive, you know. AS a mat
ter of fact, looked in this very after
noon to tell you how-how ambomin-
ably in love l ami"
CT ho
struck her as unusual. The muffin,
like Mahomet's coffiE, remained sus-
pended while she surveyed me in.
tently, presumably to see if she could
detect any latent humor in my coun-
tenance.
l did not move muscle.
eff l was quite certain that you
were in earnest" she began, hesitat-
ingly, and I thought though, of
course, l had no business to think
that her voice was a little unsteady,
II should say how very glad l am" !"
please try and believe me-" l
pleaded.
She studied my face as if undecided
what to do.
'Is it recent?" she asked, at last.
at happened-yesterday,p con-
fessed.. "You remember I always
promised that you should be the first
to know whenever really had any
thing to tell, and l was just going to
begin when you fell upon me-"
Yesterday" murmured Elva, in
evident surprise. "Then it must have
been at Lady Follet's garden party
I nodded.
"Was it love at first sight, or had
you seen her before?"
"T had seen her." / said, guardedly,
'once or twice."
"Oh!" said Elva, and l think she
flushed. "Then, of course, it's Mollie
Richards. 1 saw you talking to her
for ages in the rosary. She's a nice
girl, l believe, and I'm really awfully
glad. Monty-awfully." Somehow her
tone didn't carry the conviction it
was doubtless intended to convey; /
presumed 1t was because Miss Rich
ards was never a very particular
friend of hers.
II suppose" she went on. you'll
propose at once. You've no need to
wait like most poor creatures"
II intend" / said, ito offer
myself with as little delay as pos
sible.''
"And you really don't mind my TAX
ing the privilege of an old friend
very old friend-to ask you all these
questions, do you?"
"Not the least in the world" / said,
graciously; Il expected them"
What do you mean by that?" she
inquired, with suspicion.
Nothing. except that you've cate
chised me about my matrimonial pros
poets ever since you could toddle. Do
you remember, for instance, asking
me at schoolroom tea in your early
youth whether it was my intention
to marry your Fraulein or not?"
ENa's face frightened promptly.
Rather" she said; "and Fraulein
turned all sorts of colors, and told
mother the next day that she really
would no longer stay with child so
embarrassing I really think she had
a tendrasse for you, Monty"
Probably" I agreed. MANY peo-
pie have"