Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1905-04-05
Two D Sc veries.
Observation-Disclosures

U ! WV - ,-3Sa C1 lCSs r.
,151S25S751515l525
I'm always wondering remarked
Elva. rel!ectively. as she handed me
my second cup of tea, when you're
really going to fall in love, and"
Don't be too hasty" ! interrupted,
as ! assisted myself to sugar; per
haps I'm even now consumed with
the disquieting fever"
You're SO fat SAID Elvs, dispar-
agingly.
NONSENSE" protested. Simply
well covered. Why, my tailor altered
my measurements only yesterday"
"Oh, of course. ii you won't be seri-
GUS" she sighed, resignedly and pre-
pared to nibble judiciously Drowned
muffin; but, really, Monty, you're
let me see-forty- 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- 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 | am"
Something in my tone must have
like Mahomet's coffin, remained sus
pended while she surveyed me in
tently, presumably to see if she could
detect any latent humor in my coun-
tenance.
/ did not move muscle.
we're In ehf ats sig asEBb gga that esi Ea9
ingly, and thought-ahough. OF
course, ] had no business to think
that her voice was a little unsteady,
Il should say how very glad | am
please try and believe me-"
pleaded.
She studied my face as if undecided
what to do.
rs it recent?" she asked, at last.
1T happened-yesterday,' con
fessed.. You remember I always
promised that you should be the first
to know whenever | really had any
thing to tell, and was just going 10
begin when you fell upon me-
Yesterday" murmured Elva. in
evident surprise. Then it must havs
been at Lady Follets garden party
nodded.
WAS it love at first sight, or had
you seen her before?"
81 had seen her. ! said, guardedly
once or twice"
oh" said Elva. and / think she
flushed. Then. of course, it's Mollie
Richards. ] saw you talking to hel
for ages in the rosary. She's nice
girl, believe, and I'm really awfully
glad, Monty-awfully. Somehow hcl
tone didn't carry the conviction il
was doubtless intended to convey.
presumed it was because Miss Rich
ards was never a very particular
friend of hers.
ouppoSC, S.iC Ntul vi, .ou IL
propose at once. You've no need to
wait like most poor creatures"
II intend" l 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?"
mot the least in the world said
graciously; 81 expected them
What do you mean by that?" she
inquired, with suspicion.
Nothing, except that you've cate.
chised me about my mat rimonial 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?"
Elva'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 SC
embarrassing. ! really think she had
tendresse for you, Monty
Probably agreed. MANY peo
pie have
Don't be conceited!" reprimanded
Elva: but tell me all about Molle
Richards, and exactly what attracted
you. Some people call her pretty
IL rather admire her myself. only
"Mollie Richards?' inquired, will
extreme innocence. "Who said any
thing about Mollie Richards"
why, you did of course-that il
to say-yes-no, suppose You didn't
then-why, did. suppose; but any
how, what's the good of cavilinl
about her? 1t is Mollle Richards, ISM
it?"
81 wouldn't marry Mollie Richards,
said. decisively, eff they shot me
for refusing!"
Elva poured herself out some more
tea. and-yes, it was not my imagina
tion-her hand did shake, and she
looked as if it would have been re
lief to her feelings to have launched
the teapot at my head.
Monty, you are trying" she ex
claimed; upon my word you are
You insist that you've come to tel
me as our Oldest friend that you've
really found some one that you could
care for at last, and then you sit ant