The Cairo bulletin., 1909-07-04
PHYLLIS'S ENGAGEMENT.

Australia, and simply had TO read
them all before / could start"
Really" whispered our mother
with unfeigned interest.
Yes, Ave" said Phylliss mother,
beaming. And ! do hope your rheu-
matism is better"
Phyllis is engaged" said our
mother 10 us at lunch.
AT last!" said Sister Amy. How
relieved Phylliss mother will be,
said Sister Marcy. "How do YOU
| know" said |.
"Phyllis's mother told me that she
had five letters from Australia this
morning" said our mother, as if no
further evidence was required.
But said /.
Il could see by the way she said
it. or course she is engaged
"Of course she is" said Amy.
"Of course" said Marcy. There
upon | withdrew. as ! was clearly in
tended to withdraw from active part
In the conversation.
"One of the letters would be from
Phyllis" said Amy, written before
he proposed She would say that It
was still raining and she was enjoy
ing herself frightfully and, didn't
want TO come home a bit. She would
write that in the afternoon. and they
would go out and post it together.
~. h.. kiz
and she would write another letter
to catch the same mail They would
go out and post that together She
would be so pleased that she would
MT mind the extra stamp a bit, and
he would think it was the incest pill
lar-box he had ever seen
Two" said Marcy. The third
would be from him, saying what
lucky man he was, and what a sweet
girl Phyllis was. and might he come
to England TO see Pyllis's mother,
and Phyllis said if he did he would
fall more in love with her than he
was with her. and what a sweet girl
Phyllis was, and what lucky man
he was
THE fourth would be from the
aunt, telling Phyllis's mother all
about his family, with just a post
script to say how glad PhylIiss moth
er will be and what blow 1t will be
to lose her daughter"
The fifth would be from the uncle,
with just few words about the fin.
ancial position and all the rest about
his cold
Whose cold?" I asked.
THE uncle's of course. l suppose
Phyllis's mother will write to Phyl-
lis. saying she cannot bear the idea
Of losing her"
Having sent her out for no other
purpose"
g. and though she doesn't
want to spoil Phyllis's happiness she
cannot promise anything yet. Then
she will write 10 him letter, more
kind than enthusiastic. saying what
a treasure Phyllis is, and that she
does not know whether she can see
her way to parting with her daush-
ter"
Isn't it possible .. Z" said |,
boldly.
NO, it isn't" snapped Amy
Leave him alone; he is only man
/ wish he would go on overeating
himself and not interfere in things
he doesn't understand. What shall
we wear.
My sisters went to tea with the
De Wintons in the afternoon with
intcnJ and the De Wintons always
sup with the Priestleys on Sunday
nights. Violet Priestley is engaged
10 Jack Hammond, and I met Grace
Hammond in town on Monday after
noon.
Il have some news for you, she
said, If you will promise not to tell
a soul. oughtn't really to tell any
one, bu, YOU are different" I did
not promise anything, but that did
not seem to make any difference
Phyllis is engaged, Isn't is a good
thing? Fancy, if she had been sent
out all the way to Austria for moth
ing
"Or worse still. to Australia" said
l.
He is a tall dark man with
black moustache. His father is
Judge. and his family is the Oldest
iu the colony. Phyllis had written
TO her mother about coming home
and be went with her TO post the
letter On the way back she told
him wha. the letter was about
wasn't it clever Of her7) and he
proposed then and there. He has
written 10 Phyllis's mother, and
promised to settle on Phyllis
but I mustn't say how much. Phyl-
liz is coming home at once. and he
is going TO put his farm straight and
follow by the next boat. The we'd
ding will be early in January, and
Immediately afterward they are 60
ing back 10 America"
why don't they try Australian"
suggested.
same thing" she said. What do
you think Of 1t all, and what am
to wear?'