The Shropshire Examiner and all round the Wrekin advertiser. — 1876-09-22 (Wenlock, Shropshire, England)

OFF WITH THE OLD LOVE AND ON WITH THE NEW.  "This," said Mrs. Gafferly. "this is the last time, Perlina Milkin, the very last time. I've spent enough upon you since your ma died, and I took charge of you, to marry six girls who had their senses about them. I've dressed you like a Christmas doll, and I've let you go into company, and I've sent you to the most fashionable places to board in summer, and here you are, four-andtwenty, and not so much as engaged. Why I was married at seventeen, and your meat eighteen, and your aunt Delight, about the plainest little critter I ever saw, wasn't but just sixteen. What's the use of advantages—and you have looks, Perlina— if you don't make use of 'em?" "I'm sure I don't know what you expect me to do. I can't very well propose to any one," said Perlina, ready to cry. "I do everything I can. I suppose you waited until Uncle Gafferly asked you to have him before you said you would.', "Your uncle Gafferly would hare committed suicide if I had refused him," said aunt Gafferly. "You may not believe it now, but I was a beauty in my youth. As for what you can do, you o,ght to know; but what I say is this; come home engaged, or I'll stop all this useless extravagance. I've crammed your trunk, and you are going to , Brighton with the Kerosene Newbody's; and if you can't do it now, I'll give it up as a bad job." With which speech she inflicted on her niece's cheek that matter of course peck which female friends choose to consider a kiss, and bade her good-by. And despite her elaborate new wardrobe poor Perlina cried a good deal in the hired carriage which conveyed her to the train. She looked so ill when she arrived at Brighton that her mirror told her that her best plan would be to retire early, and take as much beauty sleep as poFsible, in view of any eligible gentlemen who might put in an appearance next day. Fresh as arose, and dressed in her moat becoming morning dress. Perlina took her seat at the breakfast-table next morning', and nestled close to Mrs. Kerosene Newbody in the most bewitching manner. That lady, an ample matron, with a loud voice,  greeted her 'affectionately, and at once introduced her to two gentlemen who were her neighbours. "Mr. Kolt, M ss Makin. Miss Milkin, Mr. Downhill. All old friends of mine. Charmed to make you know each other," and then devoted herself to breakfast. They were of the age, or rather of the ages, at which the heart is most susceptible to Cupid's arrow. Edmund Kolt was a youth of nineteen, and Hiram Downhill was at least sixty-five. To cut a long story short, Miss Milkin having discovered that Mr. Kit was very rich and an orphan, and that Mr. Downhill was a very wealthy bachelor, at once set her cap for both gentlemen, resolving to accept the one who proposed first. She loved neither.  Mrs. Newbody, who was, on the -whole, a goodnatured woman, willing to see her friends well settled, furthered the little affair to the best of her ability. There were walks, rides, drives, chatting in cozy corners, and at last a proposaL It came from Mr. Kolt. Youth is hasty, age slow. Mr. Downhill was just making up his mind to do it, when Mr. Kolt did it. And Miss Milkin said "Yes." and would have fallen into his arms but that they were in full sight of an old lady who had just levelled her opera glass full at them from a window._ And afterward, when they had had . .  supper, Perlina locked herself into her room and wrote to her Aunt Gafferly. H. r letter ended thus: "So you see I'm engard, and you can't twit me any longer. I don't suppose poor Ho t will ever set the river on fire, but he's a good natured fellow, and I can just twist him about my finger. And remember you are bound to give me a handsome wedding dress, and have always promised mu poor ma's pearls the day I married. "Your affectionate niece,