The Storyteller.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 7846, 12 June 1905, Page 4

The Storyteller.

Hr"A LIGHTNING COURTSHIP* &1 My dear Miss DhMfcnore," said Wrtimcr Hiokley, after a brief eon-*-v«rsation on unimportant" topics, "I %iv« called upon you KjWte a number, |of- times now, and I derisey you' 'have begun to suspect the object of iiay visits." '■■■' ,■-...■- *>" "-Berg Mortimer Hickley' stopped ana Reared his throat, and Mabel Dinsfcnwre. who was thoroughly unprepar|«4 for anything more serious 'than, Mb ' ordinary evening oall, atJammerj£_ , > :>- • .r~ v why, Mr Hickley. this is—is ongjLthe—the third time yqu have been f£?< <You are right, Miss Stair MeJxel—may I caH you Mabel? ' KPte is only the third time, but £ gpave learned to know y»u well in , Swhese few visits. Ah, how pfcey have been to me I "... &f Besides, Mr Hickley," the girl gharriec? on.ias sobn.as "he paused* Igs those "three calls were made* inside pef. a week. This is Thursday. Y«u jgoame last Friday night, and then j&fgain on Monday night." tj& "Again you ase right,Msjbel.., gut ip. have known' yeu much longer than gUsxt. I always admired jw,. but my, Ecaperience of fiuft weefc «ur convinced iP!9jkMW' Jovoyou devoutly and Kinasfi. make you' my .wife." £. V*«W*r Hickley ! " ~ fsj<3"Oh, that's "alt »igW,-%S ; went fito.sjohjsjal together a few, yjea«* ; ago, grOw fc f§njlJi(» know.each other-There

"is no occasion for a long delay in , unking up our, nunda, is there, Mabel, WW?"""; ' ;;At this point Me HScktoy put rfcia , rfght'arm round Miss Dinsmore's ifwaist, and she gjenUy removed sit* m, returned to the same place half \M. minute later, anC this" time she leV *« remain. WHh his left hand : Mr. "BicfcSey drew a'ring from bis pocket, the remark : ■ r. ■ ' ft ". I thougtit tjkt while I was about I might as well bring the engager ring with me,"*, .; f ~»;; I- •" Such; ibpertinenoe ! " )«Kda&ne&. (SJbbel, as she took the ring and .examined it. '.'What a? lovetedia-> gjnond ! " she added, as she slipped! j36 onther finger., and held up the'lfinto admire it.' a ß'o of the proceedings Mil SlHcidy 6tole a kiss, wherenpoa MHss|handed him Ibhck the glit> gtering jewellery. „..- "K'» a pretty near"fi{, isn't it?" #stod Mr fflckiey, apparently not |s*he least disconcerted nt hier manner. kLu l J lip^ed St °" "wr.vWmisWH this time, and she replied— V" ft souWa't have fitted wetoetter. did you get my size ? " glad it fiU.. We are getting fcßo.finely. Now that we-areungaged, ptobel, sweetheart, you mrostkisu me.' Sipßut she wouldn't, and he had to CcJielp himself.

g,™ " I haven't said Tres' yet," she Spouted. I&-' " next **">£• .Mabel," said the feenergctic young man, "is to name (fifthe day." S&- ■•' i'n do nothing of the k'ind/'cried fgf " Oh, weU, if you wish to leave it #to me, I'll arrange it easily enough. I was down town getting the |gWng I went to -the clerk's offise and Pjgot a marriage license." Sk.." Mortin-er Mickey, you didn't 1" |£ " Why not ? Here•*- is." produced the document,with its permission .for.Mortinwr-Hio-T PW-inil- Mabel 1 DinMoreTolnterlne state. |^^ M Such presumption fairly ' takes breath away," the young lady |k exclaimed, after she had examined the ■" * ■ • p?r'"l was always taught not to put |poff until to-morrow what I Could da Sgrtd-day." added Mr Hkkey.;: "IfKinb is no use. in postponing' the p'cereinony, so I got a friend of mine to get a minister and bring him here •>' at nine o'clock. We can he married £/,> and take the 10.8f> train for Niagara, aliand spend our honeymoon th^e." Pfi, •"Married to-nrghtr" & I " Why not; what's the use of waifi-g-;TJ«r?" .. "- - tA . . t . set. - " But I have no clothes to go away - at" £-- church on Sunday. That will do. ! g«¥ou'U just have time to tumble a S* ; few things in a trunk before the exman comes for the luggage at a;iten. I have the tickets and the sleep|g.ing accommodation is all provided sS*>r."

H,.' "Mr Hickey, I won't be a party to such I shaH call £.' mamma and toll her all about it." *■*_, " Well, don't be long. I think that i-/ring at the door must be J*e Simp--3 son and the minister. We can't delay if matters are to move as I've ■ J sc&duled them." ** JNUsa Djnsmore hied to hen. mamma L .with the startling intelligence. Ida know what passed, between _moWt&bc and daughter, bat U Is a-faet if "that the minister was not kept wait«iSng longj that Mrs Dmsmore' • gave bride away, and the happy pair j. left on the 10.30 train, as arranged! E'?'iipy the thougbtfol iridegcasm. ,

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