An Old, Old Story.

that she is not indifferent to mo—and sc I venture to-day , to ask for your approval ancl adhesion , for your kindly consent tc our engagement !" Miss Margerison , Avho had shown some little agitation during this pithy speech , at last slowly replied : " In my clays—the

old people wore asked first;—but the Avorld is topsy-turvy just now , —and the young folks seem to arrange everything—and haA'e their own ivay , and then come to the old folks , almost as an act of condescension . " " Oh , Miss Margerison !"

Mr . Mainwaring was beginning hypocritically , but earnestly , Avhat would doubtless haA' 0 been a very effective speech , when the door opened , ancl in burst Lucy , radiant , in good looks , with Colonel Mackintosh and Dan , AVIIO hacl found his

exclusion from the house quite insupportable ancl a great insult to his native dignity . " Aha , " said tho Colonel ; " You are a sly old gal , for here you ' ve got Mainwaring to-day , proposing to you , though you threiv

over the curate yesterday , and hero is " our Lucy" in a dreadful state of female jealousy and agitation . " What could Miss Margerison do or say . Her kind nature ivas not proof against the old boy ' s manceuvering , and so like a sensible old bird as she ivas , she hauled down her colours , and surrendered at discretion .

" No , " she said , with all her wonted cheerfulness , and a slight tone of her gentle sarcasm ; " Mr . Mainwaring has not come to propose to me , but to Lucy ; and he ' and she have settled matters , ancl he has come to talk them over ivith me ; our young people are so good aucl so considerate . "

lhe old Colonel Avas a little taken aback at this clear statement of the position oi affairs , for such a proceeding did not suit his ideas of military discipline , but , at last he said , " well , you and I , my old friend , belong to another generation .

These chits—this youth and that lassare citizens of the new one , and each generation has its own notions , and its own ivays . For my part I prefer the older one , but tastes differ , and Ave must not be too hard on the new . " Was not the old boy right ? So he turned to the blushing Lucy ,

AVIIO hacl listened demurel y to these prett y little speeches , and said , " youVo gone and done it !—you ' ve actually engaged j'ourself to that boy there ! " and tho old fellow smiled approvingly on Mainwaring . " Well , in my opinion , it is as it should

be , and I , for one , quite approve , ancl hope that you may—may—may " ( here the old chap hesitated and halted ) , and at last he brought out , " never repent the step yoti have taken , you two young geese !" Miss Margerison , AVIIO had been looking

very kindly all this while on the two embarrassed cul prits , said in her ' quiet ancl stately way , " I quite approve , too ; and I am very glad to think that Lucy is going to marry a steady ancl high-principled young man , for , to my mind , very many of our young men want a groat deal of improving , and I should never have

rested quiet in my grave had Lucy married one of those whom tho world calls ' fast youths . '" "By Jove , " said the old Colonel , " ' improving , '—you don't knoiv actually Avhat to do w'itli them . They will do

nothing but smoke and bet , ancl play billiards , ancl imbibe B . and S ., and now they are taking to nips , sherry ancl bitters , and absinthe ! " ancl here the old gentleman ' s face assumed a look of perfect horror .

"In my days men never did such things , or , if they did , they Avent to the clogs . But it ' s no use talking , AVO can ' t make them old or Avise , though I do think that they all want ' strai ghtening up , ' and their ' shoulders ivell thrown back . ' Tho goose-step and balancing drill would do them a deal of good . "

And here the old boy marched away through an open ivindow into the garden , Avhere he mi ght soon afterwards have been seen smoking bis cigaret— his panacea for most earthly troubles , his soothing remedy for all the evils of life ; " the more so , " as he used to say Avith a chuckle to his friends at the Club , " as you knoAV I haA'e not got a Avife at

home' To soothe mo with her finest feelings , To cheer me Avith her cheery voice . '" Where did the old boy get his quotation from ? As for Lucy and Mr . Mahrwaring they remained quietly Avith the old lad y , talking