Holmes County farmer. [volume] (Millersburg, Ohio) 1857-1926, 1863-12-10

thereby throwing her headlong into pile
of brush; and while Laura Blake picked
her up, and helped to pin on her foun.
ces, he stood by. frightened half out Of
his wits.
From that time he pined rapidly. His
appetite was a thing of the past. His
mother thought him in a quick decline,
and dosed him with hoarhound and DR..
Perkins patent pacific pills. lie grew
worse and worse.
At last, thinking himself near his end,
he confessed to his mother. She was
thunderstruck; but at length, like sen.
sible woman, she advised him to put on
bis "tother Clothes" and go right over
and lay the case before Miss Browne. 1t
couldn't kill him, she said; and then if
she refused him, why there were as good
fish in the sea, etc.
Will took three days to consider, and
at the end of that time his mind was
made up. He swallowed a double dose
of blackberry cordial, donne6 his flame
colored vest and black and blue plaids,
brushed his hair till it shore like ebony,
covered his head with his fathers ten
dollar beaver, and made the best of his
way to Mrs. Hooper's.
Not that he intended to ask Adelaide
but Mrs. Hooper. If he could only
get the aunt won over to his cause, and
employ her to state the condition of his
heart to her neice, he should be happy.
He felt sure that he never should live
through confessing himself to Adelaide
and if he did, and she should say no,
he was satisfied he should faint away
right on the spot!
AS good fortune would have it, he
found Mrs. Hooper alone, in her best
gown and best humor. She was charm
ed to see him, and treated him to nuts
and cider, and seat on the sofa so near
herself that poor Will was at his wits
end to frame the first word of his er.
rand.
They talked of the weather and the
crops until the clock struck ten. The
widow tried to make him think it was
only nine; but he was not SO far gone
but that he could still count. He felt
that the terrible moment could be no Ion
ger delayed. He must make begin
ming.
Mrs. Hooper," said he. 81 came ovel
this evening" he hesitatod.
eyes, WILL" she said most encour
agingly.
81 came over"
I" Yes, know you did," still NOR
encouragingly.
Il came over to ask great favor o
you'll"
"Well, you could not have come t
anybody that would be reader to do y
kindness, William"
"Thank you"
The sweat stood on bis forehead il
great drops.
But" continued he. "this is a yer,
delicate busines, very come to asl
you-to-to-"
go on don't be afraid. l am lis
tening."
"The fact of it is, am in love' des
perately, "there I've done it''
"Mercy me! Why, William and
never mistrusted it-,-never Well, o
all things!" And the widow edged
little closer, and put her fat hand il
Williams.
"Yes. I'm in love; and 1 camo to asl
you if you would"
"Will |? TO be sure l will How
could you think otherwise? | have al
ways thought SO much of you. But it i
SO sudden; what will folks say?"
"Deuccd if l care!" cried Will, ella
ted at the prospect before him; "it's no
body's business. Am to be wretche
on account of what people will say 2
Don't hug me SO, Mrs. Hooper, beg
l. l amt used to it; and-and, ,--wha
was that noise?"
"The mice, guess. Dear Will no,
glad l am you told me-"
"And you will ask Adelaide and max
it all right with her ?"
"Adelaide? Oh !! she will have n
earthly objections-of course not"
care you sure? If was only certai
of il ! Oh, Mrs. Hooper, l loved he
the moment set eyes on her !"
"Her? Who?"
"Why, your neice, Adelaide Brown
She is the only woman on earth that
could ever be happy with. l shall d
. if l don't get her."
Mrs. Hooper turned purple. 81
caught up the poker and flew at our her
like maniac. He made for the doc
she followed close.
"I'll show you how to insult respe'
table woman, I'll show you how to ste,
the affections Of a guileless heart. an
then prove false!" she cried. each "shov
ing" accompanied by thump from Il
poker.
Will had at last succeeded in putin
the door between him and his antag
mist; and, in frantic haste, he dived dow
over steps. and at the bottom reeled fu
into the arms of Adelaide Browne he
self, who was just returning from
friends.
"Don't let her get at me - he erie,
n'd rather die than she should hug n
: again! It's you l love, and not her, al
she's madder that hatter."
1t was not very elegant propose
but Miss Brownies self possession insu
ed Willis everlasting veal. She acce
ted him on the spot, for she had lik
3 him all along, and nothing had stot
. between them but his abominable bas
| fulness.