Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1865-04-05

the case before Miss Browne. 1t couldn' t
| kill him, she said, and then if she refused
him-why, there was 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 double dose of blackberry
cordial, donned his flame coIored vest and
| black and blue plaids, brushed his hair till
| 1t shOne like ebony, covered his head with
his father 5 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 niece,
he should be happy. He felt assured that
he never could live through confessing HIM
self 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
her best humor. She was charmed to see
him, and treated him to nuts and cider and
a seat on the sofa so near herself that Will
was at his wits end to frame the first word
of his errand.
They talked of the weather and the crops
till the clock struck ten The widow tried
to make him think it was only nine, but he
count He felt that the terrible moment
could be no longer delayed he must make
beginning:
Mrs Hooper," said he, II came over
this evening - he hesitated.
Yes VIII, said she encouragingly.
Il came over -
Eyes, [ know you did," still more en-
couragingiy.
Il came over to ask great favor of you. -
well, you couldn' have come to any
body that would be reader to do you a kind
ness, W illiam
Thank you The sweat stood on his
forehead in great drops but this is a
very delicate business, very. | come to ask
you to-to-to-''
''Go on-don be afraid; | am listening. p"
''The fact of it is, I'm in love-desper-
ately There, I've done it,
Mercy on me! Why, William and
never mistrusted it-never! Well, of all
things - and the widow edged little closer
and put her fat hand in William s.
Yes, I'm in love, and L come to ask you
if you would
''Wil [? To be sure l will How could
you think otherwise! have always thought
so much of you! But it is so sudden! What
would folks say y?''
''Deuced if | care'' cried VIII, elated
at the prospect before him. Its nobody
busineSs-am | to be wretched on account
Mrs. Hooper, | bee-I ain used to it; and
-and-what was that noise?'
''fhe mice, | guess. Dear William, how
glad | am you told me I"
And you'll ask Adelaide, make it all
right with her?''
Adelaide? Oh! she'll have no earthly
obiections-of course not
Are you sure? If | was only certain of
it! Oh Mrs Hooper, [ loved her the mo-
ment | set my eyes on her -
Her? Who?''
''Why, your niece, Adelaide Browne.
She is the only woman on earth that [ could
ever be happy with. | shall die if | don't
get her!'
Mrs Hooper turned purple She caught
up the poker and flew at our hero like
maniac He made for the door, she follow |
ing close.
I'm show you how to insult respectable |
woman - she cried; ''I'll teach you to steal
the affections of guileless heart, and then
prove false each showing accompanied |
by thump from the poker
Viii at last succeeded In putting the door |
between him and his antagonist, and in
frantic haste he dived down over the steps,
and at the bottom reeled full into the arms
Of Adelaide Browne herself, who was just
returning from friends.
Don let her get mel he cried; I'D
rather die than she should hug me again
1t you / lore, not her, she's madder than
a panther
1t was not very elegant proposal, but Miss
Browne s solf- possession insured Wills ev
erlasting veal: She accepted him on the
spot, for she had liked him all along, and
nothing had stood between them but his
bashfulness
out t even " n to ls this dav the sight of widow
viii make him tremble, they are so intimate
Y associated in his mind with poker.