The Hancock Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Ohio) 1857-1870, 1867-11-08

TneIpless little femity, m0tnerlcesy-as -as
you may say, / feel-I know-that
your presence at my freside would
make me happier, would make"
Miss Wilcox looked agitated.
"Mr. Pratt" replied she, seeing
had come to long dash, "you have
taken me entirely by surprise. 1t is
true you are not unknown to me by
reputation, and / remember your
wife"
"Ah, yes !" exclaimed I, resolved
to make an appeal to the better feel.
ings of Miss Wilcox, who was, I
feared, about to slip through my fin
. fiers. Sand my sainted Elizabeth,
il she could look down upon US,
would, I am sure, bless you for try
ing to soften the lot of a struggling
man. Only say yes, my kind friend,
and-name the day" h
was intending to say, "Set your
own price," but the mention OF wag-
es to the exquisite young lady before
me seemed absolutely impertinent.
In my embarrassment ] quite forgot
that had not yet stated what it was
I wished her to do for ga struggling
man." But my unconnec.ed words
had evidently conveyed to her some
sort of meaning, for she had become
very pale, and was leaning against O
chair for support. She saw I was
awaiting an answer.
"Mr. Pratt" said she, in a tremu.
lous voice, "allow me to say that /
regard your proposition as little
i'll timed. Why this desperate haste?
l thank you for the honor you do me,
but at least allow me little time to
become acquainted with you. You
cannot expect me to bestow my affec-
tions on an utter stranger, who has
not even professed any regard for
me-"
Imagine the situation! 1t came
over me like lightning, flash on fash.
Here had / been stammering and
suffering proposal to this grill
At any rate she thought so. What
should l do2 What could I do p
The perplexity may have been ludi-
crous, but am sure it was very en-
barrassing! How could tell her
that what she had mistaken tor an
offer of marriage was only request
for her services in my kitchenP
No, if | had to burn at the stake l
couldn't do it.. Aman of expedients
might have crept out of such moose
not /. Moreover, l didn't feel
half so wretched as / should have
expected. My heart gave a double
beat--half fright, half joy. The fact
that had by pure accident taken
fatal step aad could not retrace it.
struck me then and there as special
providence. / had done it with my
eyes shut, but in Cupid's name, what
better could. Il have done with my
eyes open? Here was superior
woman, acknowledged even by the
envious Miss Peters to be a capital
housewife, and to my knowledge
charming companion
What more could l ask in wife
/ thought very fast, but the more
thought the more certain l was thai
| had only anticipated matters lit
must in Inevitably have come 70 pro.
posal sooner CT later 1t was over
and hadn't it to dread, either-somt
compensation this to diffident man
So without any very prolonged
pause, ! took Miss Wilcox's hand
and this is what said to her as
was leaving the house
"Mv dear friend, / do not ask you
to take hasty step. Consult your
own heart; and that you may do sc
more effectually, / hope with your
leave to give you frequent opportu'
mites of continuing our acquaintance
Take time 10 consider; but believe
me, your decision will materially af
feet my happiness. Good night"
Her answer was given two months
lafterward and IL the editor had no
objected, / should have published
last Christmas the following remark
"Thanks to the malice Of Miss
Jerusha Peters, the delightful james
Pratt to the very obliging Miss Viii
cox. No cards."