Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes Co., O. [Ohio]) 1870-1895, 1871-02-02
Popping the Question.

sa Popping the Question. i
aWhy don't you get married?''
said a bouncing girl with a laughing
eye, to a smooth-faced, innocent
looking youth. -.
"Well, l." said the youth, stop
ping short, with gasp, and fixing
his eyes upon vacancy, with puz
zled and foolish expression. 'i
@Well, go on said the fair cross
examiner, inclining, almost imper
ceptibly nearer to the young man.
"Now, tell me right out-you
what?"
"Why, I-pshaw, 1 don't know"
You do know say you do
now tell me-" f..
go, l can't tell you
g l say you can. Why, you know
I'll never mention it, and you may
tell me; of fcourse, you know, 1 have
always been your friend"
swell, you have, L know" replied
the poor helpless youth.
And I'm sure / thought you al
ways liked me-" went on the maid
en-, in tender and mellow accents.
go, LIDO, upon my word, yes, in
deed, I do, Maria" said the unso-
phisticated youth, very warmly; and
he found that Maria had uncon-
sciously placed her hand in his open
palm. @- -'.'-
Then there was silence. p "f'.-
"And then-well?" whispered
Maria, dropping her eyes on the
ground.
"a Eth? o, wellm said John, drop
ping his eyes and Maria's hand at
the same time. 4rw 'll..vlt.
I'm pretty sure you love some
body. In fact" said Maria, assum-
ing a tone of raillery. Il know you
are in love; and, John, why don't !
you tell me all about it at once?"
+ "Well-I-" ..r..5 s5 auli
"Well, 10, you silly mortal,
what is there to be afraid Of"
40! it amt because l am afraid
of anything, at all; and Tll-wen,
now, Maria, FL tell YOU |
"Well, now, john .-r |
&" -.....
"Yes." /
"I-I am in lovel Now, don't
tell; you WON'T will youf" said |
John, violently seizing Maria by the |
hand, and looking in her face with |
the most imploring expression.
"Why, of course, you know, John,
I'll never breathe word about it;
you know l won't, don't you,
John?" ..-...-,.,--. |
This was spoken in a low whis-
per, and the merry lips of Maria
were SO near Johns ear, when he
turned to look at her, there might
have occurred dangerous concus
sion. ..... ~. rr ...-. ...l.....
Well, Maria," said John, I've
told you now, and you shall know
all about it. / have always thought
a great deal Of you, and" r.l |
" Yes, John 3D. -.It4.. ..rl I
q I am sure you would do any
thing for me you could
Yes, John, youknow Iwould."
"Well,. 1 thought SO, and you
don't know how I've wanted to talk
to you about it." I-.-- a.i- .. l.
" | declare, John, you might have
told me long since, if you wanted
to, for was never angry with You
in my Iife.''
II know you wasn't, and I have
often felt great mind to, but"
at is not too late now, you know,
John" a Is" .'+
" Well, now, Maria, do you think
Fam too young to get married% |
Indeed, I do not, John; and I
know it would be a good thing for
you, too, for everybody says the
sooner young people get married,
the better, when they are prudent,
and inclined to love one another"
"That's just what I think; and
now, Maria, I do think want to get
married, and you will" L
Indeed / will, John, for you
know ! always was partial to you,
and I've often said so behind your
back @ Il
"Well, / declare, 1 have all along
thought you would object, and that
is the reason Eve been afraid to ask
you" '- i'. -'e i
"obiect! I'll die first; so you
may ask me anything You please"
"And you'll grant it," |,
"I will" II
B 'sThen l want YOU to pop the
question for me to KNe Sullivan
"Do you love Kate SullivanT'
Indeed l do, with all my heart"
Il always thought You were a
fool 1 I'll
:. Ebgn a .a.@s . ..a
q say you are fool, and had bet
ter go home. Your mother wants s
you, YOU stupid" exclaimed the
mortified Maria, in shrill treble.
And she gave poor John such a slap
in the face that it sent him reeling.
Unhappy Maria-the course of
true love never runs smooth.