The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1872-03-20

- Where hope admired before.
POPPING THE QUESTION.
9Th do it'll" quoth Mr.. Tompkins,
with a very decided flourish of his red
and yellow bandanna. And Mr.. Temp
kins folded his arms across his portly
breast, and paced the garden walk with
the air of fat Napoleon.
He made up his mind-he had deci-
ded the question upon which he had
been bordering for the last two hours.
Yes, he would do it. Upon tho whole.
Mr.. Tompkins would pop the question.
To be sure, he was forty, fat and bald;
but every body that knew him said there
was not more amiable man in Ger
mantown. Besides he did not think
himself so very ill-looking man, and
even Mamie Day could not be entirely
oblivious to the fact, that he was some
thing of a catch. Fifty thousand dol
lars was considerable wealth in Ger
mantown, and Mr.. Tompkins possess
ed that amount Of worldly goods.
e He was widower. His first wife
had been Betsy Trimmer, and he had
married l,erismartness; and it was PROOF
of his fondness for variety that lie had
now set his heart upon pretty Mamie
Day, the doctors daughter, who was
only eighteen, and anything but "capa-
ble." Indeed Mrs. Jones, the house
keeper to whom Mr., Tompkins had
applied for her opinion of Mamie, said
she was fly-away fiirt-of- thing and
jest about as stiddy as white kitten!''
But everybody knew that Mrs Jones
was an i'll natured critic who would
see no good in anybody. go"
Mamie would sober down after a
while, and her girlish fiightiness just
pleased Mr.. Tompkins. And she was
so bewitclingly pretty; her hair was
like gold in the sun, her eyes were like
two yiolets, and would drive any man
out of his senses. Mr.. Tompkins knew
that, for they had driven him ont IF
his many time. If she accepted him
-and OF course she would-If she ac-
copied him-and of course she would
-how all the young fellows would en-
Wy him! o.it ---ss. l'a0a nj q
That last consideration decided him,
that, and a glimpse just then Of Nam
ME herself, crossing the pasture next
her garden, and carrying little tin
pail, which betokened that she was go
ing 'sstrawberrying." Positively she
had never looked. SO charming as she
looked at that moment in her pink cal
leo dress and white apron, and the
broad brimmed hat, with ribbons, just
matching her eyes. Yes, Mr.. Temp
.kins would do it! - : q
He felt very assured and triumphant
in advance when he stood on DR.. Hays
doorstep that evening, asking the
s.'help";if "Miss Nancy was iua"' g
"Miss Nancyi Yes; SHE was in the
setting-room. Walk right in there
Mr.. Tompkins;" and Almiry looked
exceedingly significant as she opened
the ,"settln' room" door. .Almiry was
a sharp girl; and Mr.. Tompkins pre-.
sumed she guessed his Grand.
| There was no light in the setting
room, and only the white table cover
and crimson lounge showed distinctly
through the gloom. A female figure in
a pink-dress and white apron at the
entrance from seat by the window
and Tompkins hurriedly exclaimed, g
little furried in spite of himself.
.sDon't bring a light, Miss Day
don't! want to say something to you
and hetwilight-"
Mr.. Tompkins took a seat beside the
lady, who finished his sentence 70,
him by answering "Oh!" 2i3 -
Now was the tug of war. Mr.. Temp,
kins did not find his task as easy as hi
had anticipated but having beer
through the ordeal once before, he was
not to be .daunted by trifles. So liz
possessed himself of the lady's iband--
having some. trouble to find it in thu
deepening gloom and cleared his throa
preparatory to commencing.
"Hem! Miss Day-my dear Nan
nie!"
He stopped short and the fair ont
giggled. Mr. Tompkins considered
that encouraging; and recollecting th'
manner in which he proposed to Bets.