The weekly Oskaloosa herald. [volume] (Oskaloosa, Iowa) 1855-1885, 1872-06-13

and very soon after the serv7nt ent
cred, saying:
ooh, Miss Mary, come to the door
and see the beautiful flowers the man
says are for YOU
Mary hastened out, to receive from
the man card, on which was writ
ten, "For Miss Fulton, No. % Wa
verify street.
How beautiful /! who could have
sent them suppose there can have
been no mistake. This is my name
and number Mary said glancing at
the card. -.
The man expressed his knowledge
OF the flowers having reached the
one for whom they were intended,
by gong to work unloading his cart,
and taking tnem into the hall:
Just then Mrs. Fulton came in from
a walk. Mary stopped, admiring the
flowers, then followed her into the
sitting-room, and wondered anew
who could have sen the beautiful
present.
Shall the man place them in the
windows, he says, Miss Mary " the
servan asked.
THANK him, and say if he has the
time to spare Mary answered.
Immediately after the man began
to bring in and arrange the plants.
'HOw soon you are back, mamma.
Surely you did not get through your
shopping" Mary said, removing her
mothers wrappings and gently seat
ing her. in rocker. -........
Eyes, love, l came back much
sooner than expected, to bring you
a disappointment, | fear, as well as
making you very busy to-day.
When | reached your fathers office,
| found there an old friend and
schoolfellow of his. l thought pa
pas eyes were asking, as plain as
could be, for me TO invite him to
dine with him to-day, and so did;
and the gentleman readily excepted
my invitation. When ! was coming
away papa followed me to the door,
and said he was so glad L had asked
his friend to our home. And | hur-
ried back to set you hard to work
never rejecting, until a few mo-
ments since, that you had an engage
ment for the afternoon answered
Mrs. Fulton. .
DO not worry about my engage
ment. l am glad to stay home and
be busy, to make dear papa happy.
| can send note of excuse to my
friend, and then to work. Mamma,
we will have dinner papa will be
proud Of
Just then came bang, crash Ma
ry turned quickly to see, lying on the
carpet, the fragments of pot, and
near by the scattered dirt, some still
clinglng to the roots of the rare rose
in full bloom.
Mary might well have been ex-
cused if she had gotten a little out of
temper. But she did not. The
shade ofregret which gathered for
an instant on her face quickly passed
away, and then the man picked up
the rose, and began to mutter some
excuse or apology, Mary said:
Never mind. | hope the rose is
not injured much and ii it is, 1 must
not grumble about the accident, for l
am still very rich in the possession
of SO many beautiful ones.' ......
The last flower is placed in the
window; and as the door closed on
the man, Mary said: ....
Poor fellow, really pitied him!
He is SO awkward, and seemed Ell
Their so frightened or bashful he
could not raise his eyes ....
well Frank, my boy, the time has
expired. Am to hunt a fitting bri-
dial present for your chosen one! I've
been anxiously waiting to hear from
you for several days past. l shall be
true TO my word. Am | to give nay
consent to, and blessing on your un-
ion with Miss. Courtney?'
NO sir. ....
NO slf! why not
Because I've asked Mary Fulton
to be my wife
'What! Indeed! Hurra Oh, Frank,
you are all right now. How happy
we shall all be }! But tell me how
suddenly you recovered both sight
and senses. had not expected my
little plan TO accomplish so sudden a
cure said Uncle Phil, clasping
Franks hand and shaking it warmly.
'Oh, uncle spare me recitation
from the first peep behind the scenes.
Sufficient to say, l thank you for
saving me from "a leap in the dark
said Frank with grave face.
'Ah, l see. The lovely belle did
not care to be 80 charming to the
awkward, red-headed cartman, as to
the very eligible Frank Osborn,
said Uncle Phil. with a knowing
smile. But 1 can let you off with
some little hints about your second
call and peep at the little home-spun
girl
Don't uncle, please, ever say that
again. | am ashamed OF myself ev-
er to have been so foolish. Well,
the red-headed, awkward cartman
found Mary Fulton more charming
and loving in every way than ever
Frank Osborn had dreamed; more
beautiful in her morning dress than
in her evening toilet-industrious,
gentle, amiable, considerate. And
so | grew more desperately in love
than ever, and learned to adopt com.
pletelY your idea, that 'only good
wife, -.. ... ..l0.
But do you think she can preside
with lease, grace and dignity al
your entertainments asked Uncle
Phil. ..a.... B..
another thrust, unciel Well, /
deserve it. l knows he will. L went
in the very evening after my call and
found her entertaining her fathers
friends. do not fear such a good
and lovely girl will not be all I wish.
felt like picking her up and runnin G
off with her that morning, when, after
smashed up the best flower, she
was SO pleasant about it. Bless her
dear little heart! There is no re-
ception hours or company behavior
about her. 81.
Isabel never ceased watching and
waiting for Franks return to her sid 3,
until she saw the marriage announced
and then she could never imagine
what it was that made her lose him.
If she could have imagined that
awkward cartman was the exquisite
Frank, the mystery would have been
Soluad