Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1873-03-10
All in the Dark.

terson Conklin. ''She expects me to, OF
course, and last light she gave me
pretty strong hint. When she sang,
why don't the Men Propose, Mamma,
I am very certain that I caught her eye.
Yes, and there was an interrogation point
in her very glance. She expects it. she
has a right to expect it, and I'll do it '
Mr.. Conklin having delivered himself
thus, put On his coat and hat, and tax
ing his cane under his arm sailed out
into the street
Mr.. Patterson Conklin was a bachelor
of forty-fve. He was naturally predis-
posed to matrimony, and had just been
on the point of committing it twenty
times in as many years. There had been
but one trouble-he could never bring
himself to propose. He had courted
more fair damsels than he had fingers
and toes, and he had lost them all, mere
ly because he couldn't or wouldn't ask
them to name the day.
Now Mr.. Conklin had been in love at
least twenty times. and yet he remained
unmarried. If you had asked him why
is this, he would have answered you as
follows :yy-s-sGE y. .-s.,mu5sls-. ~
Every true lover has these little loves
before the great one comes they are like
those pretty pieces of carved wood which
Columbus found floating in the Atlantic,
forerunners and signs that he was draw
ing near his great goal and approaching
the end of his wanderings across the
ocean. Now [ have reached the goal.
The great love aforesaid has arrived. The
lady upon whom l lavish this great love
is most beautiful, and her, name is, Min
ME Clelland. Tonight | shall lay my
heart and fortune at her feet
This pretty little story about every
true lovers little loves foretelling the
greater one was not original with Mr..
Conklin. He had found it in a novel
that he had picked up one night over to
Minnie's.
But leaving Mr.. Patterson Conklin to
pursue his way, we will, if you please,
run on before, and take glance at the
family of which his lady-love, the beau
tiful Minnie, was the "bri ght particular
4 star F"
Il The family consisted of the Hon. Hor-
ace Clelland, NJ. c., very soft-spoken,
sweet-tempered, round I'D nnntlnman
over whose shining bald head fifty sum-
mers had bloomed and faded Mrs. Clel.
land, small black eyed woman of forty
who honered her husband. and believed
that his was the most towering and gi
gantic intellect that the world had evel
seen, Notwithstanding the fact tina
Bobbs, the editor of the opposite paper
persisted in calling him ''an idiot" g;
bag of wind, - ga cats paw for the par
ty leaders," and other choice names to-
numerous to mention. Mrs. Clellan,
was slow to anger, but if she could hav
fixed her hands in Bobb' hair only once
his next editorial would have been writ
ten in pain and anguish, without seal
to hide his emotions.
The other members of the family wer
Minerva, maiden lady Of forty two,
sister of the Hon. Horace, and Mimi,
: the daughter, sweet little creature, VIII
y had drank the sunshine of twenty sun
S mers till it bloomed in her cheeks, ju,
/ as the old port,7her father had dram
k bloomed in his nose - g .5S-@-
k Upon this particular evening the fan
= lily were gathered in an upper room, di|
If nifed by the name of "Mr. Clelland
l. study" The honorable gentleman hin
Z self was pacing the room, with one har
D, behind him, reading the evening pap
e. aloud. Mrs. G. was listening with ra
G. attention to the mellow voice of her hu
st band, the only music in which she to-
p delight; Miss Clelland was knitting al
r. occasionally cast a glance toward N
is Billy Montgomery; who was seated
o. the window with Minnie, whispering 81
II nonsense in her ear, as he held her lit
II hand in his.
en- 81 rather expected that Mr. Conkl
as would call this evening" said Mr.. CT
as land, laying down his paper.
en- 80, hope he will ! cried Minnie
ly 'And if he asks me to sing, iii rept
he the dose | gave him last evening. [
to you notice how he blushed when I sa
i'll why don't the Men Proposc?''
irl 'And if he should propose q queri
n the Hon. Horace.
ay Il should accept, of course, answ
rls ed Minnie Il never had proposal
le' my life, and am going to take the f
ct offer
Never had a proposal ?'' whispe
ess the young gentleman in the window ST
my No. Billy
mt Then what the duce, what have
4@l been doing?''
by "Well, don't know, Billy, I'm 81
me- only know you haven't asked ME
as marry you
uty But | am not quite ready
hey But you see ! am, and don't
but lieve in long engagements. Sometl
man might happen;