The interior journal. [volume] (Stanford, Ky.) 1872-1881, 1878-06-07

NOV I've seen as many as a dozen
women ! would like to marry, and
who would have been willing to mar
ry me, I'm safe in saying. and ! never
dared ask one Of them TO have me. l
don't see ,rhy ! need be such a fool as
to be afraid of woman, hut ! am
need a. wife. and ] know Il. Every
thing goes wrong. | don't ire since
Jane married and went away; ! just
drag out an existence. | wish eould
muster up enough courage % propose
to this widow, If | like her, and she
likes me. But then! | know ]
couldntV
This widow was lady who was
coming to visit his sister, who lived in
the city. They had written to him
about her, and invited him to come
and stay week or two.
"lf ] only could screw my courage
to the sticking point and propose, !
could get along after that, guess,
he SAID dolefully. but 1t won't stick.
Confound i'll How could | manage
proposal III IKE to KNOW Id
faint, know | would !"
The bare thought of asking the aw.
ful question gave him queer sensa.
tions. II he ever got far enough
along to begin to ask IL. he felt conf.
dent that it would stick in his throat
and choke him TO death.
an 90 down, any way" he conclu.
ded. "May be"-bm the wsy in
which he said the word had a very
big doubt in it-"moy BE- I can muster
M courage. if I like her. But NAV
not take A fancy TO her. when I come
10 see her," and the possibility of dis.
liking her really afforded him some
relief $3.50.
Accordingly. with yalise in hand.
Mr.. Craig Sailed forth next morning
en- route for his sisters. When he
cot ON hoard the train he eau with
dismay that there were no vacant
seats.
He finally found a seat which la
dy had possession OF. and, as he rath-
err liked her looks, ewished she would
let him sit there with her, but didn't
dare propose any such thing. While
he was casting about in his mind for
some plan by which he could secure
the place without asking her for it in
so many words, she looked up, and,
seeing the predicament he was in,
moved along and told him he was
welcome to sit there. -
Mr.. Craig sat down, looking some
what pleased and very bashfnl. He
knew he ought to thank her, but the
words stuck fast before they got out,
and he grew red in the face, and said
nothing. His companion, however,
was inclined to talk, and hadn't any
difficulty in doing 1t, and gradually
he thawed out OF his reserve, and sue
ceeded in overcoming his bashfulness
to such a degree that in an hour or
two, he felt quite at ease. =.
Suddenly there was crash, and
the next thing MIR. Craig knew he was
sitting serenely in the middle ola dir
ty little puddle Of water, and the COM
panion of his journey was pulling
weeds and grass out OF herhair, close
by
81 declare, calculated MIR. Craig.
Its mercy we amt dead! Alvirad
he half scared to death If she knew
what had happened!
Are you Alvira Bowens brother!
asked the lady, fishing up a false curl
from some mysterious recess in the
depths of the pond with one hand.
and milling long niece of weed from
her mouth with the other, after the
fashion of n coniurer DRAWING ribbons
from his mouth. 81 thought there
was something familiar in vour looks y
eyes. I'm her brother" answered
Mr.. Craig. ~ wonder if you're the
v-woman she wrote about"
"Quite likely" answered she. "My
names Stafford Mr. CRAIG Ms a
oueer kind of A place for an introduc.
ton. isn't itY" and then she laughed
In 4, WAY that oomnletelv won AR