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

" Wuny Wotuss W u'nft hi". ~
made him turn pale 10 think Of il.
At the end Of a week she got a dis
patch from her sister asking her TO
come home at once, to attend TO n mat.
ter Of business.
"You'll surely come back and I'm.
ish your visit, won't you, nowH" said
Mrs. Bowen, And Mrs. Stafford
promised TO come back in few days
and stay a week longer.
Mr.. Craig wanted TO find out how
he stood in her estimation before she
went away. He might not he there
when she came hack. II was with a
vague idea of proposing to her that
he volunteered to take her down to
the depot. on the morning Of her de-
parture. Two or three times, before
they reached the station, he tried to
say what he wanted to, but the words
stuck in his throat, as he had known
they would, and choked him till he
was purple in the face, and made him
feel sure that he resembled nothing
else in the world quite as much rs he
did one of Alvira's purple csbbages.
Three times while they stood on
the platform waiting for the train, he
made desperate efforts to say what he
wanted to, but he couldn't.
At last the train came in sight.
"Mrs. Stafford, | wish you'd tell
me something before YOU CO. he be-
gan, pale as a ghost. and then storp-
ed, with his tongue cleaving to the
roof Of his mouth.
"Well, what is it?' she asked.
Give been waiting to tell you
for some time,' he stammered, blow
ing his nose and coughing terribly in
a vain effort TO hide his embarrass-
ment.
"Well, hurry. then, said the wild
ew. "Tll be left if you don't"
Poor Craig opened his mouth to
speak the terrible words. The hell
rang, as he stood there with glaring
eyes and finally burst out;
you'll be left IL you don't hurry
With a look of disgust, the widow
gathered her skirts about her and lett
him without deigning to say good.by.
81 declare. If you amt a little the
biggest fool. Joshua Craig, of any |
ever heard of" he told himself as he
drove back. "You've put your foot
in it This time"
He couldn't 60 home, for all he was
ashamed to face the widow. So he
stayed, and she came back, and be.
witched him more than ever. and he
vowed he ,oouid propose, or die in the
attempt. He felt quite sure il would
be die.
One night he was out pretty late.
When he came home he didn't stop to
get a light, but felt his way to what
he supposed was his bedroom.
He sat down to pull of his boots.
Suddenly his hand came in contact
with a pair Of ladies' CATERS on the
floor.
"Goodness cried Mr.. Craig;
"who's put these here?'
A sound of life from the direction
of the bed. Something white resc up
and confronted him.
"Who's there demanded he, half
frightened 10 death.
"why, Mr.. Craig!" cried the voice
of the widow. "How dare you come
into my room at this time of night? |
thought you We're a gentleman. Dear
dear - and then the widow began to
cry.
Mr.. Craig's hair rose up like "quills
upon the fretfnl porcupine.' He
could actually feel how pale he was.
"SIercy on mel" he managed to
calculate. 81 didn't know that !
was in any body's room but my own.
! didn't II declare, by all that's good
and great, that didn't"
81 don't know whether to believe
that or not" answered the widow,
with smothered sobs. "slen don't of.
ten make such mistakes unintention-
ally. | thought ] could trust you, and
that you were too honorable to take
of my unprotected situa.
ton. Dear me- what would people
nay IL they knew thiss Pm going to
rall your sister I'm going TO let the
world know what wretch you are :"
"Oh, dOntl" cried Mr., Craig, with
4 world Of entreaty in his TONES. A
desperate thought flashed across his
brain. Before he stopped to consider
what the consequences might he, he
mad given II utterance. II was hi
asst resort his farlorn hope.
81 came to-PRoPosE 10 your
ne declared eSplOsively. II didn't
iare to ask you by daylight, and
took this way"
81 don't know whether Ia put any
dependence in what you say or not,
aid the widow, pausing in her sobs.
you men deceive us SOL I'm afraid
you're taking this way of getting rid