The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1878-04-27
lPrOposaI for a Heater.
BY MRS. F. MCCARTHY.

hHu tnaI, Ill spite OIL his fatal expe-
rience, Mansfield still clings to his faith
In heater, though l am sure he was
never happier than in the old days when
we used to gather around the old fash
Toned CRATE. Mary was young enough
then to throw herself down upon rug,
and don't want you to think that be-
cause her curly head Graded itself inno-
Gently against nay knee once in while
that was old enough to be her grand
father; my love for her increased with
the years that went by, out cannot re-
member when 1t was not almost strong
enough for me to die for her. But her
father inherited a little money, and
Mary's mother persuaded him to furnish
up their snug little two story house in
Twelfth street; and what with velvet
carpets upon the floors, lace fnery at the
windows fine pictures upon the walls,
and new furniture throughout, the dear
old CRATE was at last put aside, and new
patent heater was introduced into the
front basement, which was warranted to
heat all the parlor floor. When all was
done, We found the rooms toe expensive
1or everyday wear, and sort of longing
after the bit of fire that shone through
Ehe little windows of the big monster in
the front basement, together with the
familiar look of everything there, led
us TO make the room our home; but
there was no rug for lounging place for
Mary, who had suddenly grown out of
lounging, and indeed, before | could
fully realize the extent of such calam-
lty; she was engaged to be married to a
young fellow in our notion department
named MacMurray. We were all en-
ployed in the old jobbing house down
town, and MacMurray fell in love with
her that day when she came to the store.
In fact, she was the cynosure for many
clerkiy eye, and as | saw some score of
them taking an inventory of her charms.
L went over to Mansfield with the blood
getting hot in my viens. He was only
second man in the white goods, and as
the head of the department was absent,
he was trolling one of his customers upon
the hook of fall in domestics. 1t was
big western trader, and Mansfield had
forgotten he owned such winsome bit
of property as Mary. He waved me
away impatiently.
q wouldn't leave him." said Mans
field, with a significant gesture to the
western merchant, g for quarter OF
second. Pll tell you what, Bruce" he
added, =" if you are not busy, wish you'd
take Mary down to the notion depart
ment, and introduce her to MacMurray
! promised her to look at some gimcracks
there. Tell him to let Mary have what
she wants and charge it to me-"
Now MacMurray was the last man in
the store cared for Mary to know. I
had no open objection to make, save that
he was handsome, fascinating fellow,
who bore the reputation of being sue
cessful in winning the regard of women.
| reluctantly led Mary down the metal
clad stairs, followed by the hungry gaze
of my fellow-laborers, some of whom
made pretenses to follow us, but were
deferred by an unusual severity of mien
and manner; and 1 was sorry to see that,
Mary's modesty taking fire at all its open
admiration, her very vexation was max
ing her all the handsomer with every
step that she took toward MacMurray.
her long lashes swept her cheeks, upon
which an unwonted flush burned; and
when she raised these lashes to look upon
MacMurray, l was not surprised that his
cold pale face warmed up with a sudden
interest. The next thirty or forty
precious minutes of Havershaw and Co.,
MacMurray used to most excellent adj
vantage, even leading the ingenious
child to chat about her first luncheon in
a restaurant that morning, and to tell
him, in her sweet womanly way, of how
glad she would have been to have snug
gled a cranberry tart home to Jamie.
Homemade crust, you know" she said
n
impossible TO make it so nice and flasky."
All this while there was minor key of
ecstasy over the beads and ribbons and
various gewgaws, which MacMurray
took infinitely more pains to exhibit than
If this sale was to determine his salary
for the ensuing year. His slender white
hands fitted from one bauble to another,
and he managed TO make that half hour
one of the happiest of Mary's life. was
like bull in china shop, and served as
an excellent contrast to this fine LADY,
killer, for | could feel my blood begin
ming to boil in my veins, and nv man
ner was no doubt as fiustered as nv face.
put Mary at last in an uptown stage:
and as | went through the store again
MacMurray made some frivolous excuse
TO call me, but soon plunge into the SUBJ
Ject nearest his heart
She's simply enchanting" he said
"a 1.-THE, vigorous, graceful bit of hu-
manityl Then what magnificent e-esi
What a sweet, tremulous mouth! How
natural and naive she is. Her voice is
50 low and sweet, with that little mu-
steal ripple of laugh. How prcttily
she told of the tart that she envied for
Jamie-dear, generous girl l had no
idea that Mansfield had such a daugh-
teri
Grooming in spirit, l turned upon my
heel. No sooner had / reached my own
department than / was pestered with a
hundred remarks about Mansfield's beau
tiful daughter. For years she had lain
in my heart like pearl in its hiding
place, and suddenly she was dragged
about by the many stupid mouths of
Havershaw and Co. resolved to speak
to Mansfield about it that very night.
But he was not at home his usual hour,
and when he did come he brought Mac
Murray with him. They had been de-
tanned, he said, at the store, and he
had accepted MacMurray's invitation TO /
dine, a. he knew the meal would be over |