The Douglas independent. [volume] (Roseburg, Or.) 187?-1885, 1879-07-19
How To Propose.

AIotn 3f0tSsslounl Visit, anu q long ride
IN the cold and wind had given him a
Hyde's boarder, but he had been so long
in the family that he seemed like one Of
them.
Queenie Brian, Mrs. Hyde's niece. sat /
by the window, busy with some needle
work.
Queenie was d brilliant little thing of |
seventeen, with short boyish curls, and |
big, roguish brown eyes
On the death of her parent wears be- |
fore, she had been adopted by her aunt. |
Queenie was wayward, willful and be- |
witching. and ruled right royalty in the |
little village of Wayland. Her cousins. |
Tom and Johnny Hyde, were her de- |
voted slaves, and she alternately petted |
and teased them. Only of DIR. Gersham |
was she shy; and sometimes he even, was !
not otquite safe from her wild pranks. But |
afterward, he would invariably find a |
peace-0ffering in the shape Of some fa-
vorite delicaey on the tea-table. or per-
hnps, his dressing gown and slippers
comfortably warmed and ready for him
on his return from long, tideous ride
1t is not to be supposed, however. that
she confessed to any of these weaknesses.
/ am afraid, on the contrary, that my
small heroine manufactured innumera-
bic Abs when questioned closely.
DR.. GUrsham had grown wise through
experience, and generally accepted these
little favors with smile and but few
words
On the afternoon of the opening of my
story, rs the stalwart figure in the arm
chair gave q long sigh of WEAKNESS and
pain, Queenie threw her work aside and
ran from the room. She returned pres
emily with an arrnful of cushions, which
she arranged invitingly on the lounge,
and wheeling it closer to him, motioned
the doctor to the impromptu couch.
He smiled and obeyed her gesture,
catching her hands as he sank back on
the pillows
I. Why did you do this, Queenie 2"
She laEighed archly, trying to release
herself
& don't know--I guess because i love
you.n
Do you--iio your" he asked, his
face finishing eagerly.
don't know. Do you love me 7"
ALL have You need to ask me that,
girlie2 KISS me-
He endeavored to draw her face down
to his, but she slipped from his grasp.
shall not kiss you, becausethe man
whom I kiaa Of my own free will will be
my future hnsbandi" and away she
danced, salIting Tom in the hall with
merry Jest.
DIR. dersham sighed.
She is only q child, he said; g
bright. beautifnl, happy child. viii
be thirty-two years old to-morrow-to
old and steady for q little humming-bird
like Queenie.
Several evenings later, Queene entered |
the library where the doctor sat reading
his journal
g Doctor, see il. / don't look nice.n
Oh bother mel" he answered,
ssarying himself still deeper in |
.ollrnal
Hnmphl Gross thingl I am going
with Charlie Win skating on the creek. |
There is sure to be crowd, and want |
10 know If look nice"
He put his paper aside and looked at |
her. It was impossible to help admir-
ing Queenie at any time, and in her |
iaunty skating costume, she was more |
bewitching than ever. But the doctor |
only said, as he struggled with the pas
sionate love in his heart, You are |
vain little thing You look we'll enough.
Queenie shook her skates together |
with musical clash, tried to frown on |
him, and laughed instead, then asked |
with mock gravity:
''Do you love me as well as you did |
last tuesday,"
= Yes.
Quee1ie hesitated moment, swayed |
toward him, q roguish dimple coming at |
one corner Of her mouth; then her warm
breath swept his face, as with sudden
movement she turned and left the prints
of her wicked white teeth on his cheek
4. l<.l
her tantalizing laugh hoated back to the
solitary man In the library. Dr. Ger
sham was great lover of music; and o
handsome organ, his property, occupied
one corner Of the parIor.
One afternoon, in the early spring, the
doctor was singing, and accompany HIM
self on the organ. He had thought HIM
self the sole occupant of the room, and
drifted, presently, into grand old hymns,
solemn chants and weird dirges- The
deep voice rose magnificently. Surely
DIR. Gersham might well be proud of his
voice. He paused to look at some music
in the rack, and there was a moments
silence, broken suddenly by a low sob.
The doctor turned and saw Queenie
curled up in the recess of a window.
Never before, during all his acquaint-
anee with her, had he seen the child in
tears. He crossed the roonaend took
her in his arms.
why, little Queenie! What is it
dear?
All, naughty Queenie! Why did you
not tell him how his music had stirred
your willful heart? But no; she gasped
and buried her face in her white apron Il
as she answered: II
I" Why, you see, Tom has gone off
ceiling, and wouldn't let me go, though
wanted to so much"
The doctor laughed. II
" Queenie, you are an incorrigible sim
nerl Who will be responsible for all OF |
your airy fibs?
q You wilI--won't you doctor I" turn ,
ing her soft cheek to his. {
For o moment he strained her close in
his arms; and then putting her away ]
from him, he went straight to his room. 6
Thus the days went on, Sometimes
DR. Gersham half hoped that Queenie
was lesrning to love him. But no !
sooner did he endeavor to win one
serious word from her than she was off, '
with her head full of some new mischief. !;
Mrs. Hyde looked on, not daring to
Interfere, for she sympathized with the !
doctor, and knew, ia the depths of her y
womanly heart, that she was Just the one !
70 guide and protect her wild little niece. h
But she was also aware that if Queenie u
yielded herself to him, it would not be !,
through the dictation of third person. i
One morning in the early part of June, 3
while Queenie was busting and arranging 9
the parlor, Mrs. Hyde looked in at the I,
door and said, regretfullys !,
3, Queenie, dear, DIR. Gresham is going !;
to leave us next week. He will return | II
to his former home in Virginia. do not 4
We shall ever see him again. i
She ceasl .abruptIy, for Queenie, =
her dusser, had vanished, with
q flushed face and quivering mouth; and r.
4 moment after Mrs Hyde heard the d
sound Of the girls chamber door as it a
,losed behind her. v
The lady raised the duster and went on q,
With the work, while 4 significant smile ES4
covered shout her lips. 81
Strange child ! She loves him. and -
FiIl not confess It, though there Is not g
ihadow Of reason Why she should not"
THAT afternoon. Queenie wandering !.
long the piazza came upon Dr. Gersham = =
trefclsd sfufl length On q settee. He = =
vpeafed to be eeleHping and she paused n
) look IL him. showing, Tor ence, all her 8 3
,arnest little soul ia the expression of os
her eiooHeRt eyes. & 4 =,