The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1879-06-18
A NEAT WAY TO PROPOSE.

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 brilliant, slender little
thing of seventeen, with short boyish
curls, and big, roguish brown eyes.
On the death of her parents years 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 devot-
ed slaves, and she alternately petted and
teased them. Only of Dr. Gersham was
she shy; and sometimes he, even, was not
quite safe from her wild pranks. But
afterward, he would invariably find a
peace-oferng in the shape of some favor
ite deicacy on the tea-table, or, perhaps,
his dressing gown and slippers comforta-
bly, warmed and ready for him on his re-
turn from long, tedious 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 numerous
fibs when questioned closely.
DR.. Gersham 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, as the stalwart figure in the arm
chair gave long sigh of weariness and
pain, Queenie threw her work aside and
ran from the room. She returned pres
emily with an armful 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 upon the
pillow.
"Why did you do this, Queenieg'
She laughed archly, trying to release
herself.
"I don't know-I guess because | love
you"
"Do you--do your he asked, his face
flushed eagerly.
81 don't know. Do you love me%
"Ah! have you need to ask NE that,
grille? Kiss me-"
He endeavored to draw her face down
to his, but she slipped from his grasp.
81 shall not kiss you, because the man
whom | kiss of my own free will will be
my future husbandw and away she
danced, saluting Tom in the hall with a
merry Jest.
DIR. Gersham sighed.
"She is only a child" he said "e
bright, beautiful, happy child. / will be
thirty-two years old to-morrow-too old
and steady for little humming-bird like
Quenie."
Several evenings later Queenie entered
the library, where the doctor sat reading
his journal.
"Doctor, see if I don't look nice"
ooh, don't bother me-" he answered,
shortly, burying himself still deeper in
his journal.
"Humphl Cross thing! l am going
with Charlie Will skating on the creek.
There is sure to be crowd, and | want
to know if | look nice"
lie put his paper aside and looked at
her. 1t WIS impossible to help admiring
Queenie at any time, and in her aunty
skating costume, she was more bewitch-
ing than ever. But the doctor only said,
as he struggled with the passionate love
in his heart, "You are vain little thing
you look well 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."
Queenie hesitated a moment, swayed
toward him, roguish dimple coming at
one corner Of her mouth; then her warm
breath swept his face, as with SUI. .,ten
movement, she turned ond left tie prints
of her wicked white teeth on Ms cheek ,
The next instant she had Gown, while her
tantalizing laugh ho@ted back to the soli-
tary man in the library. DR.. Gresham
was great lover of music, and hand.
some organ, his prope rty, occupied one
corner of the parlor.
One afternoon III the early spring, the
doctor was sir. .ging, and accompanying
himself on ne organ. He had thought
hlmselt me sole occupant Cf the room
and gifted, presently, into grand ole
ny" ms, solemn chants and weird dirges
} ne deep voice rose magnifcently. Sure
ly DR.. Gersham might well be proud o
his voice. He paused to look at SOM
music in the rack, and there was mo
ment's silence, broken suddenly by a lOv
sob. The doctor turned and saw Queeni
curled up in the recess of a window
Never before, during all his acquaintanc
with her, had he seen the child in tears
He crossed the room and took her in hi
arms.
"Why, little Queenie! What is ii
dearW
All, naughty Queenie! Why did yo
not tell him how his music had stirre
your willful heart? But no; she gaspe
and buried her face in her white apro
as she answered:
"Why, you see, Tom has gone off ee
ing and wouldn't let me go, though
wanted to so much"
The doctor laughed.
"Queenie, you are an incorrigible sir
ner! Who will be responsible for a
your fibs?"
"You will-won't you, doctorf' turr
ing her soft cheek to his.
For moment he strained her close j
his arms; then putting her away frol
him, he went silently to his own room.
Thus the days went on. Sometimes D.
lcorshan, half boned that Oueenie wf