Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1881-03-03
How He Read Ii.

Although ii was bachelors establish
ment, there were few mansions handsomer
than Mr. Rowland Coleman's, and Taany
were the feminine hearts which would not
have been at all averse to transform the
imposing stone front and its rows of plate
glass windows, against which the almost
priceless lace curtains fell i'll foamy grace,
into paradise that should not be bach
elor's paradise.
Everything was faultlessly handsome
inside, furnished with an exquisite finish
of detail that denoted the refined taste of
the owner.
People wondered-and had been won
dering for twenty years-~hy Mr.. Cole
man did not mary.
Forty-eight found him portly-not too
portly-gentleman, with fine frank face.
adorned by a thick, dropping white NOUS
tache, bright laughing eyes, as dark as well
could be, and thick luXuriant gray hair
"a handsome, independent gentleman,
who had all his life liked his bachelor life,
and his bachelor home that was so grace
fully presided over by his widowed sister;
who liked the ladies remarkably well, but
who had never, been convinced lie could
love any one as he believed wife should
be loved, unless we except little May Dean,
whose blue eyes had once or twice been
lifted to look at this wonderful rich, hand
some, gentleman, who was Mrs. Anderson's
brother, and Mrs. Anderson was one of
those genuine high. bred ladies who was
not ashamed to coudescend TO be a warm,
true friend 10 May Deans mother, even
if Mrs. Dean did do her plain sewing for
her.
May had several times seen Mr.. Coleman,
and once or twice he had taken especial
notice of her, rather enjoying her uncon-
sci0us awe of him, and very much admir-
ing her undeniable gentle sweetness of man
ner, movement and voice.
He had come to find himself thinking
frequently about her, so frequently that he
had been Obliged to bring himself to &C
count for presuming to give a seconds
thought to the insane probability OF a
little blossom like blue-eyed May Dean
caring for him-old enough to be her
father.
Mr.. Coleman sat in his library alone
such magnificent, imposing room it was,
with its high ceiling, its inches where
statues of all the great scholars and states
men stood, its rows of shelves reaching TO
the ceiling, its long central table, its other
tiny tables where low, pleasant looking
chairs were drawn up, its sweeping green
damask curtains, its carpet like huge bed
of emerald moss.
Mrs. Anderson had gone out that night,
and Mr. Coleman was thoroughly revelling
in the prospect OF long undlsturbed even
ing, when servant raped at the door,
with note on a silver salver.
MIR. Coleman took it rather abstractedly,
for notes were of such common occurrence
with him, and, besides, he was already i'm
patient to be in the dry details Of some
projected improvement in one of his big,
10urishing factories-an improvement that
would be appreciated by the hundreds of
girl operatives he employed.
SO he took the note rather indifferently
until he saw the name subscribed in full
'tMay E. Dean"
Just little look of surprise came into
his eyes, and there was just the merest pos.
sible acceleration in his steady pulses, not
enough 10 make pereeptible tremorin his
hands-as ne read the communication
'.DEAR MIR. CoLEMAN:-Ih have no doubt
but that you will be very much astonished
when you find have taken the liberty of
writing to you; but what | wanted to say
/ thought had better write. Please do
not be angry with me for venturlng as |
have done. l am not sure that ! am doing
right in telling you all | do; but | have
thought il over and over, and have come
to the conclusion that / will. Of course
you know how poor mamma and l are
how she has to sew, and how [ have been
employed in Mrs. Emmett's family with
the children from nine till three but she
has discharged me and sent the children to
regular sohcol, and, Mr.. Coleman, can.
not imagine what is to become me un-
less you will have me"
He paused point blank, and read the long
sentence over again, a curious expression
coming into his eyes and smile creeping
under his moustache.
'Unless | will have her Can 1t be pos
slble that she has really cared for me-
cares for me enough to lay aside all con-
ventionalities, and SO gracefully, sensibly
offer her precious sef?"
His eyes were tenderIy solemn, yet tri-
umphantly happy, as he went on, touched
to the heart by her artlessness-
81 know l am very, very bold In daring
to ask such favor of you. am almost
sure you will be vexed and refuse me; but
do not mean any harm. | must not let
dear mamma be weighted with me, and
know you are very good and kind; and In
deed, l will try hard to please you in every
way. Please, Mr.. Coleman, let me come,
will you not q But, if you would rather
not have me, do not be afraid of hurting
my feelings by saying SO. Unless you
really do want me would rather you said
no than take Inc just because l have ven
tured to ask. If you will write to me Just
word will be very mach obliged.
Yours,
MAY E. DEAN"
There were more suspicious of emotions
in HowlaDd Coleman's eyes than had been
there for many long year as he folded up
the letter, and put it in his pocket.
There was no thought of the projected
improvement in the huge silk mills now
no thought of the details his very soul
loved to struggle with.
He walked up and down the library, his