The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1882-07-20
Who Proposed.
BY ABBIE C. M'KEEvER. I

II DON'T know how 1 dared t.
m love her, with her wealth beauty
az and her high position, but 1 did
80 l had loved her ever since
limped to school past their elegan
home, and watched for her afar off
Sometimes, as 1 hobbled by, she
would run out of their beautiful
flower garden, and call blithely:
''Karl, oh Karl, wait for mel" anC
with laughing eyes, and cheeks
whose beauty rivaled the color ot
her roses, she would gaily walk by
my side to school, timing her light
footballs to my slow and tiresome
gait.
She does it out of pity, 1 thought,
for she has a tender heart And
once remember how angry she be-
came when some playmate, mock.
ingly, called me her lame beau.
''You ought to be ashamed to talk
so;" she said in indignant reproof
while her blue eyes flashed as had
never seen them.
''No wonder she's ashamed to have
my name mentioned in connection
with her own, lovely little lily-bud
that she is" sighed, as 1 limped
away, that might not hear their
silly jesting longer.
Years passed; May Norris went
to a fashionable boarding school,
and / was employed as book-keeper
in her fathers store, and we met no
more.
Sometimes, as the shadows length
ened and the evening stars crept
out, would rest awhile from my
work, and let fancy carry me back
to that far away long ago, when we
went to school together.
'.She would not so far forget her
self now," 1 said. ''She has grown
older and more worldly WISE"
One day the proprietor came up
to my desk with smiling face,
"May came home last might, and
ball is in prospect now. You are
to come, she bade me tell you, by
especial invitation"
'Ir' 1 exclaimed in establishment.
"I-to ball?''
"Certainly! why notr' demanded
my employer gravely, and 1 fancied
pitiful light in his eyes as he con-
tinued: "Come by all means. OF
course you cannot dance, but the
scene will be gay one and do you
good. You cling too tenaciously to
your plodding, everyday life. You
need Frightening up; and besides,
May is so anxious to have all her
old friends present.
Somehow the figures after that
ran sll together, and between my
ledger and myself May Norris blue
eyes and golden curls came and met
at random.
81 cannot CO." said to myself
over and over again. 81 cannot
bear to see my love so gay and
happy, surrounded by her admirers.
1t would make me sadder than l now
am, if that were possible"
But when the night of the ball
came it found me undecided, and
strongly tempted to yield to my in
clination to behold her again,
II should like to see her once
mora young lady now, and it will
be a memory to cherish for years.
Yes, 1 will go"
went. l hid myself from the
gay throng in sheltered nook. i
beheld beautiful May in her elegant
ball dress of white, with diamonds
on her snowy neck, and cleaning in
her hair So stately, so fair, so
different from me!
Once, when the music came swell
ing and falling grandiy around, ere
| was aware Of her presence, May
herself drew aside the curtains OF
my Widowed nook, and, holding
out her jeweled hand, said reproach-
fully:
''You never came near me during
the whole evening, Have you for
gotten your old school-mateg
1 gazed upon her with adoring
eyes; her near presence and gentle
plying voice rendered me happy
and yet miserable.
-'eYou are more than kind to re
member me-" / stammered, 81
could not dare to approach you,
with an unconscious glance at my
crutch.
When 1 looked up again her eyes
were very tender, but she held he
head trifie higher and said,
fancied, in colder tone:
81 am sorry you feel so. Iwantet
you to have a happy evening.
was anxious to present you to som'
friends cousin Rose and Carrie.
''But, it has been a happy even
ing "a very happy evening. Thanh
you for your kind wishes, but ga,
> young girls don't care to know sobe
! i,tfellows like me"
~ A faint color rose to her cheek
,tthen, but some one came ant
{ lclaimed her for the next dance ant
,,fshe fioated away, leaving me alon
, oh, so utterly alone. a
Il 1t was many days before we me
) again, and then such meetingh
/ was limping along the highwa.
when / perceived basket carriag
drawn by two ponies rapidly az
preaching me, far too rapidly 70
! they were running away!
! As they drew nearer / recognize
Z one of the inmates of the carriage
it was May.
I i stood quite still in the cente
! of the road, and as they rushed b
= me seized the bit ofthe near pony
There was fearful struggle, tn
ponies reared and plunged, and jus
: as l perceived May and her con
i panions leap from the carriage, i re
ceived stunning blow on the hea
: anal knew no more.
. When began to regain COZ
t sciousness tears we're falling on m
: face, and tender, endearing word
: reached my ears.
:. ''Oh my love, nay love-" they sal,
Z / opened my eyes and behel
Q NAYS tear-wet face so full Of low
; so tremulous with emotion, that, .
2 a sinner reaching for lost heavel
( 1 put my hand up to her golde
$, head and drew it down close, to N
Z own.
E, my darling, am l dreaming, {
II l. go, yaallx- Love unaS'f