The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1882-08-04

~ II
garden. and seeing Mollie On the lawn
called out:
!" Miss Molllc. please tell your aunt
Tint am coming over. this afternoon,
N se.. her on important business"
Mollic delivered the message IN such
4 manner that Miss Marcia was con-
WINGED that the important moment had
arrived. and Mr. Piper must DC coming
10 propose.
swinging lazily IN the hammock. per-
feet picture in white muslin and blue
ribbons, she heard the gate turn on is |
hinges. and. looking around. beheld mr.
Piper coming up the walk, his face very
red from the combined effects Of the
heat and his nervousness, and look %
desperation oversprcading his features
He returned her pleasant "good-after-
noon in Hurried manner, and hast
ened into the parlor. where Miss Marcia,
In her best black silk. sat awaiting his
arrival.
Hardly had his portly form vanished
within The door before Jack Morris
came strolling down the street. and.
! ignoring the existence Of the gate, took
I his six feet IL humanity over the low
white fence. and approached his divini-
\ ". who by this time was in commissions
\ 81 laughter.
might ask the cause Of your hilari-
+. ~. fair one?' said he. z II must be
something uncommonly rich 70 cause
such merrmcnt Oh such very hot day
as this"
10 Jackr' gasped Mollie, as soon as
hor mirth subsidized sufficiently To allow
Of speech. mir Piper has just gone
into the house to see auntie, and am
almost sure that he intends asking her
for me. It's too funny. and yet 4 feel
little guilty when l think how ! have
persuaded her 10 believe that It Is her
self. and not me, in whom our venera-
Bic friend Is interested. wish ! could
see the fun! am dying to know what
he will saw. STAY have II. Let's 90
around to the south window, where the
, honeysnckle vine grows. and we can SEE
and hear without being discovered:
No sooner said than done. They
/ fastened to the spot, and, ensconcing
} themselves in the shadow Of the thickiy
growing vines. found they had an excel
J lent view Of the room and is inmates,
] and were in no danger Of being seen BY
them. They arrived just as MT. Piper
drew his chair to Aunt Marcia's side
) and said nervously:
"I-ah called this afternoon III
4 awful hot day. ma am, to--ah to speal
. 10 YOU on q very important subject
0 You must know from nv frequent Wis
y its.'' continued he. gaining courage q
Q he went along. something Of my feel
/ ings. and may be aware Of M inten
9 tons"
4 Here Mr. Piper paused. but receiving
no reply. went on.
4 ITO tell You the truth, Miss Marcia
/ am in love. and came over this after
i noon 10 ask You II you can give me an.
= hope that nv love Is returned 10
\ ought 10 be able 10 tell me"
p This speech had the effect Of confirm
q inc Miss Marcia's belief that Mr.. Pipe
n wanted her, and no one else, and with
blush that made her look ten year
n Younger. she exclaimed:
Y "Why, really. Mr.. Piper, this Is
X surprise. / had no idea YOU cared e
Y me except as friend. ! don't kno'
- what 10 say except 70 tell you that
= value your regard very highly, and th'
y return your affection"
y Mr.. Pipers face during this speec
Y !, was a study. He turned red, white. an
\, finally red again. as he grasped Il
y meaning Of her words and realized II
y scrapc he was In. Words cannot q
Justice to his state of mind. He inwar'
n II cursed himself for his stupidity in n
= sneaking more plainly, and making
Y. desperate effort to explain, the POI
4. man gasped out
]. "l-really-- am very much obligt
~ for your kindness. ] can't thank W
II enough for your preference. But"
rs 20, never mindr' interrupted sh
N plying his embarrassment, and bent
relieving his confusion. Don't thar
me. I'm sure YOU are very kind
~ want an old maid like me, when the
~ are 90 many Younger ones. How 81
az prised Mollie will Be! She will be gla
ne to-, know, dear child. that she wo1
ms leave me alone when she Is married. W
n. Married. he almost shouted,
20 his surprise. lis she going 70 be ms
~ riedP"
II Yes; Il Is not generally known, b
=, she il engaged 70 Judge Morris %
~ I. and they are 70 be married IN year.
- don't wonder You are surprised. >
20 seems such . child.
az Mr.. Piper's heart went down into ]
~ boots. He was silent moment, }
u, during that time he did great deal
- thinking. He realized that Mollie v
Lost % him now, even II he explain
~ matters to Miss Marcia, and got free
~ his present entanglcment With a
- Thought In his mind Il did not seem
~ much importance what became Of hi
IN and being TOO much Of gentleman
~ infIict humiliation upon one whom
~ respected as much Is he did Miss "A
clio, he resolved to let things stand
y = they were. and make the best Of II;
- - s~.llantlv fook hor hand and kis<