The Magnolia gazette. [volume] (Magnolia, Miss.) 1872-current, 1883-04-12

| =
She's down to New York. sbop.
I ping said Mrs. Barker. Sand she min
stay all day; most likely Wa. But TO-
morrow is Sunday. and I'll have the
lamp lit IN the parlor and you can talk
i over with her. I'll tell her you're
4 coming, and why, and all, couldn't
keep it to myself. But faint heart new
er won fair lady, Josiah and nobody
couldn' t expect a girls poor ma TO do
their courting for um, you know, unless
1t a0aS them Turk ladies the minister
! spoke of, poor dears. | should think
\ she'd say yes. It's her first offer, only
from old Deacon Slinkins. Though
Morris Power is calling sort of irregrl-
| lar and Hannah is twenty-One. You
make your offer yourself, Josiah.
That's the way to get wife, if-you
want one =
Then Mrs. Barker arose and went into
the house without further ceremony, and
JOSIAH, who had come to sudden COM
| prehension of her mistake, stood staring
after her, quite dazed and giddy What
should he do? Run after her and ex-
plainP That would be q dreadful thing
to do. Perhaps his mother could help
him out of the pickle; and with this
faint hope he hurried home, and arrived
red in the face and utterly breathless.
well, Betsy Barker has put on the
cap sheaf now,' said Mrs. Conner.
9 But, Josiah, | wish you didn't feel so
about it. | wish you liked Hannah.
She a girl after my own heart
. do like her. said Josiah, Sheep
ishly. "She's a splendid girl I've
often thought that if was man that
had need TO marry, I'd choose her
"Then it's all right, said Mrs. Con
nef.
"Why, MOTHER growled Josiah.
bashfully, 81 wonder at YOU Think of
me having the impudence to 90 over
and offer myself without a bit OF court
ing! wouldn't have that thought of
me for any money!
'Anyhow, you'd better 60 over and
have the talk with Hannah" said Mrs.
Conner, "She's got good sense, if her
mother HASN'T"
Poor Josiah suffered all sorts of men
tai torture that day and all the long
Sunday, but when, in the evening, d
light was seen to shine in the Barkers'
parlor, he nerved himself for. great
effort He was utterly without vanity
The idea that Hannah could be pleased
never occurred TO him. twas to apollo
gize for seeming bit of impudence,
not to get out of an unintended offer,
that he was going. His whole thought
was: "What can Hannah think of such
a piece of businessP"
1t was very miserable young man
who sat on the new green rep sofa in
the Barkers' parlor at last, waiting for
Hannah's coming.
At last a step crossed the sill, and he
looked up. Hannah, in becoming
buff muslin, with an amber comb in her
black hair, stood before him. She
laughed and showed her white teeth
''How do you do. Josiah?" she said.
What is this dreadful mistake that ma
has been making nowp Don't blame
her. She'll be dreadfully ashamed of
IL, 4 know. The idea! We might be
cousins, or almost brother and sister.
Oh, what would you have done, Josiah,
If had believed that you come here to.
day to make me an offerp'
Hannah looked very bright and natty.
Her cheeks were pink and her eyes
shone. Afterward her mothersaid that
Josiah must have been inspired to do
as well as he did, but it was very nat
ural sort of inspiration.
What he answered was this, though
he had not been able to think what he
should say as he came along:
II wish to goodness you had believed
it, Hannah, for now | shall have to do
it all over again, and may be get the
mitten.
'It's almost too dreadful to joke
about, after all, said Hannah 'Ma
will be SO ashamed. | ann
- I'm not joking noc, anyhow" said
Josiah. +" Hannah Barker, l haven't
quite as much brass and impudence as
your mother thought ! had, but l have
enough to get on with, after all. / al
ways have loved you, but never could |
see that you liked me. viii you try to?
viii you marry me? Don't say no,
Hannah, or shall think it is ont of re-
venge for my mistake.
1t was mothers mistake said |
Hannah. Don't make one now, |
Josiah. There ought to be a great deal |
of love before people marry"
'Ihere is on my side, said Josiah. |
He had risen from the sofa, and they |
9NNtA ARDhitA8 az talNlA btlitl IOMs lHtN |
sat down in two chairs. one on each |
side of the window The moon was
rising over the hills. The shaded lamp
was not obtrIisive After while Josiah |
took Hannah's hand. Then his arm
stole about her waist.
q II was twelve o'clock when he got
Home, but his mother was sitting mp for
him. She looked at him inquiringly as
he began to wind the clock furiously.
When he had finished he went toward
the stairs, but half way up paused a
moment to say:
''Mother. | guess you'll have to put
up with Sarah Smiley for a month. 1t
will take Hannah as long as that to get
ready, she says. l suppose she'll want
to make a silk dress and some other
things.
But from these words it was plain to
Mrs Conner that Hannah Barker had
really had her offer. Mary Kyle Ddllds,