The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1883-04-24

SCralghCWay TO the Eagle Hotel" KEEP
wife.
els Miss Minkley to be seen 2n h,
asked politely of Mrs. Dodd, who CAM
from the kitchen with carlnine cheeks
ana wiping her hands OH snowy rol
ler-towel.
| 'Oh, yes, Iguess so, " said Mrs. Dodd
smlilng and curtseying to the clergy
man. Squire Telwright has just beer
TO see her but I'm pretty sure that HI
has gone now. Mat, Matty, where ar,
ooh, she's in the blue parlor.
PLEASE to walk in, Mr.. Blossom
ana the Clergyman walked solemnl,
into the pretty blue-carpeted room
Win It's mucf-waxed mahogany chairs
gaudy-rug, and stifily- -starched musli,
curtains, where Martha Minkley sal
knitting.
miss Minkley," said lie, entering
without unnecessary prelude on thu
subject which was at present absorbing
his mind, "we have known each Other
from childhood.n
! 'Yes," said Martha.
And believe you to be devout
Christian, a conscientious woman, and
a good housekeeper.
vi hope 1 am," said Miss Martha
rather tluttered by this unusual address
I'm my home," said Mr.. Blossom alb,
ruptly, II need all three.
And believe Providence has put
PIT into my head and heart to appeal to
you at this critical opportunity.
MISS Minkley neither blushed, gig
gled, nor burst into tears.
she rocked back and forth, went
composedly on with the red worsted
sock That she was knitting, and lifted
trifle. '''
| I'm very sorry," she said.
-! only wish you had been little
earlier but I'm engaged already"
Engaged ?"
Mr.. Blossoms lower jaw fell he
stood blankly looking at her.
ITO Mr. Telwright, explained Miss
Minkley.
''But he's sixty" cried Blossom.
lie Is not young, admitted Martha.
surely, surely, Martha" argued
Paul, forgetting all formalities in his
eager interest, "you cannot care for
'sN-no," said Martha, s'I can't saw
that do. But he offers me a very
good home"
"Is 1t possible, Martha" said the
good Clergyman reproachfnlly, "that
you can allow yourself to be swayed by
considerations like this p''
"One must do the best they can. for
A"'ySe1Yes sh, %el d a siMshsa iMhfs HSPfB Hfs Blossom
est would be downright sinful to doubt
that all is ordered for the best.
''It is tho will of Heaven.
''I always liked you, Martha, and 1
believe your life with me would have
been both useful and pleasant.
cat least, no effort of mine should
have been lacking to make it So"
81 am very sorry" said Martha de-
murely. "But first come first served,
you know"
81 should like occasionally to call and
see you," said the Clergyman.
You will still be in my parish, you
know %
ooh, certainly" said Martha.
VI hope that we shall always be the
best of friends.''
And Mr.. Blossom almost fancied that,
for quarter Of a second, the tender
grasp OF his hand was in some measure
returned.
IAo "dlhCtl utJoCtSUly OuC.
81 am too late, Mrs. Dodd," he said,
meeting the CHEEKY landlady, who was
coming in with a pair of newly-bright-
ened brass candlesticks.
Dear, dear, sir ~ said Mrs. Dodd.
"She has already promised herself to
Mr.. Telwright. Though how, to be
sure, she could ever have made his ac-
ttSho uyoon,t ooo,,ois,+,5 ,,,;4I, H..
sir" said Mrs. Dodd.
s'Not at all.
"At least, not until I introduced
them, an hour ago."
The Reverned Paul looked Mortified.
And YET" he gasped, "she Is going
Mrs. Dodd, in her CONSERVATION
dropped one of the brass candlesticks.
"Bless your heart alive, sir 70 she
cried out, ''she amt agoin' to do moth
ing of the kind.
She's only going to be housekeeper
for him at S150 year, and two servants
kept. You wasn't a-meaning, sir, to
81 was asking her to be my wife, -
said Mr.. Blossom solemnly 'tand l full
| ly believed that she understood me to
that effect.'
Mrs. Dodd grasped eagerly at the
sleeve Of his coat.
'She couldn't |" she said.
| "Just wait a bit, sir-wait bit.
| martha ! Matty come out here this
minute |
"You haven't understood word that
the Reverned Mr.. Blossom has said to
you. He has asked you to marry him,'
The knitting fell from Miss Minkley g
hands.
She turned very pale, and began to
tremble.
Was it then true-the crushed out,
forgotten dream Of her whole life ? The
reaching instinct Of her hungering
heart ? ..
Did some one really love her at last
even her 2
Ell didn't comprehend !" said she.
~ supposed that he wanted me to be
his housekeeper. 1 believed that his
wife was living"
"She's been dead these four years. >
interjected Mrs. Dodd.
"And if ever there was a saint upon
earth, Martha Milkley, and man as
any woman might be proud to marry
1t is Mr.. Paul Blossom
Martha held out her hands.