The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1883-10-31

Please to walk, in, Mr. Blossom
And the clergyman walked sol
emnly into the pretty blue carpetet
room with its much waxed mAhog
any chairs, gaudy rug, and stiffly
starched muslin curtains, where sh'
1 sat knitting.
\ Miss Minkley.' said he, entering
without unnecessary prelude to th'
subject which was at present absorb
/ ing his mind. We have known each
other from childhood
Yes
And | believe you to be devou
Christian, a conscientious woman
and good housekeeper.'
i hope | am. said she, rather
futtered by this unusual address.
In my home, said Paul Blossom
abruptly, Il need all three.
And | believe Providence has pu
it into my head and heart to appea
! to you at this critical opportunity.
Miss Minkley neither blushed
giggled nor burst into tears.
She rocked back and forth, wen
composedly on with the red worsteo
sock that she was knitting, and lifted
her black eyebrows just the least lit
tie trifie.
I'm very sorry, she said.
Il only wish you had been little
earlier, but I'm engaged already
Engaged p
Paul Blossoms lower jaw fell he
stood blankly looking at her.
TO Squire Telwright,' exclaimed
the lady.
But he's sixty said he.
He is not young, she ad dmitted.
Surely, surely, Martha argued
Paul, forgetting all formalities in his
eager interest, you cannot care for
him p
'N-no,' said Martha, i can't say
that | do. But he offers me very
good home
is it possible, Martha said the
good clergyman, reproachfullv, that
you can allow yourself to be swayed
by considerations like this p
One must do the best they can
for themselves
We'll, well, sighed Mr.. Blossom,
1t would be downright sinful to
doubt that all is ordered for the
best
1T is the will of Heaven
i always liked you, Martha, and
| believe your life with me would
have been both useful and pleasant.
AT least. no effort of mine should
have been lacking to make it So
i am very sorry said Martha, de-
murely. But first come, first served,
you know
Il should like occasionally to call
and see you,' he said
You will still be in my parish,
you know
'Oh, certainly she said.
L 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.
He walked dejectedly out.
i am too late, Mrs. Dodd, he said,
meeting the CHEEKY landlady, who
was coming in with pair of newly
frightened candlesticks.
Dear, dear, sir ? said she.
She has already promised herself
to Squire Telwright. Though, how.
to be sure, she could ever have made
his acquaintance
She wasn't acquainted with him,
SIR said she.
Not at alp
AT least, not until | introduced
them, an hour ago.
The Reverend Paul looked horri-
fed.
And yet he gasped, she is going
to marry him.
Mrs. Dodd, in her CONSERVATION,
dropped one of her brass candle
sticks.
Bless your heart alive, sirr she
cried out, she amt a goin' to do
nothing of the kind
She's only going to be housekeep-
er for him at $3.50 a year, and two
servants kept. You wasn't mean
ing sir, to
Il was asking her to be my wife,
said he, solemnly; 'and l fully be-
lieve she understood me to that ef-
feet
Mrs. Dodd grasped eagerly at the
sleeve Of his coat.
She couldn'tp she said.
Just wait bit, sir-wait a Bit
Martial Mattyl come out here
this minute
You haven't understood a word
that the Rev. Blossom has said to
you. He has asked you TO marry
him.
The knitting fell from Miss Mink
ley's hands.
She turned pale and began to
tremble.
Was it then true-the crushed out,
forgotten dream of her whole life ?
The reaching instinct of her hunger
ing heart.
Did some one really love her at
last-even her?
II didn't comprehend said
she. 4 supposed that he wanted
me to be his housekeeper. believed
that his wife was living
She's been dead these four years.
interiected Mrs. Dodd.
And if ever there was a saint upon
earth, Martha, and a man as any
woman might be proud to marry, it
is Paul Blossom
Martha held out her hands.
Paul. said che, forgetting all the
years that elapsed since they were
boy and girl at the Wesleyan Semi