The Brookhaven leader. [volume] (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1883-1891, 1883-04-12

IL ,CdS 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 irregu-
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 a sudden COM
prehension of her mistake, stood staring
after her, quite dazed and giddy. What
should he do? Run after her and ex.
plain? That would be dreadful thing
to do. Perhaps his mother could help
faint hope he hurried home, and arrived
red in the face and utterly breathless.
"Well, Betsy Barker has put on the
cap sheaf now,n said Mrs. Conner
"But, Josiah, wish you didn't feel SO
about it. / wish you liked Hannah.
She's girl after my own heart"
II 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-
ner.
"Why, mother" growled Josiah,
bashfully, - wonder at you. Think of
me having the impudence to go over
and offer myself without bit of court
ing! l wouldn't have that thought of
me for any money"
Anyhow, you'd better go 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,
light was seen to shine in the Barkers'
parlor, he nerved himself for a great
effort. He was utterly without vanity.
The idea that Hannah could be pleased
never occurred to him. Itwas to apollo
gize for a 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
piece of business?"
1t was a 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 step crossed the sill, and he
looked up. Hannah, in a 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 now? Don't blame
her. She'll be dreadfully ashamed of
it, | 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 offer?'
Hannah looked very bright and natty.
Her cheeks were pink and her eyes
shone. Afterward her mother said 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:
Il wish to goodness you had believed
it, Hannah, for now l shall have to do
it all over again, and may be get the
mitten."
Its almost too dreadful to joke
about, after all,' said Hannah. ''Ma
will be so ashamed. / am"
I'm not joking no,o, anyhow" said
Josiah. Hannah Barker, l haven't
quite as much brass and impudence as
your mother thought had, but have
enough to get on with, after all. l al
ways have loved you, but never could
see that you liked me. viii you try to?
Will you marry me? Don't say no,
Hannah, or shall think it is out of re-
venge for my mistake"
at was mothers mistake" said
Hannah. Don't make one now,
Josiah. There ought to be great deal
of love before people marry"
"There is on my side," said Josiah.
He had risen from the sofa, and they
stood looking at each other now. They
sat down in two chairs, one on each
side of the window. The moon was
rising over the hills. The shaded lamp
was not obtrusive. After while Josiah
took Hannah's hand. Then his arm
stole about her waist.
1t was twelve o'clock when he got
home, but his mother was sitting UP 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
moment to say:
"Mother, guess you'll have to put
up with Sarah Smiley for month. 1t
win take Hannah as long as that to get
ready, she says. l suppose she'll want
to make 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 Dallas,
in N. Y. Ledger.