The Red Cloud chief., 1883-05-18
hsA-eeed 10 marry. I'd choose her"
"1ben it's all right" said Mr.. Con

hsAALeeed 70 marry. I'd choo~e her"
"1hen it's all right" said Mr.. Con.
ner.
why. mother" gro~ied Josiah.
bashfuI1y. - wonder nj yoa. Think II
me having the impudence tn 90 over
and Offer myself without . bit of court
ing. wouldn't have that. thought II
me for any money"
Anyhow. you'd better 60 over and
have the talk with Hannah" .sid Mr..
Conner. shes got good sense. II her
mother hasn't"
Poor josiah suffered all SORTS of men,
tai torture that day and all the long
Sunday. but when. in She evening. .
light was seer To shine in the Barker
parior. he neryed himself for = great
effort. He was utterly without vanity.
The idea that Hannah could be- pleased
never occurred To him. II was 20 apollo
gize for a seeming bit Of impudcnce.
not to get out 1T an unintended offer.
that he was going. His whole thought
was: What can Hannah think Of such
\ piece of business"
II was n very miserable young man
who sat On the new green rep -ofa in
the Barkers' parior nj last. waiting for
Hannah's coming.
At last = step crossed the sill, and he
looked up. Hannah, in n 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
hts been making now? Don't blame
b n. She'll be dreadfully ashamed 81
il, ! know. The idea. We might h,
cousins. or almost brother and sister.
oh, what would YOU have done. Josiah.
il ! had believed that you come here to-
day to make me an offer?'
Hannah looked very bright and natiy.
Her cheeks were pink and her eyes
shone. Afferward her mother said that
Josiah must have been inspired to do
as well n he did. but il was a 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
il, Hannah, for now | shall have To do
1t all over again, and may be get the
miticn."
'.It's almost too dreadful to Joke
about, after ALL" said Hannah. MA
will be so ashamed. am"
I'm not joking nosc. anyhow" said
Josiah. Hannah Barker, / haven't
quite as much brass and impudcnce rs
your mother thought I had. but ! have
enough tn get on with, after all. / al
ways have loved you. but I never could
see that You liked me. Will you try to?
Will YOU marry me? Don't say no.
Hannah. or l shall think it is out Of re-
yenge for my mistake"
= lit was mothers mistake" said
Hannah. don't make one now.
Josiah. There ought TO be a 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 ver the hills. The shaded lamp
was not obtrusive. After a while Josiah
took Hannah's hand. Then his arm
stole about her waist.
II was twelve o'clock when he got
home, but his mother was sitting up for
him. She looked Mt 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, l guess you'll have to put
up with Sarah Smiley for n month. II
will take Hannah rs 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 il was plain to
Mrs. Conner hat Hannah Barker had
really had her ofler.-Mary Kyle Dallas,
IN n. Y. Ledger.