The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1884-12-12
handed to Mr.. Pudster aletter, Of which

the following is a copy:
IA MINcrNa LANE, CRY, August 4, 1865.
To Mrs. Ferdinand unter, Matador Villa, Chel-
MADAM: Our Mi. Puds.er will do himself
the honor Of calling upon you tomorrow be-
tween twelve and one, in order to lay before
yor a project which is very intimately connect
ed with the comfort and we'll being of the I'M
dersigned. We beg you therefore to regard any
proposition that may be made to you by our
and with it's full authority. We remain, madam
most deyotedly yours,
PuDsrER l. MAaGLEpY.
How will that do?" asked Mr.. Mag
glehy with conscious pride.
"Excellently well, Gideon" said Mr..
Pudster. "But don't you think most
deyotedly yours sounds rather too dis
tant? What do you say to yours ad-
miringly,' or yours to distraction p"
Yours to distraction sounds best,
/ think" replied Mr.. Maggleby after
considerable reflection. II will put
that in, and recopy the letter, Solomon"
I'VE are about to take an important
step in life, said Mr.. Pudster serious
". "Are you sure, Gideon, that we
are not acting too hastilyY
"Mr. Padster!" exclaimed Mr.. Mag
gleby warmly, 1--WE may trust these sa-
cred promptings of u finer feelings.
We have lived too long alone. The
firm needs the chaste and ~softening in
fuence of o woman. And who in this
wide world is more fitted to grace our
board than Mrs. Bunter?'
$50 be it, then" assented the senior
partner.
Mr.. Maggleby recopied the letter,
signed it with the firms usual signature,
and carried it to the nearest letter box.
When he returned, he found his friend
waiting to go to bed, and trying to keep
himself awake by studying the marriage
service.
On the following forenoon Mr.. Pud-
ster, with the s%crupulous p%unctuality
that is characteristic Of city men, called
at Matador Villa, Chelsea, and was at
once shown into the presence of Mrs.
Bunter, who was waiting to receive him.
IL am quite ut a loss to understand why
you have done me the honor of coming
to see me to-day" said the widow.
From your letter, I judge that you
have some business proposal to make to
me. Unfortunately, Mr.. Pudster, Lam
moi prepared to speculate in sugar. I
am not well off. But perhaps I am n
der Q misrepresentation. The letter
contains IN expression which 1 do not
understand"
1t is true, replied the senior part
ner, that we have some hope OF per-
suading you to speculate o little in SUI
gar; and there is no reason why your
want of capital should prevent your
joining us:
II quite fail to grasp your meaning"
said Mrs. Bunter.
well, 1 am not very good at explana-
tions," said Mr.. Pudster; but I will ex-
plain the situation as well as I can.
You see, Mrs. Bunter, Mr.. Maggleby,
my partner, and myself are bachelors
and live together. We find 1t dull.
We long for the ciyilizing Influences of
woman's society. We are, in fact, tired
OF ngle-blessedness. The firm Is at
present worth a clear S., 900 q year. It
will support q third partner, we think;
and SO we propose, Mrs. Bunter, that
you should join it, and come and take
care of US in q friendly way"
Mrs. Bunter looked rather uncom-
Portable, and was silent for a few mo-
menss. You are very good" she said
at last; but although / am not well off,
| had not thought of going out as q
h~ousekeepef. The late Mr.. Bunter
left mo enough for my little needs"
u hope SO, indeed, madam. But we
don't ask You to come to us as q house
keeper. simply. Marriage is what we
offer you, Mrs. Bunter. In the name
of Pudster & Maggleby have the hon
or of proposing for your hand"
"Mercyf" exclaimed Mrs. Bunter in
some agitation. "Surely you would not
have me marry the firm?"
Il put it in that way" said Mr.. Pud-
ster, because Maggleby and I are
practically one and the same. But I
will be accurate. The proposition is,
Mrs. Bunter, that you should become
the wife of-ahem-!-the senior part
ner, and that Mr.. Gideon Maggleby
should live with us in his old social way.
Excuse my blunt way of expressing my
self, Mrs. Bunter."
"Then you, Mr.. Pudster, are the SEN
Tor p%artnerl" said Mrs. Bunter, with a
very agreeable smile. 81 am very much
BATTERED, l assure you, but YOU pro-
posal requires consideration"
No doubt" assented Mr.. Pudster."
1.-THE firm is willing to wait for your re-
ply. In matters of business we are
never in a hurry. When may we look
for ,yonr answer?"
well, You shall have n note by to-
morrow mornings post" replied Mrs.
Bunter. II may say" she added, athat
| have heard a great deal of your firm,
MIR. Pndster; and that / am conscious
that it does me great honor by thus
offering me a partnership in it."
Indeed, madam, the honor is ours!"
said Nh. Pudster, bowling as he retired.
No sooner had he departed than The
widow burst into a long and merry fit
OF laughter. Her first impulse was to
write and refuse the ridiculous of er;
but as the day wore on she thought
better OF the affair, aud in the evening
after dinner she sat down quite serious
ly and wrote a letter as follows:
MATADoR VILLA, CHELSEA,
August 5, 1865.
To Messra. Pudster & Maggleby, IA M1ncing
Lane, City.
GENTLEMEN: I have decided to accept the
very fiattering offer which was laid before me
today on your behalf BY your Mr.. Pudster.
u ne VIII call, | shall have much pleasure in
gentlemen, very faithfully yours,
MARIA BuNTER.
II must, fall in with their humor, I
suppose, she reflected. "And really,
MI. Pudster is q very nice man, and
almost handsome; and I'm sure that I
shall do no harm by marrying him. Be
sides, it is quite true that they must
want some one to look after them.
II they go on living by themselves,
they will grow crusty and bearish."
And Mrs. Bunter sent her maid out to
post the letter.