Daily Republican. [volume] ([Wilmington, Del.]) 1874-1890, 1884-03-01
IORIGINAL.
oRIGINAL.
Nsttie's PROPOSAL
BY RYE ROSSB.

BY RYE RosSB.
The morning light of q February sun
was streaming in through the plate
glass windows Of Mr.. James Bassett't
substantial, uptown residence, throw.
ing faint shadows over the pale, blue
MOquette carpet, and playing hide and.
seek among the old silver and dainty
china that graced the morning . repasty
and Mr.. Bassatt himself, kindly, old
ba cbelor OF fifty.tive, with bald, shin
ing spot on the top Of his head q healthy
complexion, and a form verging On
portliness, IA at the head Of his we'll
appointed table, dividing bis attention
between q cup Of fragrant Mocha aud
huge pile of letters and papers.
Opposite sat his nephew, a handsome,
graceful fellow of twenty-five, with
features that might have been modelled
from Apollo's q, and dangerous dark eyes,
that could very successfully "look love
to eyes that would speak again."
Just now, however, the said eyes
were steadfastly riveted on his plate,
wherein lay mutton chop that he was
manfully endesvoring to masticate ;
but he glanced up In time to behold his
uncle raise from the numerous letters
at his elbow one unlike all the others
. delicate, cream. tinted envelope, di.
rected in an easy, feminine hand with
many curves and graceful 1ourishes.
"By jove, uncle, you're In luck. he
cried, II shouldn't mind receiving q
letter like that myself; but thought
you considered yourself 700 venerable
for that sort Of thing. She must be
pretty. Who il she ?"
"Who are you talking about Fred 2"
queried his uncle, casing In an alb.
stracted fashion al the dainty super.
scription before him.
"You play innocent very well-very
we'll, indeed" said bis nephew, ad-
miringly. "Don't believe could put
on better expression myself" then
81 new idea crossed his fertile brain
"what will you wager 1t isn't pro.
posalo It's leap year, you know, and
I'll bet anything one Of your old loves
has taken advantage Of her prerogative
to induce you to accept her faded charms
and culinary skill, and l don't blame
her either; admire her pluck the
only wonder Is she has let you escape
10 long-sucb q nice looking old gentle.
man should not go begging for offers if
| we're woman
Fred, cease your nonsense, laughed
Mr.. Bassett. "The letter Is certainly
from a woman, but 1t is without a doubt
a business communication, such as l
receive numbers of every week." az he
spoke he broke the sea, and drawing
forth closely written sheet Of scented
and monogramed paper, proceeded to
read it, and Fred, left to himself, fell
back with renewed zeal on the mutton
chop.
A silence of some minutes ensued,
broken only by the chime OF nine
silvery strokes from the dainty, little
piece of French mechanism on the
mantel. Then Mr.. Bassett removed his
gold.mounted eyeglasses, and holding
the letter in one Land and the glasses In
the other, leaned across the table
toward his nephew, and sail with an
air Of profound solemnity, Fred,
1t is !"
"What, a business communication ?
Good gracious, no You don't mean 1t, "
cried that young gentleman, with look
of CONSERVATION.
"No, no, Fred proposal, a bona
fide proposal of marriage from the
daughter of an old friend who is dead 90
"There, read the letter yourself, -
said Mr. Bassett, pushing 1t toward his
astounded young relative.
g Dear Mr.. Bassett," it began, "you
will no doubt be surprised at my pro.
posal, and, indeed, If it were not leap
year | fear should hardly have the
courage to make it. You see 1t Ia SO
very lonely down here in the country,
with no one but the servants; If had
any relatives of course it would be diff.
ferent, but papa was all had, and now
that he is gone seem to have no one to
care for me at all. am so ignorant OF
the affairs of life that counsellor OF
some kind Is almost a necessity to me,
and know of no one whose home
would wish to share as much as yours,
| havean income sufficient for all my
wants 10 l would not be burden OF
expense to you, and think could In
the end make myself 30 useful to you
that you would regret making me al
inmate of your home. There need bt
no disarrangement of your present
mode of living, as I should aim to make
your ways mine and study your com
fort In all things Believe me, II
we're not so terribly lonely would no
make this request, but AZ 1t Is, l have
no other alternative. Let me know
your decision at an early day.
Atfsctionately,
NETTIE BERNARD"
"Well, what do you think of it?'
demanded Mr.. Bassett, as his nephew
paused and looked at him.
think it the most remarkable
piece of feminine diplomacy in the way
of an epistolary communication that !
has ever been my fortune to peruse,
returned that young man, with All al
of frmest conviction. ~ fOrgo
whether you said she was pretty O
not ?"
eyes; she's very nice looking
little GIRL" answered Mr.. Basset
slowly.
"Then that settles it, suppose" re
marked Fred. "Of course you will le
her know that you accept her propoaa
at once and 30 relieve her terrible sens
of loneliness.
"Do you mean that am bound to-
to-marry her?" gasped poor Mr.
Bassett. "Oh, Fred, I can'tl l dom
i xvort a ,u;ko Tuhouli'nt know What 4,
do with her should't, indeed"
"Then write and tell her sc" re
sponded Fred promptly:
81 can't do that, either" groanet
his uncle, rising from his chair ant
walking up and down the room in hi
perturbation.
cts not snch an easy thing to refus'
an offer as you seem to think
eco down and see her then, sug
Igested his adviser, heroically sup
pressing an inclination to laugh
"Oh suggest something tritie NOR
! r.