Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1884-04-30

his mind the proposal and the soup
kitchen were doubtless intimately con-
nected. 1 glanced at Sam; he was
bursting with suppressen laughter.
VERY we'll, papa"
About ten that evening we heard the
ring Of horse's hoofs on the way to the
stables. Bertha fled innocently. sam
had barely time to whisper, "Al right,
Madge-my doing altogether. 1 plan
ned and wrote it, you know" before
my father entered.
"Go to bed at once, both of you"
he commanded, in the sternest tones
had ever heard him use.
l stole one look at his countenance as
1 crept away; it was more young and
merry-looking, ! thought. He saw the
pitiful expression on my face, and he
held out his arms. sprang into them,
and nestled close.
Forgive us, DEAR" said L; 1--WE will
never do it again."
81 trust you may never have occa-
SION" he replied; and glad light shone
in his eyes. Meanwhile GO to bed ;
and, on your lives, be silent and dis
Greet, all OF you"
At dessert.next evening Miss Vincent
was announced. We were near neigh
bOrs, and two or three times it was her
custom to run in and spend the evening
sans cermonie. My father rose, drew a
chair to the table, and filled her glass
Dear Miss Vincent" said he, ''to-
night have toast to give, which you
will drink, | trust. with all your heart.
Children fill your glasses. MY future
wifer'
We drank it with suppressed enthusi-
asm, Miss Vincent somewhat hysteri-
cally.
81 hope" said my father-and, as he
spoke, noticed what 1 had never be-
fore observed, how surprisingly like
Sans his eyes could be when they
twinkled in a certain way-"I hope
soon to present my establishment a
lady more than worthy to be its mis-
treSs''-here a deprecatory expression
hovered about Miss Vincent's face-''to
my children a mother capable of recip-
rocating their affectionslwith the utmost
tenderness"-here she made a gesture
as though she would embrace the said
decidedly unappreciative children
| "and to gain fol myself helpmate who
may share the joys and soothe the sor-
rows, here Miss Vincent's handker-
chief came into active requisition-''of
the years I have yet to live. l have
long felt that there was one woman In
the world perhaps but one-who could
do all this Here in the bosom of my
family"-Miss Vincent's unoccupied
hand groped blindly towards my father,
and the twinkle in his eyes became more
marked-"I may say that that lady S
name is-Mrs. Wood, of Fosse Cottage.
"Whof" cried Miss. Vincent, in a
perfect transport of rage"
But nobody remarked the ejacula-
ton save Sam, and Bertha and had
our arms round our fathers neck. and
were smothering him with kisses. Sam
rose and with profound bow opened
the door for Miss Vincent and in the
confusion she escaped urnoticed,
We religiously preserved the secret of
the proposal, and our dear step-mother
never suspected its authorship. She
has been dead some years; but my
father lives still, and only the other day
he told me what passed between them
at the snug little tete-a-tete dinner which
terminated so happily.
''She was charmingly dressed" he
said, ''and delicate little flush of en-
barrassment made her look very young
and pretty"
The embarrassment wore OFF as the
meal proceeded, and they talked civilly
enough upon the topics Of the day, un,
til the cloth was removed. Then said
my father
"My dear madam, with reference tc
my proposal?"
To his astonishment, vivid blush
overspread her face.
''It was so unexpected" she muir
INJURED.
But not unwelcome, trust?"
There was no reply; but the lady
looked down thoughtfully and played
with some filberts on her plate.
"Think," urged my father, rising ii
his enthusiasm, show excellent is the
idea, and how much good may be done
by our union-how my energy, wisely
directed by you, may call down bless
ings upon both our heads"
/ 1O ullcl dl1dLCuCul, tAlo. w WV
burst into a flood of tears, rose, ant
threw her arms about his neck, cry
ing
s.My dear Martin, ] always loved yor
always"
To scothe her agitation by caressine
the soft brown hair that rested agalns
his shoulder was his first thought. hi!
second. "What in the world does al
this mean?"
81 have read your dear letter hun
dred times" she sobbed.
"What nextP" thought my father.
"Poor thing she has gone mad!'
Meanwhile his arm stole round ne
waist-a very SLIM one; the situation
began to have its attraction.
at is like YOURSELF" she continued
"most kind and considerate, and mos
delicately expressed"
Let me see it again, said he, catch
ing sight of paper half hidden In he
bosom, and gently drawing it forth.
The lady hid her face while he pc
rused it, and he pressed her the nearel
to HIM, perhaps that he might ponde
the revelation for q minute.-Then hi
raised her head, kissed her lips tenderly
and led her to chair.
$50 you will be my dear wifeP" h
said. "But this interview agitates yol
TOO much; we must end it. Good-b
till tomorrow"
Ny father always declares that he ha'
for some time been attached to Mrs
Wood and that our premature propose
only forestalled his own avowal. b
that as it may, it is certain he neve
regretted it. For two months the rid
to Fosse Cottage was a thing OF dan.
occurrence; after that time, the cottas
was to let, and We had succeeded II
providing ourselves with a astep-mother
style.