St. Paul daily globe., 1885-07-09
THE BABY's PROPOSAL.
a Desperate Case of Love at First
Sight.


pared, but when one starts out on prlgnH
sunshiny morning, with new lawn dress
and cherry-colored parasol, altogether
stunning and quite the lady," as brentoh
said. and then, after three hours roe III
the hot dusty cars, If landed at little OUT
of-the-way station in the midst of shower
it is certainly enough to provoke an angel
'Miss Medary, the goyemess, pre-
sume?" says someone back Of me; almost
whispers it in my ear as, after rush Ior
the waiting-room, l am standing, hot, ana
angry. coaXing back a little breath.
/ turn quickly, and behold a tall young
man, with black eyes, brown curly halr, nat
in hand, bowling courteously.
Yes say in my coolest manner.
81 suppose it is unnecessary for me to say
/ am John Branford?" Then he continues,
smiling: 1.-The carriage is on the other SIDE
of the station, will you follow me, MISS
Medary?"
He helps me in, and, jumping in after,
he takes the ribbons.
''You must be drenched?" he says, pres
emily. glancing at my limp garments.
Rather" 1 answer, dryly. But that Is
nothing; my dress will soon dry" say,
hastily. noticing his cloudy cOuntenance.
I'm glad" is all he condescends; then
we relapse into touching silence.
Strange Mrs. Blossom didn't say any
thing about brother" | think. as we roll
along the quiet lane. Il guess Mr.. Bran
ford, ST., invited the Harvard graduate here
to prevent me falling in love with his thou
sands and usurping the late Mrs. B ranfords
place"
Turning in under a massive stone gate,
big juniper throwing its wealth of rain
4;,,ic
Stopping before yertable country mansion,
Branford springs out, holds his hands out
for me to alight. 1 suppose he is afraid OF
my falling, for he keeps nay hands until L
am entirely safe on terra firma: it causes
flush to overspread my cOuntenance, and
any way this decides the queStion-he is
Harvard graduate.
''Shall l see Mr.. Branford at Once?" /
ask.
He looks at me curiouSly, without an
swering, and / am getting very angry,
when small, lisping voice seems to start
from the ground, and in the open door
stands tiny mite of humanity about 8
years old, with big blue eyes, land mass of
fluffy golden hair; she has sock and shoe
in her hands, and one pink foot is bare.
''Par-pa, par-paw eXclaims the mite,
jumping into my university mans" arms.
l stand thunderstruck. So this is the wild
over, and Eve made big mistake!
Come, Viva, this is Miss Medary, a kind
lady who has come to take care of you;
wont YOU speak to her?" he says, not no
ticing my confusiOn; maybe he does not see
it.
800 tome to tate tare of me? don't
want 90 to tate tare of me. dot my parpa,
but like 90, aller same, an I'll It's 90, too, 4"
she lisps, looking up in my face.
'sLittle darlingp' 1 eXclaim, taking her
in my arms and covering her bright face
with kisses, then hastily putting her down.
] hate scene.
run away to Mrs. Blossom and get
tidied up, Viva" says her father. ''You
must be tired, Miss Medary; but before 60
ing to your room would like to come to
terms. I suppose Mrs. Blossom told you l
was a business man and that most of my
time is spent in the city," he says, after we
have entered the library.
s'She has told me such was the case, Mr..
Branford."
Necessarily Viva is alone. There is no
one here to take charge of her now except
Yourself. leave her entirely to your care,
Miss Medary. 1 think there is nothing
else. your salary and the rest having been
agreed upon beforehand. Is it not SOP"
''It is sir"
''Then shall bid you goodbye. as have
to return to New York this afternoon" he
says, turning his handsome face to the light
and smiling kindly on me, at the same time
ringing a bell.
Mrs. Blossom, will you please conduct
Miss Medary to her room. believe you
have met her before" he says to the stout
old lady who answers his summons.
Then leave him and am piloted up the
stairs by the hOuSekeeper. He left that
afternoon, and l did not see him again for a
month.
Viva is constantly with me, not leaving
my side for a moment on any persuasion.
soon learn all concerning my Harvard man,
as | still call Mr.. Branford, from the little
girls prattle and Mrs. Blossoms gossipy
tongue. He has been widower since
Viva's birth and has been devoted to his
work ever since, at times being away from
home for a year or more.
But have a secret. one that makes me
angry when think of it. L have truly fal.
len in love with Viva's handsome parent
the very thing have promised Brenton moi
to do. 1t is case of love at first sight, but
of course all a one-sided affair.
At the end of July he returns, but just a
ghost of what he was, pale and thin, weak.
ened by heavy work.
''Laws, what ails him?" calculates Mrs
Blossom.
''What's the matter wifi my par-pa?''
asks Viva, clinging to my dress in her fond
way; he's not so pooty as he was"
But my face burns as think him Just as
handsome as ever.
For weeks Mrs. Blossom and wait OF
him-she in motherly, bustling manner.
quietly, happy to be near him, writing let
fers at times, or reading to him as he sits Oh
the veranda enjoying what breeze there i
going.
Sometimes 1 would stop and find hin
staring into vacancy, apparently paying II,
attention to me.
One afternoon as it was ne airing sunset
Viva and l start out for a walk in the mea
dows.
''Mith Lucy, dess par-pa's doin' to de
me anover marina; just tinkm she says il
her pretty, laughing way.
'sWhatr' l gasp, stopping her and push
ing back her big straw hat. ''What did yo
say, Viva?"
'tI'm doin' to have new marina, and
wants co." But do not hear what sh
saws. l throw myself down in the lon
grass and weep and sob till my heart a.
most breaks / do not feel the baby's arm
clasped round my neck and her soft lip
pressed to my forehead; no, because l wont
/ throw them off. Then l sit up, pale an
stern. yowing to fight my battle bravely
but there lies Viva in little miserabl
heap, crying in her baby fashion.
II love 90, now, an I'll love 90 when O
nv marina; deed an deed'n WILL" sh
sobS. J
ssDarling, little darlingr' cry, claspin
her in my arms, pacifying her with kisse
until the storm is over. which is very sooi
In the evening Mr.. Branford, Viva and
are sitting on the veranda, enjoying I'll
1--.aro o,,d MOONLIGHT Ha is cnnl-iu