The Warner sun. (Warner, Brown Co., Dakota [S.D.]) 1885-1???, 1885-12-11
AQUAINT PROPOSAL.

Nv 49,
window of Willow Brook Farms
wainscotted parlor nodded gracefully
as a tiny zephyr swept gayly by, watt
ing far and near its incense of new
mown hay. In it's wake luttered a
purple and golden butterfly, to poise
a moment upon the windows ledge,
then to soar boldly forward until it lit
upon q curious old vase beside an
organ, whose yellowed keys cleaned
softly in the half-darkened room. The
butterfly and the vase mirrored them
selves in the polished oak floor, and
if the range had been right they could
have repeated the picture in the shining
surface of each article offurniture.
Ayounggirl was the sole occupant of
theroom, with the exception, ofcourse,
OF the butterfly, who had winged his
way to a small ova! mirror and was
busiIy making his toilet, as his com.
panion, humming a merry tune, busted
carefully a squatty teapot, whose fat
little spout and comic tout ensemble
at once inspired a longing for tea
brewed in such novel quarters. At
that moment a voice calling "Marthy!
Marthy!." echoed through the house,
followed by "Run-quick; old Tim'sin
. the cornfeld, and my hands are all
over dough-"
Hastily replacing the ancient heir
loom on a spindle-legged table, the
young girl darted fromthe room, while
the butterfly, startled at it's toilet,
spread it's wings and loated swiftly
out into the sunshine again. Snatch
ing a snowy sun-bonnet from it's peg
in the hall, Martha flew down the gar
den path across to an adjacent
meadow. In her hurry she failed to
notice a gentleman slowly advancing
in her direction, until two masculine
hands stayed her progress.
With an exclamation of surprise,
Martha raised her pretty blue eyes
and met a pair ofdecidedlygood look
ing brown ones, gazing with evident
appreciation at the dimpled, blushing
face, from off which the sun-bonnet
had slipped, disclosing q crop of red
dish golden rings lying close to the
finely shaped head.
Il beg your pardon" murmured
Martha, the bushes and dimples wax
ng deeper, ''but | didn't see you, |
was in such q hurry
Don't mention it. Wouldn't have
missed the-the pleasure for anything,
II like to be run into averred the
gentleman with considerable empha-
sis.
Such a ripping laugh as bubbled
over the lips of Martha at this speech!
which she hastily apologized for with:
Il didn't mean to, really; but what
You said sounded so odd"
You couldn't do it again, could
your assure you 1 never appreciat-
ed being a-odd until to-day. l."
oh, the cow!" exclaimed Martha,
suddenly recollecting her errand. II
forgot all about him." and away she
sped, the gentleman hurrying after,
repeating:
"Cowl Himl Let me help you. T.
really am very clever with COWS. In
1act would like to make them a
study"
however, when the field was reached
no COW was to be seen, and remarking
ina doubtless some of the hands had
ousted old Tim, Martha turned her
steps toward the house, thinking the
gentleman would proceed on his way.
40 her establishment, however, he
Kept along by her side, observing:
Are you acquainted with Willow
Brook FARM"
Why, yes; its my home. ! was
porn there" answered Martha, sur
prisedly.
Happy farml Imean-a-it must
pea lovely place. You see, the fact is
that is, | have a note for Mrs. Dun
can OF Willow Brook Farm"
My motherl' calculated Martha,
opening wide her blue eyes. Whereup-
On the gentleman scanned with newly
awakened interest q square envelope
ne mad extractedfrom his breast peck
ct, as he added.
4 am an o~ld-Ishould say my moth
y y an old friend of Mrs. Duncan's,"
making q rough calculation of the
,ength Of time it might take, all things
.avorabh, to place him on equally 81
sood footing with the daughter, while
Martha's thought ran very much in
would be nice looking il he wasn't
~ sallow. Wonder If mother will ask
nnn TO make us q visit. / mover heard
ner speak Of an old friend that had q
ny this time they we're proceeding up
we path that led to the farms pretty
rose earlandnd nonoh and ha .zinn nsh.