Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1885-09-25
A QUAINT PROPOSAL.

The lilac bush beneath the sOnth
window of Willow Brook Farms
wainscotted parlor nodded grace
fully as tiny zephyr swept gayly
by, waiting far and near its incense
of new mown hay. In its wake
fluttered purple and golden but
terhy, to poise a moment upon the
windows edge, then to soar boldly
forward until it lit upon q curious
old vase beside an organ, whose
vellowed keys CLEANED softly IN
the half darkened room. The but
terfly 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
of furniture. N
A young girl was the sole occu-
pant of the room, with the excep'
ton, of course, of the butterfly,
who had winged his way to small
oval mirror and was busily making
his toilet, as his companion, hum
ming a merry tune, busted careful
| " 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
'Marthyl Marthy ? echoed through
the house, followed by: Kun
quick old Tins in the corn field,
and my hands are all over dough ?
Hastily replacing the ancient
heirloom on spindle.legged table,
the young girl darted from the
room, while the butterfly, startled
at its toilet, spread its brilliant
wings and Aoated swiftly out into
the sunshine again. Snatehing a
snowy sun bonnet from its peg in
the hall, Martha few down the
garden path across to an adjacent
meadow. In her hurry she failed
to notice a gentleman slowly adj
vancing in her direction, until two
masculine hands stayed her pro-
gress.
With an exclamation of surprise,
Martha raised her pretty blue eyes
and met a pair of decidedly good
looking brown ones, gazing with
evident appreciation at the dimplcd,
blushing face, from off which the
sum bonnet had slipped, disclosing
crop of reddish golden rings ly.
ing close to the finely.shaped little
head.
Il beg your PARDON murmured
Martha, the bushes and dimples
waxing deeper, 'but l didn't see
YOU, | was in such hurry
Don't mention it. Wouldn't
have missed the-the pleasure for
anything. I-Ilike to be ran into,
averred the gentleman with con-
siderable emphasis.
Such a ripping laugh as bubbled
over the lips of Martha at this
speech, which she hastily apollo.
gized for with:
'I didn't mean to, really; but
what you said sounded so odd.'
'You couldn't do it again, could
youl / assure you never appre
ciated being a-Odd until to-day
L.
'Oh, the COW = exclaimed Mar
tha, suddenly recollecting her er
rand. II forgot all about him,
and away she sped, the gentleman
hurrying after, repeating;
! Cow! Him Let me help you
IL really am very clever will
COWS. In fact would like to MAKE
them a study
However, when the field wa!
reached no COW was to be seen
| and remarkiug that doubtless som,
of the hands had ousted old Tim
Martha turned her steps toward tn
house, thinking the gentleman
would proceed on his way. To he
astonishment, however, he KEEP
along by her side, observing:
'Are you acquainted at Willo'
Brook farm p
'Wby, yes; it's my home
was born there answered Marthf
surprisedly.
Happy farm I mean-a-i
must be a lovely place. You SCI
the fact is-that is, have not
for Mrs. Duncan, of Willow Broo
FARM l..''
my mother calculated Marth'
opening wide her blue eyes. Wher'
upon the gentleman scanned Wit
newly awakened interest a squal
envelope he had extracted from h
breast pocket, as he added
am an old-I should say ID
mother is an old friend OfMrs. DW
can's,' making a rough calculatio
Of the length Of tineit might TAX
all things favorable, to place hi
on equally as good footing wit
the daughter, while Martha
thoughts ran verymuch in this wis
'WouId be nice looking il
wasn't so sallow. Wonder if mot
er viii ask him to make us a yiSi
/ never heard her speak of an o.
p friend that had a SON. r0.fu l
BY this time they were procee'
ing up the path that led to Il
farms pretty rose garlanded pore