The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1885-10-07
A QUAINT PROPOSAL.

: The lilac bush beneath the south win
dow Of Willow Brook FARMS wainscot-
ted parlor nodded gracefully as a tinv
zephyr swept gayly by, waiting far and
near its incense of new mown hay. In
its wake fluttered purple and golden
butterfly, TO poiso moment upon the
windows ledge, then to soar boldly for
ward until it lit upon curious old vase
beside an organ, whose yellowed KEYS
CLEANED softly in the half darkened
room. The butterfly and the vase mir
rored themselves in the polished oak
floor, and if tho range had been right
they could have repeated tho picture in
the shining surface of each article of
furniture.
A young girl was the sole occupant of
the room, with the exception, of course,
Of the butterfly, who had winged his
way to small oval mirror and was busily
making his toilet, as his companion,
humming o merry tune, busted carefully
8 squatty teapot, whose fat little spout
and comic tout ensemble at once inspired
longing for tea brewed in such novel
quarters. At that moment a voice, call.
ing "Marthy Marthyl" echoed through
the house, followed by: "Run--auick
old Tins in the corn field, and my hands
are all over doughw
Hastily replacing the ancient heirloom
on. a spindle-legged table, the young
girl darted from the room, while the
butterfly, startled at its toilet, spread its
brilliant wings and foated swiftly out
into the sunshine again. Snatching a
snowy sun bonnet from its peg in the
hall. Martha flew down the garden 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, Mar
tha raised her pretty blue eyes and met a
pair Of decidedly good-looking brown
ones, gazing with evident appreciation
at the dimpled, blushing face, from off
which the sun-bonnet had slipped, dis
closing crop of reddish golden rings
lying close to the finely shaped little head.
IL beg your pardon" murmured Mar
tha, the bushes and dimples waxing
deeper, ''but didn't see you, l was in
such hurry"
Don't mention it. Wouldn't have
missed the-the pleasure for anything.
III like to be run into" averred the
gentleman with considerable emphasis.
Such rippling laugh as bubbled over
the lips of Martha at this speech, which
she hastily apologized for with:
~ didn't mean TO, really; but what
you said sounded so odd"
"You couldn't do it again, could your
l assure you | never appreciated being q
odd until to-day. I"
''Oh, the cow" exclaimed Martha,
suddenly recollecting her errand. 81
forgot all about him, and away she sped,
the gentleman hurrYing after, repeating:
''Cow Him! Let me help you. IL
really am very clever with cows. In fact
/ would like to make them a study"
However, when the field was reached
no COW was to be seen, and remarking
that doubtless some of the hands had
ousted old Tim, Martha turned her steps
toward the house, thinking the gentle.
man would proceed on his way. To her
astonishment, however, he kept along by
her side, observing;
"Are you acquainted at Willow Brook
farmq"
"Why, yes; it's my hoI1e. I was
born there" answered Nes'tha, sur
prsedly.
"Happy farml Imean--t. tmust be
a lovely place. You see, osits fact is
that is, have note for \ pncan, of
Willow Brook Farm lalpoiA
'My motherw ejacu Martha
opening wide her blue ey 20 - Areupon
the gentleman scanned newly
awakened interest a SOU ope he
had extracted from his get, as
he added .ler in
~ am an old sho lother
is an old friend of Mrs ppInIrc max
ing a rough calculate D"iDIIVi III of
time it might take, C. lble,
to place him on equal hing
with the ldaughte. nona da's
thoughts ran very n GllIIlN- ~
"Would be nice MT
so sallow. Wonder pd,I
him to make us a vi, AID
her speak of an oldsLIcAN, only IA
son" "A
BY this time they
the path that led I