Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1885-02-13
WILL SHE MARRY.

There we're only seven of us, all
/ girls, in the dear old parsonage at
Wrayburn, whore papa mad lived
ioI thirty years. Under the daisies
in the pretty country churcbyarc
dear mamma had slept since Kate
was a wee baby, and Aunt Jane
had come to care for the mother
less children of her brother az
soon as the calamity fell upon him.
We are a rosy-cheeked, healthy
set of girls, rather good-looking
Nell beng our beauty, and | am
not going to bother you with story
excepting as my observations art
recorded.
1t was in the spring, and my
sisters and Aunt Jane were very
busy with housework. | was in my
room knitting; papa was wander
ing about disconsOlate at the inva
sion Of his study, and consequent
interruption Of his literary work,
when the murmur OF voices from
the porch 6oated upto me, and
mentally exclaimed -
Dear me- Chris is proposing t'
Nell again
And nobody ever will, or ever
can love you as | do Chris wa,
saying.
Then Nelps voice struck in,-
There, that window fairly
dazzles you! who says can't clean
glass ? Oh, l beg your pardon,
Chris. No, of coursep
But, Nell, do listen to mep
Chris, did you ask to marry me
when was in my cradle? / an
sure you have asked me once
week ever since. | won't, yOr
know, or ought to know, by this
time. Why can't you ask some
body else, just for variety? | an
sure any of the other girls will
make a much better wife than
will that is, said Nell, with a
sudden spasm of loyalty for the
rest Of us, Ff any Of them would
take YOU
How can | care for any one else
when my whole heart has beer
yours all my life? I? said Chris, dis
consOlately. 1T is cruel to tridt
so with true and honest love-
'Don't be an idiotr said Nell
sharply. i told you that yor
were a horrid boy, and ! would
never marry you, when you used
to steal apples to present to me
and ! never, told you anything
else, did II
NO, sighed Chris.
'Then why don't you let mt
alone,'
Here Aunt Jane, her head tieC
iup in a manner that defes descup
tion, came upon the scene saying =
'Oh, here's Chris Chris, do rul
over to Smiths and get me a pape
Of carpet tacks'
Chris departed.
Presently Smiths boy brough
the carpet tacks, and Nell was le
alone for the remainder Of tha
day, as far az Chris was concerned
The next day the cleaning wen
forward briskly, but it was stiI
early in the morning when Mel
came to my room equipped for
walk.
ANY lettersT she said care
lessly. Il am going down tn
street.
None said; q did not thin
yOu could be spared
'Annt Jane is rather grump
about it, said Nell, adjusting
coquettish wreath ofapple- blossom
upon her hat; 'but | want to e
the smell Of soap.suds out OF N
nose. l may stop at GilmOre'l
have you any messageY
'Only my love to Mrs Gilmore
Now, Mrs. Gilmore was the motl
er of NelPs persistent adorel
ChristOphere Nelson Gilmore, an
the families had been intimate fc
years. Still, for Nell to take tn
middle of house-cleaning week t
call on Mrs. Gilmore was llttl
out OF order.
She fitted away, her sunny curl
dancing in the soft May breeze
a Id I, putting two and two to
gether, remembered that Chris ha
not been in the house for twenty
four hours. Vainly l tried TO II
call a similar interval when he wa
in Wrayburn. School, college
business had called him out of tn
village, but his home hours wer
always fairly divided between hi
mothers house and ours.
Something must be the matter
I thought Of all possible and in
possible ca tastrophes, till l We
not surprised to see Nell comm
in at the gate in a subdued fran
r of mind, apparent upon her prett
face. She came directly to me, {
they all do, even Aunt Jane al
papa, in emergencies.
fRell' sha said In q 1ovv 7ura,