Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1885-09-17
A Quaint Proposal.

| The lilac push Oeneatn tue SOutti
window of Willow Brook Farms
wainscotted parlor nodded gracefully
rs tiny zephyr swept gayly by, watt
ing far aud near its incense OF new
mown hay. In its wake tluttered q
purple and golden butterfly, to poise q
moment npon the windows ledge, then
to soar boldly foi ward until it lit upon
curious old vase beside an organ,
whose yellow keys cleaned softly in the
half darkened room The butterfly and
the vase mirrored themselves in the
polished oak door, and il the range had
been right they could have repeated the
picture i'm 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 wing
ed his way to small oval mirror and
was busily making his toilet, as his
companion, humming merry tune,
busted carefully squat teapot, whose
fat little spout and comic tout ensem
BILE ut once inspired longin for gtea
brewed in such novel quarters. AT
that moment voice, calling "Marthy!
Marthy - echoed through the house,
followed by "Run-quick, old Tins
I'm the corn field, and my hands are all
oyer dough ~
Hastily replacing the ancient heir
loom on spindle legged table, the
young girl darted from the room, while
the butterfly, started at is toilet, spread
its brilliant wings and tloated swiftly
out into the sunshine again. Snatch.
ing a snowy sun bonnet from its peg in
the hall, Martha flew down the gar
den path across to an adjacent
meadow. In her hurry she failed to
notice gentleman slowly advancing
i'm her direction, until two masculine
hands stayed her progress.
With an exclamation OF surprise,
Martha raised her pretty blue eyes and
met pair of decidedly good.looking
brown ones, gazing with evident appre-
citation at the dimpled. blushing face,
from off which the sun bonnet had slip
ped, disclosing crop of reddish golden
rings lying close to the finely shaped
little head.
ST beg your PARDON" murmured
Martha, the bushes and dimples wax
ing deeper. "but I didn't see you, I
was In such hurry"
"Don't mention it. Wouldn't have
missed the-the pleasure for anything.
IL like to be run into," averred the
gentleman with considerable emphasis.
Such a Iippling laugh as bubbled o.
yer the lips of Martha at this speech.
which she hastily apologized for with :
'I didn't mean to, really but what
you said sounded so odd"
"You couldn't do it again, could
you ? I assure you never appreciat-
ed being a-Odd until to-day. L"
ssOh, the cow 20 exclaimed Martha.
suddenly recollecting her errand. 81
forgot all about him." and away she
sped, the gentleman hurrying after, re-
peating
"Cow ! Him Let me help you. I
Il really am very clever with COWS.
In fact would like to make them a
study"
However, when the field was reach
cd no cow was to be seen. and remark
ing that doubtless some of the hands
had onsted old Tim, Martha turned he r
steps toward the house, thinking the
gentleman would proceed on his way.
To her astonishment, however, he kept
along by her side. observing
'Are you acquainted at Willow
Brook farm ?''
"Why. yes it's my home. I was
born there" answered Martha, sur
prisedly.
"Happy farm ! mean-a-it must
be lovely place. You see. the fact is
that is, I have a note for Mrs. Dun
can, of Willow Brook Farm
-"My mother 20 calculated Martha.
opening wide her blue eyes. Where
upon the gentleman scanned with new
ly awakened interest square envelope
he had extricated from his breast pock-
ct, as he added
ST am an old-I should say my moth
er is an old friend of Mrs. Duncan's,"
making rough calculation Of the
length of time it might take, all things
favorable, to place him on equally as
good a footing with the daughter, while
Martha's thoufihts ran very much IN
this wise.
"Would be nice looking if he wasn't
so sallow. Wonder If mother will ask
him to make us visit. I never heard
her speak of an old friend that had a
son.
By this time they were proceeding UP
the path that led to the FARMS pretty
rose garlahded porch. and having ush-
/