Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1885-09-17

,f'would nSt have sen 6iu EsAfrled to'vmr
ity Hartrare tor q wdrld; tut, after his
protet t4tions Of loy. and faith prepared
my<f t& goSt ds.1 OF land Bro works
his mind Tony sus5.rise hothisr Z of tbs seft
occurred Whether his pride was wounded,
or what other secret motive operated upon
him, 1aannot- tell What could not be mis-.
taken was the harsh, even irritated tone in
which fhe now spoke OF Vanity, when hs
spoke OF her at all, which was but seldorn-
Meanwhi1e Nancy's turn came sooner than che
could hhaveexpected, MasterWm did not think
proper to consult me any further, but took
the earliest opportunity Of asking her to
marry him. He called upon her at her own
home one evening, and was pleased to find
she.was alone, OF her presence in the house
he had an intimation before the door was
opened to him, for, as he stood on the steps, a
slight htmovement Of theparlor curtain caught
his eye. Looking up, as one does on such
occasions before propriety has time to sug
gest that one had better look down, Willie
saw Nancy peeping out. There can be no
harm In reconnoitering visitor from behind
muslin curtain; and, on the other hand.
the person placed under observation is MOTTO
blame il his eyes accidentally meet the eyes
that are scanning him For all that, such
things make people uncomfortable. Willie
felt chilled when he entered the parlor, and
even Nancy looked confused.
She had been doing her accounts, and was
now busy at her needle. -Four or five small
books spread out on the sideboard, each with
little pile Of silver, seemed to whisper of
thrift and punctuality, and other qualities
which the world, with good reason, values
in fre Ths fohl
covered with Miss Nancy's sewing materials
No fine lace work, no toy tasks in silk or
lawn, employed her active fingers; plain,
tough calico was the subject Of her labor,
the dust of which floated in the air, dis
charged in that tearing process by which
the muscular young woman divided her
fabrics with a rapidity and straightness of
line beyond the science of the scissors. Nancy
looked well enough standing there in her
plain gown-an old one, wisely put on with
an eye to the work in hand, but well fitting
and becoming, for all that Other girls
might have longed for flight upstairs, q
hasty ribbon or two, a smoothing Of the hair,
before being discovered by young man
whose admiration they desired to win. Nancy
prudent, practical and common sense-was
rather proud than otherwise of her industry.
Besides, she knew she looked neat, and as for
finery, when the proper time came she could
whistle in silks with any girl in Hampton.
So whatever futter peeped out in her man
ner did not appear because she was caught
in Holland pinaforei and dress good deal
the worse for wear; indeed, after her discom-
future at the window, she fell back upon her
occupation, and found it a useful retreat
| Willie threw an eye around the room, with
its signs Of order and comfort on every side,
and Nancy in the midst looking like the
genius of housewifery. Did any thought of
Vanity cross his mind, looping the wild
roses around her lovely head, and laughing
out of her reckless, beautiful eyesa Perhaps
SO; but the contrast only confirmed his pres
sent resolution; for it is weak, changing
world; what we glory in one day we despise
the next-the only thing we are constant to,
you observe, being our own dear selves. ~.
Nancy would not have been woman, nor
Willie the man he was, IL she had not read a
proposal in his manner. The young fellow
was distracted; spoke without hearing the
sound of his own voice; said ''yesn for ''no,"
and made other lapses such as are common
symptoms in love and madness! ALI winch
little signs the watchful seamstress took in
with eyes as sharp as her needles point. She
looked unconscious, however, and stitched
on, listening and talking quite in her usual
manner At last: g.,,s,,l tt,.,,,,s, "a fta AL
Nancy" said Willie, in grave voice. SO
that the word sounded like minute gun.
/ II am listening" replied Nancy calmly,
but her heart began to beat. 1Asf
''Wo,rld you-would you marry me If I
asked yousn Guf 4 ui-r,.9adf a'. q .lt 'r
/ "You had better ask me and see," replied
Nancy, laughing with sprightly air. B..
4 How often have / told you she was a
clever girl? You would have called such a
speech rather light; but she knew all about
| it. 4, The fact was, she saw how nervous
Willie grew, and thought it well to let him
know in this sidelong way that there was no
need for him to feel as if he were going to be
walked into Nebuchadnezzar's fiery furnace
She acted discreetly, and Willie took courage
"WiH you marry me, thenY" he asked,
obedient to her direction. 5iiaa1 y
~ will, )" replied Nancy; II ike YOU"
/ She put her needle in again, and waited
for him to speak. II any endearments were
to follow, he was the person to begin, she
had done enough already. Somehow Willie
felt little dashed by her cool ways, and
hardly thought her an object for caresses,
though she was a fine young woman, you
observe. So he pursued the business vein Z
eve shall be able to live comfortably,
think" .,..g .,s sj....,,i.,, t.,t H.. 4.
\. II am sure we SHALL" said Nancy. "If
had any doubt about that, should have said
so. I like comfort and mean to have it. /"
She laughed again. a4stg t,sts
"You are quite right, Nancy" said Willie;
''and this is much the wisest way to talk
about marriage TO look at its practical side,
and not 60 into raptures." 5t'ft