Daily Republican. [volume] ([Wilmington, Del.]) 1874-1890, 1886-06-03
A LATE PROPOSAL,
BY CLYDE RAYMOND.

had bleached to snowy whitenes
looked like sort OF terrestrial milk,
way" suspended over the emeral,
grass in a certain cheery-looking vii
lage yard.
Minnie Acton's own small, browl
hands had washed and hung then
there early in the day, and now sh,
had just come out to take them dowI
again.
Very charming looked Minnie as sh,
stood there in her neatly fitting calico
dress which showed every curve of {
perfect little figure to perfection
Snowy little frills of lace set off the
round white throat and wrists, and q
dainty ruffled apron with cunning
pockets formed most bewitching item
of her toilet.
She knew she was looking nicely,
and therefore felt quite at ease wher
Archie Moore suddenly rounded the
corner OF the house and stood beside
her under the white winged shadow o.
the clothes line.
why, good evening, Archie!" ex-
claimed Minnie. cheerfully, her pretty
arms extended high above her head il
the act of taking down something thai
seemed very hard to reach.
GOOD evening, Minnie" responded
the young man in the same tone.
They told me should find you oul
here. Those things seem a good way
up"-eyeing the clothes-line critically
wouldn't you like some assist
ancet"
Minnie laughed pleasantly, showing
two rows of glistcning pearly teeth
that a queen might have envied.
Eyes, indeed, you may help me il
you like" she answered promptly
"You are taller than |, so I'll LET you
make yourself useful once more before
you leave us. And that reminds me, )
she added, dropping her voice to a re-
gretiul key, while her blue eyes sud
denly SHE'D away from his, "you are
going very soon, are you not?'
"Yes, Tomorrow" he replied, in
dustriously taking down the snowy
things and piling them up into Min
MES outstretched arms. "This is the
last you will see of me, SO you mus
not treat me as disrespectful this even
ing as you're in the habit of doing
Miss Minnie" and, despite the little
attempt at jesting, there was a huski.
ness in his voice which did not escape
his listeners notice.
II won't, Archie" she replied
quickly and earnestly. an be just
as good to you this once as ever
can"
For one instant their eyes met, and
If ever the language of love was spoken
in single glance, it was then. 1t was
the very moment to declare his love,
and for just that purpose had Archie
paid this visit.
Yes, he had come fully determined
to ask Minnie the all-important ques-
ton; yet here was the golden opportu-
nifty and he dare not seize it.
Never had Minnie looked more
temptingly sweet and gracious, with
the shy, soft lovelight standing in her
usually too roguish blue eyes, and the
slanting sunset rays lighting up her
auburn hair.
eli he should go away without
speaking it will break my heart" she
was saying to herself. "But he won't;
oh, surely he will not, for l know he
loves mem
But never word of his love did
Archie speak, though he could have
bitten off his tongue for refusing to
obey the wishes of his heart.
II will ask her, though, before the
evening is over" was his mental vow.
Yet, when the ''old folks" had con-
siderately retired early to rest, and
Archie and Minnie sat alone together
in the little porch after the stars came
out, they talked of every topic under
the sun save the one that was upper
most in both their hearts.
And when at last he said "good bye"
at the gate, holding her hand linSer-
ingly in his, and looking wistfuly
down upon that sweet, bright little
face for tire last time, words of passion
ate love came crowding thickly to his
lips, but 10 save his life he could not
give utteranee to single one.
So he went away with the words
unspoken which might have made
them both SO happy, and bitterly did
he curse his own folly the moment he
was out of her sight.
II don't believe she would have
said no." he muttered remorsefully,
his brown eyes glowing as he recalled
the sweet, sorrOwful little face that
had so lately been lifted pleadingly to
his. "No girl could do more than
she had done to encourage a fellow,
and | don't think she's the kind to do
such things merely for the fun of
breaking hearts. There's no telling,
however, what these sweet girls are
capable of doing in that line. Suppose,
now, l had said just what went there
to say, and had been refused-ughr'I
Ay, there was the rub. Archie was
not only too modest as lover, but too
sensitive; and the mere possibility of
being Tilted and laughed at by the girl
he loved was enough to seal his lips.
So he started out in the world,
where he meant to carve out fortune
for himself, with the full expectation
of remaining q bachelor to the end of
his days, though he knew that he
would never forget sweet Minnie
until the grass was green above his
grave.
But Archie, being handsome and at |
and, withal, not bit afraid !
Of the girls until it came to the SUI
preme test of asking one of them to |
take him "for better or worse" was
not allowed to pass through life un-
sought or unwon.
All girls were not as shy and maid
emily as his lost Minnie, and, ere many
months, one OF those experienced
Young ladies who know just how to