Nevada County picayune., 1888-06-27
How John Proposed.

N"O" Il' IN Just reauN to say 1t. and l cant see why he ooesn t say it. And pretty Mary branwood pnckered up her lips into the sweetest of all bouts and piled her needle more rapidly than ever. Ut does seem to me very strange 7" she added after a brief pause. that s great big man should be SO tinid about saying he loved a girl. Dear me it's enough to aggravate girl into taking advantage of
 And Miss Mary bushcd ro,ilv and finished the sentence with an hvster- ical laugh.
 Mary Branwood was just at this moment thinking of John Walker. who, for the past two years, been her escort upon every possible occasion. For long time each had looked on each other with expressive eyes, and though the gossips of that part of Harlem looked upon the ending of their courtship as a settled matter, John had not asked the ill important ] question, Mary's womanly intuition prompted the thought that he had been trying to voice the love he so often displayed. but his natural bash fitness seemed an insurmountable barrier.
 So Miss Mary sat that February afternoon in her chair briskly rock ing to and fro. The afternoon was nearly gone and the girl was impa- ticntly waiting for eight o'clock, when the bashful John would arrive to take her To the class in vocal music at the church. Her heart beat fast as the moments sped. Her rosy cheeks flushed more deeply as her mind dwclt upon the possible form of the question that she felt must soon be asked. She knew there would be nothing romantic about John ask ing. for she was SnrC he would dc so in laundering way. The thing that troubled her most was that after he did muster up sufficient courage, her long knowledge of his purpose would prevent her showing proper amount of surprise and embarrassment She knew she would blush. but she hoped il would be so deep blush. that John could not fail to see it.
 She started suddenly. and her face flushed with feeling that there .waS'a tinge of immodesty and hypo- criSy in her train of thoughts, She felt guilty of being immodest in thinking of proposing herself and of hypocrisy in hoping she would blush a> though she had not expected the question. Her thoughts annoyed her. and failing to drive them away as she sat sewing, she laid down her work and busicd herself clearing up the room.
 When ihc hour hand of the clock reached eight the light ring of the bell told her of Johns arrival. As he entered it could he seen that, though his useful face was suffused with hlushes there was an unmistak able air of manliness about him.
 When his brown eyes looked into Mary's she felt SO strong and confi- dent that her half-uttcred thoughts during the afternoon of taking ad- vantage of the season to render lit tie assistance came to her. and mo- ment later she was oppressed wit h the thought that if he had asked her then she really would not have blushcd Then she tried to drive away the thought with a mighty ef- fort as her old feeling of immodesty and hypocrisy came to her, and the crimson flush covered her face as she saw that John was trying to say something.
 A few minutes later the two were carefully walking along the icy side walk in direction of the church house They discussed the weather and every thing in connection with the singing school until they reached the church. and they both joined heartily in the exercises. Mary sang exceedingly well, John was equally successful until they sang the strain.
 We share our mutual woes
 Our mutual burdens bear.
 Then it suddenly dawned upon