Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-10-26

l
''Not quite vet. 1 thought perhaps Won
| could recommend one."
| Perhaps I could. What would her duties
| be 2"
| With a sudden inspiration said:
1.-THE first would be to marry me-"
! why, lisa wife you want" and she posi-
lively beamed.
know blushed as answered. as bashfuily
| as a maiden Of seventeen:
! Yes. believe it is q wife want Do Won
know OF any one who would take me?"
| '.Oh. Mr.. Spence, this is a far more serious
| undertaking than recommending a companion"
"You see my dear young lady. my presen.
illness has taught me how very solitary man
can be. am in good position to marry, but
| the fact Is. except yourself and my house
keeper. l don't know any one l could marry.
l thought: perhaps, you would help me if you
could Will you?"
| If You could have seen her blush!
Il will do the best 1 can for you." she said.
Then. after pause, Il think do know one who
would be willing. At least, think she would
consider the matter"
| The dear girl! could see it all! 1t vas her
! self, OF course. How charmngi''
| What Is she-your-your friend, ike?'
asked
eyes and fresh COLOR
| An admirable description of herself
That sounds we'll, =" said l. in NV most mat
ter-of-fact tones. but how could meet her?
| You see am not able to go out vet"
That is a difficulty, certainly, bat perhaps
1t could be got over-in fact she has seen you
| already"
| knew l was right.
"Ah. she has seen me already, Well. that's
good deal gained cried l. But do you hap
pen to know If she is favorably disposed to-
| ward me?'
Yes, think,I may say she u.s."
Then do you think / might dispense with
! gong to see her just at PRESENT.
Il think So"
What would you advise me to do next?"
| 'lou might write to her.
Little witch! Write to her. indeed,
There s Just one objection that see to that
plan, SAID L. IN my gravest tone; Il know
| neither her name nor her address,"
oh! forgot that" she replied.
May ask il she is related to you?'
| Yes she is MY"
] 1 broke in stupidity now admit. .'Then
] name"
Her name is the same as my own, Mary Dun
can: and she blushed again. ''She lives with
How very plain it all was.
Il think, Mr.. Spence" she continued, 'syou
had better write to her, and will take the
| letter."
'Will it not surprise her to receive letter
| from an entire stranger containing an offer of
marriage?'
was humoring her. you see.
wen. Ill break the matter tonight and I'll
send round for your letter in the morning; that
Will make everything right
Are you sure. Miss Duncan that-that-
you-your friend does not care for any one else
! already?"
II am quite sure of that" she replied.
Fancy man of my, age being so fortunate,
~ don't think could write live letter. I
| wish you would tell me what to say
Mr.. Spence, your heart will tell YOU what
to say. have no experience in letters of that
KIND Begin to write and have no doubt but
the words will come I'll send for it early to-
| morrow"
Then she went away, leaving me overcome
with astonishment at the diplomacy of woman
Here was young innocent girl conducting her
| own first love affair with Machiavelan astute-
| ness. She had positively entrapped me into
| written declaration! Who would have given
| the pretty creature credit for 80 much in
| genuitv?
The letter was the next difficulty
After consideration, resolved to ask Mrs.
McGregor to get me copy Of the complete
letter writer. Her face when made the re-
guest was like thunder cloud in deep fog.
In course OF time my want was supplied and
! turned at once to two letters relating to love
and marriage.
The following was given as a suitable form
| in which to make proposal of marriage:
~ a9nored Miss; you will condescend to do
these few lines You will that 1t feet lay
and now seek to make it known 70 YOU 'U'''e' you
should your answer be favorable Kindly
line to the above address will obise your devoted
That somehow did not take my fancy; it NAV
be was too fastidious. One thing seemed
clear, must write the letter myself
Up to this time had always had great con-
tempt for literary men. ! looked upon them as
gentlemen who lived at hons at ease and who
! earned fabulous income by few strokes Of
| the pen. Since l wrote that letter have
changed these opinions. l know what they
endure when engaged in literary work. After
| much toll and tribulation produced the fol-
lowing:
My Dear Miss Duncan hear from mutual friend
this time she has spoken Of me to you; that far
of age but frequently passed for much less
that my circumstances and general health alike
Our mutual friend has spoken of you in high terms,
what our f Tiena has ssd
swer viii oblige. yours faithfully.
very happy indeed.
| You can imagine my state Of mind till the
following morning, when Mrs. McGregor came
in with a small pink scented note.
| Here's begging letter." she said.
| Such is woman and such is her terrible
jealousy. With a reverend hand opened the
| sacred letter and read:
hand OF our mutual friend. You are not unknown to
me; nay, may say Know you well. You candid
about your age but will doubtless Be pleased to hear
| that fifty is no drawback in my eyes,
Our mutual friend has given me such rood account
| OF you and your circumstances that have the
objection but will become your wife with all
It seems the sooner you are rescued from that
harpy Mrs. Mc6regor, whom also know BY sight the
better. Yours sffectionately;
p 81 have loved you secretly for months III 70
to see you to arrange matters as soon you like
Such was the answer to my letter. In one
| way satisfactory enough; and yet, somehow, it,
| or rather the tone Of it, did not quite please
| me. For instance, the word "harpy" gave me
| q slight shock. could not have imagined such
| q word falling from such lips. But when does
man know q woman? l Think would have likeda
| little shyness, not quite such eagerness as was
| displayed in the P.S., any way. Yet what a
grumbler was. Not content that had got
| what wanted
OF course, I lad to answer the letter. I did
| 80 and was just wondering how to get it con-
| veyed to its destination, when a messenger
called from Miss Duncan. Although felt this
| was little like sharp practice. gave the
letter, in which stated my inability to call ON
her and my hope that she would call ON me.
By return Of post an answer came, saying she
| would call the following day at o'clock.
On the morning of the eventful day, the day
| that was to realize my brightest hopes and yet
the most awful Of my life, said to Mrs Nc
Gregor, expect lady to call on me this after