Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1890-06-19
JOHN WALKERS PROPOSAL,

to say it, and I can't see why ne
doesn't say it," And pretty Mary
Branwook puckered up her lips into
the sweetest OF all pouts, and piled
her needle more rapidly than ever
at does seem to me very strange"
she added after brie! pause, "that a
great big man should be 80 timid
about saying he loved girl. Dear
me, it's enough to aggravste q girl in
to taking advantage Of"
And Miss Mary blushed rosily and
finished the sentence with q hysterical
laugh.
Mary Branwood was just at this
moment thinking OF John Walker
who for the past two years had been
her escort upon every possible occa-
sion. For q long time each had look
ed upon the other with expressive
eyes, and, though the eossips OF that
part OF Harlem looked upon the end
ing of their courtship as q settled
matter. John had not asked the all
important question. Mary's woman.
ly intuition prompted the thought
that he had been trying to voice the
love he SO often displayed, but his
natural bashtulness seemed an insur-
Mountable barrier.
So Miss Mary sat that February
afternoon in her chair, briskly rock
ing to and fro. The afternoon was
Aearly gone and the girl was impa.
tiently waiting for 8 O'Clock. when the
bashful John would arrive to take her
TO the class in vocal music at the
church. Her heart beat faster as the
moments sped. Her rosy cheeks
flushed more deeply as her mind dwelt
upon the possible form OF a question
that she felt must soon be asked. She
knew there would be nothing roman
tic about Johns asking her, for she
was sure he would do 80 in blum
,dering way. The thing that troubled
her most was that after he really did
muster up sufficient courage, her long
knowledge OF his purpose would pre-.
vent her showing proper amount OF
surprise and embarrassment. She
knew she would blush. but she hoped
1t 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 inlmodesty and hypocrisy in
her train OF thoughts. She felt guilty
OF being immodest in thinking of pro-
posing herself and ofhypocrisy in hop
ing she would blush as though she had
not expected the question. Hel
thoughts annoyed her, and failing tc
drive them away as she sat sewing
she laid down her work and busted
herself cleaning up the room.
When both hands OF the clock reach
ed 8 the light ring of the door bell TOLD
i,er of Johns arrival. As he entered
it could BE- seen that though his youth
full face was suffused with bushes Their
was an unmistakable air of manlines'
about him. When his brown eye
looked into Mary's she felt so stron'
and confident that her halfuttere(
thoughts during the afternoon of tax
ing advantage Of the season to rende
q little assistance came to her, and .
moment later she was oppressed will
the thought il he had asked her thel
che really would not have blushed
Then she tried to drive away tn
thought with a mighty effort a
Ter old feeling Of immodesty and by
Y.rocrisy came to her, and the crimson
flush covered her face as she saw tina
John was trying to say something.
A few minutes later the two wer
carefully walking along the icy side
walk IN the direction OF the church
They discussed the weather and every
thing in connection with the singin
echoo! until they reached the churcl
&nd then they both joined heartily il
the exercises. Mary sang exceedingl,
we'll. John was equally successful un
til they sang the strain:
I'VE share our mutual woes.
Our mutual burd ans bear"
Then 1t suddenly dawned upon hin
how easy it would be to say. "Mary
let us share our mutual woes" am
he couldn't dismiss it from his min
all the evening. Every now and then
to his great Embarrassment, he 70
out of tune. To make matters wors
the professor noticed it each time
and, in kindly tone, offered q SUI
,gestion which increased Johns cor
fusion. There was no one in the elias
gia,.uer than Jonn when $3.50 cam
and he and Mary stepped out int
the moonlight to 60 home. The
picked their way along the 6idewal
slowly. cautiously. and in silenc'
john did not speak for two -easonl
He was oppressed with the though
that be had been particularly stupi
during the whole evening. and be wa
repeating the sentence. "Mary. let U
share our mutual woes" 80 ths
when they stood beneath the hight
the pa:lor he could put his arr
around her and say it without blur
derine. Mary was silent with expect.
Zion.