Idaho news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1887-1891, 1890-07-19
JOHN WALKERS PROPOSAL

"Dear me, know he is just ready
to say it, and can't see why he
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 briei pause, "that
great big man should be so timid
about saying he loved girl. Dear
me, it's enough to aggravate girl in
to taking advantage Of"
And Miss Nary blushed rosily and
finished the sentence with hysterical
laugh.
Mary Branwood was just at this
moment thinking OF John Walker
whofor the past two years had been
her escort upon every possible occa-
sion. For long time each had look
ed upon the other with expressive
eyes, and, though the gossips OF that
part Of Harlem looked upon the end
ing OF their courtship as a 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 bashfulness seemed an insur-
mountable barrier.
So Miss Mary sat that February
afternoon i'll her chair, briskly rock
ing to and fro. The afternoon was
nearly gone and the girl was impa-
tiently waiting for o'clock, when the
bashful John would arrive to take her
TO the class in vocal mrsic 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 ne would do so 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 O.
surprise and embarrassment. She
knew she would blush, but she hoped
it would be so deep blush that Johr
could not fail to see it.
She started suddenly and her fac
flushed with feeling that there was I
finge OF immodesty and hypocrisy il
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 haC
not expected the question. He
thoughts annoyed her, and failing Il
drive them away as she sat sewing
she laid down her work and busieC
herself cleaning up the room.
When both hands of the clock reach
ed the light ring OF the door bell toll
her OF Johns arrival. AS he enteret
1t could be seen that though his youth
full face was suffused with bushes ther
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
a little assistance came to her, and
moment later she was oppressed wit
the thought if he had asked her the
she really would not have blusheC
Then she tried to drive away til
thought with a mighty effort a
her old feeling of immodesty and by
frocrisy came to her, and the crlmso
flush covered her face a.s she saw tina
John was trying to say something.
A few minutes later the two wei
carefully walking along the icy sid
walk IN the direction OF the church
They discussed the weather and every
thing in connection with the singir
school until they reached the churc
and then they both joined heartily
the exercises. Mary sang exceeding
well. John was equally successful Vi
til they sang the strain:
I'VE share our mutual woes
Our mutual burd ans bear"
Then it suddenly dawned upon hi
how easy it would be to say, "Msr
let us share our mutual woes" ar
he couldn't dismiss it from his mir
all the evening. Every now end the
TO his great embarrassment, he g
out of tune. To make matters wor
the professor noticed it each tim
and, in a kindly tone, offered q gu
gestion which increased Johns co
fusion. There was no one ia the ella
giauuer than Jonn Wnen J:3U car
and he and Mary stepped out in
the moonlight to 90 home. TIL
picked their way along the Sidewa
slowly, cautiously, and IN mlen,
.Jchn did not speak for two :sasor
He WAS oppressed with the thong
that he had been particularly stup
during the whole evening, and he W
repeating the sentence, "Mary, let
share our mutual woes" so th
when they stood beneath the light
the pa:lor he could put his al
around her and say it without BIT
dering. Mary was silent with expect