, 1891-06-04

s"You got tr-- good eyes, Martha
Ann, ter see all them things. P'raps 1
amt no Imagination, but I can't see
nothing but some Goals a~-breathing
sorter like asif they hated ter give in"
Martha Ann continued her rapt at
tention Of the drama in the fire. and
James began to get to home on the sofa.
By and by she lifted her hand and
brushed back her hair, and then let it
descend in a careless way tin 1t fell on
that Of her companion.
What great, strong hand you have"
she said slowly. do you know the
marks in the hand? Let me show you.
See this longest one curving around the
thumb. That's for long life. You will
live to be very old. And see this little
one here, next it. That's for riches, and
this one here-wonder what it's for? See
mine, jes' the same mark. Obi 1 know
now; l remember"
What is it ferg'
Its fer love"
The Websterian catalogue was too
limited for the bashful young farmer to
find anything to say to this, and so they
sat in silence, her hand still resting al
most c~aressingly on his. Out in the sit
ting room could be heard the measured,
solemn textbook Of the great oaken
clock, and outside the wind breathing
through the trees added a certain weird
ness to the Sabbath repose. Every now
n then the sound of the old dog in the
woodshed turning over restlessly could
be heard, and all the while the mans
heart was demanding that he should ex-
press himself, a commission the tongue
refused to obey.
Finally Martha Ann, without raising
her head, said, dreamily:
ID you know, James, I've often won
dered why you didn't ever git married.
You see, | have always looked upon my
self as a sister to you, wishin' always fer
your welfare and happiness, and l have
asked myself agin and agin, Now why
don't he find some good, true girl and
marry herr You'd make some woman a
good husband, James; know you would,
you're so good and stidy aud home lovin',
and sech men amt plentiful. 1t amt
fer you to be spending your Sunday
evenings with me, who is only your true
friend, fer you'd ought to be findin' a
sweetheart an gettin' married and set
tied in life"
"oh, Martha Ami" he found courage
to say.
She continued as if not noticing the
interruption.
"a man as has reached your age ought
ter be lookin' round him, and there's
a-plenty of girls would have you, too,
a-plenty of them. Now, there's Mary
Gibson-she's a good girl as ever lived,
a splendid housekeeper, and religious.
Or Sally Stevens, or Esther Lapum, my
of them would jump at the chance to
become Mrs. Simpkins."
James groaned in spirit. The perspira-
ton trickled down his forehead and set
tied in a drop on the tip of his nose, as
if undecided whether or not it were best
to fall.
"Oh, Martha Annl" he said again
p~laintively, chow could yer think of sech
a thingY'
She removed her hand from his and
turned her face, now flushed warm by
the fire, until her eyes met his and asked,
as if with the greatest wonder:
"Why not?'
cts you l want, Martha Ann"-his
tongue was getting into line-it's you as
have been a-planning this year or more
to ask, but somehow you was allers so
sweet lookin' and so quiet that l some
how couldn't do it," Surely the unruly
vocal powers were getting very obedient.
GIVE loved yer from a little girl-Tve
I've
The machinery stopped suddenly here,
and it was as much as half a minute be-
fore he continued.
You see, l don't know how to tell it,
but love you. love you with all my
heart, and alters have, and I've wished
and wished | could tell you, but l
couldn't, bein' SO stupid; but I've told
you now, and I'm glad, fer l amt no
room in my heart for no one else"
He was quite choked up with emotion
now, yet in his eyes were a new bold
ness, a new inspiration, and he leaned
eagerly forward for her answer.
1t was now her urn to be confused.
The willy Martha Ann forgot her cunning
of speech, forgot her well laid plan, and
the first she knew the tears were rolling
down her cheeks. She had no words to
say.
She allowed her head to sink slowly
toward his breast, and hiding her face
there with his strong arms about her,
she gave herself up to the soft passion of
tears.
And then he raised her tenderly and
kissed her over and over again-how
he never knew and will never be able to
explain to himself, for he had no need to
be told she loved him and was his for
all time.
And so they sat silently, while the fire
fiickered and grew passionate in turn,
and the old clock licked with a gladder
tone, and even the breathing of the god
of night in the lilacs became subdued.
And so, heart beating against heart, and
hand clasping hand, they sat, too full of
the spirit of love to say aught.
And this is how they became engaged.
Yet still the people of the Big Creek
section are wondering, "Did Martha
Ann really proposeY'-Fred Warner
SHIRLEY in Boston Globe.
Numbering Houses.