New Ulm review. (New Ulm, Brown County, Minn.) 1892-1961, 1892-08-03
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
"lt does seem to me very strange
she added after a bries pause, ''that a
great big man should be SO timid
about saying he loved a girl. Dear
me, it's enough to aggravate q girl in
to taking advantage Of =
And Miss Mary 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 a 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-
noun table 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-
tiently waiting for s 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 dwelS
upon the possible.form of @ 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 q proper amount of
surprise and embarrassment. She
knew she would blush, but she hoped
it would be SO deep blush that + ohm
could not fail to see it.
She started suddenly and her face
flushed with q feeling that there was
tinge Of immodesty and hypocrisy i'm
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 he sIIon
thoughts annoyed her, and failing to
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
her OF Johns arrival. As he entered
it could be seen that though his youth
full face was sufused with bushes there
was an tlnmistaka BILE air of manliness
about him. When his brown eyes
looked into Mary's she felt so strong
and confident that her half.urtered
thoughts during the afternoon of tax
ing advantage OF the season to render
a little assist ance came to her, and
moment later she was oppressed with
the Thoughtful he had asked her then
she really would not have blushed.
Then she tried to drive away the
thought with a mighty effort as
Ter old feeling of inmodesty and hy-
procrisy 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 the direction OF the ciureh.
They discussed the weather and every
thing in connection with the singing
school until they reached the church
and then they both joined heartily ia
the exercises. Mary sang exceedingly
we'll John was equally successful I'm
tll:thev sang the strain:
1--WE share our mutual woes
Our mutual burd ems BEAR
Then it suddenly dawned upon him
how easy it would he to say, Mary.
let us share our mutual woes aud
he: couldn't dismiss4it from his mind
all Intervening. Every now and then,
to his great embarrassment, he got
out of,tune. To make matters worse
the professor noticed it each time,
and, ina kindly tone, offered sug-
eestlon which increased Johns con-
fusion. There was no one in the class
siauucr tiian Jonn wlleil $3.50 came
and he and Mary stepped out into
the moonlight to go home. They
picked theia, way along the sidewalk
slowly. cautiously, and in silence.
john did not speak for two reasons
He was oppressed with the thought i
/. ssasats lie had been particularly stupid
Earring the Whole evening, and he was
repeating the sentence, Mary, LEI us
Share our mutual woes, :, SO that
when they stood ianeatilsthe light ia
the parlor he could put his arm
around her and say fl without blum
derlng. Mary vas silent with expeeta-
tion.