The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1893-09-16
A NOVEL PROPOSAL.


work, her pretty hands tapping the keys Of
her typewriter with unerring swiftness and
precision.
"A lady, every inch Of her." unused Rae
burn as his gaze dwelt lovingly upon the.
delicate profile. by birth and breeding,
as well as in manner; but, thanks to the
whirligig Of fortune, compelled to work for
a living II l only knew, now, how she
would take it-but would rather not ven.
ture than meet n rebuff-and then the up
shot of that would be that would lose my
stenographer as well, and IL l cannot have
her IN one capacity, / surely do not want
to be deprived Of her in the other.
Dear me, 40 seems dreadfully old, and
% childishly young, when l think of the
Contrast, and yet it is only II years differ
ence, and great many people would con-
slider that no obstacle. And she need have
no foolish scruples about disparity of posi-
ton, for intrinsically her position is as
,good as my own-she only wants to regain
lit, that is all. How wish could discover
some plan of Judging her feeling without
the danger Of driving her away altogether,
in case they were not favorable. Hal Ihave
It'll The very idea-and she will not sus.
peet the ruse. Twill put it to the test this
VERY minute"
II John Raeburn was good scholar, an ex-
lcellent lawyer and a gentleman in every
sense OF the word, but in regard to the fair
sex he was most unaccountably shy.
Not that he was not capable of as sincere,
deep and ardent an attachment as any man,
..ibut the very intensity OF feeling brought
!, along with it discouraging and aggravat-
ing sense of every real or fancied deficiency
or impeachment that might interpose n bar
Irier between himself and the young lady
whom he had at first esteemed, then adj
, mired and finally loved.
Nevertheless the suggestion alluded to
came just at favorable moment and with
ont waiting for his habitual difidence to
rise up and render it unavailing he deter
@ Imined to seize the golden opportunity at
lonce.
He touched bell on his desk.
Bertha waited 30 check off one last word
, and adjust her typewriter for the next line
t and then, notebook in hand, appeared at
the door.
Come in, please, Miss Wilson," said her
!. employer, drawing forward chuir perhaps
ia shade closer than usual. This is per-
sonal letter, so l will supply the address in
. my own hand"
9 Personal letters being no special novelty,
Miss Wilson simply inclined her head af-
.iirmatively and held her pen in readiness
My dear Miss =" began Mr.. Rae
burn, with n side glance at his pretty
: 'amanuensis, who looked all the prettier
for the little bit of color that came into her
plump checks you will excuse me, know,
!. for communicating with you by this means
being well aware, as you are, that my hand
writing is very difficult to deeper, and you
Twill appreciate the fact that wish there
Ito be no mistake in your Interpretation of
what am about to write. Yuurname and
Address of course l shall add myself, so
4 that to all intents and purposes this letter
while having the added merit of being
2 Ilegible-is us confidential as if it were all
+, i'll reality penned as well as dictated by me
81 have enjoyed your acquaintance now
D for a number of months''-Miss Wilson,
cheeks grew little more vivid just here.
short as that time has apparently been, 1t
has been sufficient to reveal to me the fact
/, that you have awakened sentiment much
: deeper and more lasting than can be com.
llprised within or implied by the word
+, friendship The disparity in our years
had made me difiident Of expressing these
! sentiments to you, but i have finally re
solved to make my plea, with the hope that
: II will not prove an insuperable obstacle To
81 my deep sincere and devoted affection fol
, you, aud with the further hope-which il
: remains with you to ratify or extinguish-
that my affection is returned. Will you
give me an answer, dearest friend, and
kindly make my suspense brief one? II
fate is adverse, must bear 1t like man
:, III you can grant my suit, will not wish IL
" lose a moment in hearing your lips confirm
II the precious news. Please let me have {
reply by the first post in the morning, anl
believe ME, under any and all circum
stances, devotedly your friend"
There" said Mr. Raeburn after treat
ing himself to prolonged survey from be
hind his hand Mt the pretty face now FLUSHED
and Enthusiastically agitated that bent owe
the notebook. You are a young lady o
taste, Miss Wilson, aud should like you
opinion. How do you think that sounds
Not very flowery, ehr'
| NO, sir, but what is better, straightfor
ward and manly" replied Bertha, witt
Just the faintest little tremble in her voice
which she skillfully concealed-or fancie,
she did-by q convenient cough.
"Thank You. If the lady for whom 1t i
"A intended will only regard it as apprecia
| lItiyely, ] shall have little to fear" reptile
Mr.. Raehurn, with very beaming EXPIRE
sion. Now il you will kindly copy tn
letter for me that will close the work 70
today. And you need not come down tt
,s shall spend the day with my friend, an
the Office will be closed. So you can hay
a holiday aud enjoy yourself"
THANK you, sirv'-another unmistaI
able quiver of the pretty chin this time.
And Miss Wilson got out of the room a
quickly as possible and returned to her type
writer
Bertha prided herself upon being both
N rapid and accurate operator But sh
"a would not for worlds have had it know
how many sheets were torn up and col
IN signed to the waste paper basket durin
the copying Of that letter, or how one beat
tfully finished copy was irredeemabl
by great tear blot that fell on 1t o
she was reading it over to look for possibl
ld mistakes.
n II was done at last however and sne en-
~ ricd it IN to Mr.. Rasburn, who was, hal
ply, too deeply absorbed in his book I
look up; then bidding him good afteinoo
che donned her hat and jacket and left Il
office.
Holiday tomorrow" she murmured ,
she walked dejectedly home, while Il
tears she could no longer restrain fell thiC
and fast behind her protecting veil. "Th
is only the preliminary to a permanent Sc
aration from that office, for cannot-no
cannot remain there and know tina
What foolish creature | am to suppo
that he would give thought to me- Tt
is the end Of those happy hours that ha
made work so delightful of the XII
friendship that has lightened every burde
frightened every task. But | must n
think Of it any more"-as Il tears flow
faster. at has been foolish, idle fame
and l have been justly punished for allo
ing myself to mistake natural kind
courtesy and friendly interest for that dee
Ter sentiment to which would SO glad
have responded.
1.-THE disparity in years would have be
no impediment to me, and If that La
knows his goodness Of heart half as we'll
! do she may count herself happy a
favored being for having won it. Well
will devote my holiday tomorrow in dol
= some Of my back sewing As to 'enjoyir