Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1893-10-13
A NOVEL PROPOSAL.


on his knee, but his eye wandered through
the open door to the outer office, whore he
could see the graceful figure of his stenog-
rapher Bertha Wilson, as she bent over her
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
whirlgig of fortune compelled to work for
a living. If | only knew, now, how she
would take it-but would rather not ven
ture than meet a rebuff-and then the up
shot of that would be that | would lose my
stenographer as well, and if | cannot have
her in one capacity, l surely do not want
to be deprived of her in the other.
Dear me, 40 seems dreadfully old and
% childishly Young, when | 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
it, 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. Ha! have
It'll The very idea-and she will not sus-
pect the ruse | will put it to the test this
very minute
John Raeburn was a good scholar an eX-
cellent lawyer and 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,
but the very Intensity of feeling brought
along with it a discouraging and aggrav
ing sense of every real or fancied delicie
or impediment that might interpose T.
rer between himself and the young lady
whom he had at first esteemed, then ad-
mired and finally loved.
Nevertheless the suggestion alluded to
came just at a favorable moment, and with
out waiting for his habitual diffidence to
rise up and render it unavailing he deter
mined to seize the golden opportunity at
once.
He touched bell on his desk
Bertha waited to check off one last word
and adjust her typewriter for the next line,
and then, notebook in hand appeared at
the door.
Come in, please, Miss Wilson," said her
employer, drawing forward a chair perhaps
a shade closer than usual This is a per
sonal letter, SO will supply the address in
my own hand"
Personal letters being no special novelty,
Miss Wilson simply inclined her head af-
Tentatively and held her pen in readiness
MY dear Miss -" began Mr.. Rae
burn, with IA SIDE glance at his pretty
amanuenSi>, who looked all the prettier
for the littls bit of color that came into her
plump checks You will excuse me, know,
for communicating with you by this means
being well aware rs you are, that my hand
writing is very difficult to deeper, and you
will appreciate the fact that | wish there
to be no mistake in your Interpretation of
what | am about to write. Yourname and
address of course | shall add myself, so
that to all inuents and purposes this letter
while having the added merit of being
legible-is as confidential as if it were all
III reality penucd as well us dictated by me
II have enjoyed your acquaintance now
for a number Of months '-Miss Wilson 5
cheeks grew Il little more vivid just here
'Short as that time has apparently been, it
has been sufficient to reveal to me the fact
that you have awakened "a sentiment much
deeper and more lasting than can he com
prised within or implied by the word
friendship. The disparity in our years
had made me dit1ident of expressing these
sentiments to you, but | have finally re-
solved to make my plea, with the hope that
it will not prove an insuperable obstacle to
my deep, sincere and devoted affection for
you, and with the further hope-whch it
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? If
fate is adverse, | must bear it like man;
if you can grant my suit will not wish to
lose moment in hearing your lips confirm
the precious news. Please let me have a
reply by the first post in the morning, and
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 at the pretty face now flushed
and Enthusiastically agtated that bent over
the notebook. You are young lady of
taste, Miss Wilson, and should like your
opinion. How do you think that sounds?
Not very fowery, eh?"
mo, sir, but what is better, straightfor-
ward and manly" replied Bertha, with
: just the faintest little tremble in her voice,
which she skillfully concealed-or fancied
she did-by convenient cough.
''Thank you. If the lady for whom it IS
intended will only regard it as apprecia-
lively, | shall have little to fear" replied
Mr.. Raeburn, with very beaming expires
sion. Now if you will kindly copy the
letter for me that will close the work for
today. And you need not come down to-
morrow, for if the answer is favorable /
shall spend the day with my friend, and
the office will be closed So you can have
holiday and enjoy yourself"
"Thank YOU sirl''-another unmistak-
able culver of the pretty chin this time.
And Miss Wilson got out of the room as
quickly as possible and returned to her type
writer,
Bertha prided herself upon being both p
rapid and accurate operator. But (
would not for worlds have had it known
how many sheets We're tern up and con
signed to the waste paper basket during
The copying of that letter, or how one beau
tifully finished copy was irredeemably
ruined by great tear blot that fell on it as
she was reading it over to looL fol possible
mistakes.
1t was done at last, however, and she car.
ried it in to Mr., Raeburn, who was, hap
nilV tOO HppIlV absarha6 in his boob r.