Birmingham age-herald., 1894-12-27
STORY OF 4 KISS.

Elsle, DeilcNo James haFNoOu H. tends to propose to you tonight.
 But, mother, ho is so much older than am." .,of.4s..,e4z
 'Nonscnsr, ss ebiIdl His age at the very outside cannot be moro than six or eight and thirty, esa, "a .s,s.sz
 And nm only IS, and bcsidcs"-
 "Besidcs whats''
 ''Oh, nothingr'
 Do you mean there Is some one you like bcftcrS am too fond of you, darling, to try to force n husband upon you, but l must say that James Ilarwood has al ways shown himself to be a very model gentleman and well endowed with esti mnblc qualities that too many of tho young men of the present Gay unfortu- nately lack. :"
 Yes"
 And his financial position is of inds- putable frmness He has rot only the will but tho means to pro.ido the com forts and even the luxuries of Il home for his wife
 oh, yes, nothcrl"
 Well, child, if your heart does not draw you to him, will not press you, but l think ho is Il mGn any woman might feel proud of. and in my marrying days r.
  days us though they were over, mother? Do you never think of marrying again?"
 lily darling, you forget my age. :"
 Why, dear mother, yun talk us if you 1ero a Mcthusclah You uro not so very old ''
 ''l shall bc f in few months, Elsie.
 The girl laughed brightly. And you lock hardly 5i. You'a-e
 Whatever else she may havo been con templating saying vas. cut eff by the an- nounccment of Mir James Harwood," n gentleman who was a short time following his name and greeted the two laGcs rath- CT nervonsly as he entered He was a tall, well shaped man with good naturcd face, but whose hair WAS getting n little hcanty on the top, indicating that he had passed tho meridian of youth.
 He sat down and for n littlo while tried to iuaintain his share in general conver sation but he seemed uncomfortable and talked in Il somewhat preoccnp.cd manner, us though something were weighing on his mind
 At last Mrs. Singleton, thinking it pol itic to leave tho two together, made some excuse to go out and rose from her seat. She had reached tho door when James Harwood. with an evident effort, leaned forward in his chair and said quickly, "Please don't go, Mrs Singleton She stopped on tho point of leaving the room and came back She designed that he dc sired her consent first and il oroughly ap proved of the raightforward course Looking at Elsie, she said gently:
 "I wish darling, you would answer those cards for mo that are in the draw ing room. feel q little knocked up aftes my drive"
 Without requiring a second bidding tho girl departed lightly on her crrand, lcav ing her mother alone with their visitor.
 Mrs Singleton was sitting on low sofa, and James Harwood left his chair ana went to sit beside her, His nervousness bo coming moro marked us he did so lib looked straight ill front of him us he said;
 Mrs. Singleton, wished rather--to speak to you upon n subject l trust you will bear with mo unoIuent while I'-
 The lady noticed his agitation and was surry for him. She tried to help him ont.
 'I think know to what you are alud ing, l have been expecting this, James, you will let me call you 'Janicsf -for some time. Please go on"
 It is kind of you to say that It makes what have to say much easier" He clasped one of his knees with both hands and for tho first timo looked straight into his companions face. II have recently had thoughts, my dear Mrs. .Singleton-- though I feel much diflidence in telling you--I have lately been contemplating marriage. '
 That is exactly what expected you to say, and think at your age and in your position it is n very proper course to take"
 Then may take If May be so bold as to assumerthat yon arc not averse--in fact, that you conscnt2'
 That is what intended to convey. I said just now that had been little pre- pared for this, and l am very glad that you have given me tho opportunity of say ing-as I truly tbink-that no woman could wish to find better husband. She looked into his face with quiet smile as she concluded.
 For moment Harwood shuffied nerv- ously on his seat; then, moving closer to her, he took her hand. Mrs. Singleton looked surprised, but sho let it remain.
 Then, as everything is so satisfactorily settled, he said awkwardly, would you mind if I-that is-it seems perhaps lit tic strange at first-but may kiss you?"
 Mrs. Singleton was more than ever talk en aback at this unexpected request and a flush came over her face. Then she thought that as prospective son-in-law his request was perhaps not altogether unreasonable, and she turned her face to his, smiling rather consciously us she re- piled:
 "Oh, we'll suppose you may, as am to be your mothcr''
 My motheri' ~
 "Yes; shall be your mother shan't l. if you marry Elsie?'
 "Ma--". r''.se' pi,t want to marry