Democratic Northwest and Henry County news. [volume] (Napoleon, O. [Ohio]) 1894-1905, 1894-09-20

see If ! was alone, set his hat on the
floor and then accepted my invitation
with kind of sigh.
Thank you, he said, Il only want
TO see you for a moment"
offered him pipe, and he declined
1t. / told him my cigars were out.
1t doesn't make any difference, E" he
said. I'D rather not smoke. came
here to ask you some things about the
Burkes."
The Lord only knows how looked at
him as he hesitaied tor a moment.
II have seen enough of them," he
went on, Ito believe that they are pc.
fectly respectable people-otherwise
would not have taken lodging there.
You and are old friends, and you will
take away even the slight doubt there
is in my mind. Are they perfectly re-
spectable?"
Somehow or other / managed to nod
my head, but his presumption was par
alyzing me.
THANK you again." he proceeded.
"The reason that asked you is that !
am going to marry Edith"
1t took me a couple of minutes to
master my emotions, but am proud to
say did it. My reply was cool-al-
most chilly.
"Indeed!" / said. Has she accept
ed your"
"No, because haven't proposed yet.
I have given the matter a good deal of
thought, but before / took so serious a
step in my life wanted some such wise
old head as yours to advise me. Now
am happy, and we'll get married at
once"
He shook hands with me, and the old
idiot didn't notice that I failed to re-
spond. At the door managed to ask
him this question:
What makes you believe she'll have
your"
He seemed astonished.
Have me!' he repeated. why,
she's been after me ever since she knew
me. I'll settle it tomorrow evening""
As he turned the stairs noticed that
he had on a suit of new clothes, white
vest and red necktie. He said some
thing about feeling like schoolboy,
and l rushed back to my room more af-
fronted than l had ever been before in
my life. can always think best when
am in bed, and SO ! undressed and got
under covers very quickly. When had
thought diligently for an hour, turned
over and said this to myself:
"The old fat beast The idea of her
marrying himl I'll propose myself to
her tomorrow morning. She has been
expecting it, know, for long time. F."
didn't sleep very we'll and arose a
little after o'clock It took me an
hour to dress myself, and having no ap-
petite for breakfast I only drank cup
of strong coffee. then walked nearly
a mile before l had decided what to
say and was barely satisfied with the
result. Edith was the sort of a girl to
be particular about such things, and !
wanted to please her fancy.
Mrs. Burke came to the door and was
| just as much surprised to see me as
thought she would be.
1t was very good of you to come SO
soon, she said, land / didn' think you
knew it yet"
"Knew what?" said 1.
She pulled me inside the hall and
looked at me, half smiling and hall
fearful.
Didn't you come to-er-congratu.
late anybody?"
Then sat down on the hatrack and
shook my head. l felt that it was all
over, and that old Browne had won, and
never in my life did l suffer so much
misery in so small space of time.
Then, said Mrs. Burke, II am glad
to be able to inform you myself. Edith
and Bob are engaged to be married."
arose and sat down again. thought
of many things, but only one sentence
struggled through my lips.
"Does-does old Browne know about
| it2" asked.
"Oh, yes, but it won't interest him.
Before he went down town this morn.
ing he told me that he would have tc
give up his room on account of the sur
shining in it too brightly in the morn.
ing. I'm going to turn the whole house
now over to Edith. "-R. B. Cramer in
Philadelphia Times.