Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1894-01-19
A NOVEL PROPOSAL.

A NOVEL PROPOSAL.
John Raeburn, counsellor at law, sat in
his office, a volume of waits Practice
on his knee but his eye wandered through
the open door to the outer Office, where 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.
IA lady, every inch of her." unused Rae
burn as his gaze dwelt lovingly upon the
delicate profile. "By birth and breeding,
as we'll as in manner; but, thanks to the
whirligig 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 I 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
90 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 pos:
ton, for intrinsically her position is es
good as my own-she only wants to regain
it, that is all. How wish I 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! The very idea-and she will not sus-
pect the r,ise will put it to the test this
very minute"
John Raeburn was 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,
but the very intensity of feeling brought
along with 1t discouraging and aggravat-
ing sense Of every real or fancied deficiency
or impeachment that might interpose bar
rier 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 a favorable moment, and with
out waiting for his habitual difiidence to
rise up and render it unavai.ipg he deter
mined to seize the golden ~ portunity 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 do?r.
Come in, please, Miss Wilson," said her
employer, drawing forward u chair perhaps
shade closer than usual. This is 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.
frmatively and held her pen in readiness.
my dear Miss -" began Mr.. Rae
burn, with side glance at his pretty
amanuensis, who looked all the prettier
for the little bit of color that came into her
plump cheeks. 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
will appreciate the fact that l wish there
to be no mistake in your Interpretation of
what am about to write Your name and
address of course shall add myself, SO
that to all intents and purposes this letter
while having the added merit of being
legible-is US confidential as II it were all
in reality penned as we'll as dictated by me.
u have enjoyed your acquaintance now
for q number of months"-Miss Wilson s
cheeks grew 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 sentiment much
deeper and more lasting than can be com.
prised within or implied by the word
friendship The disparity in our years
had made me difident 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-which 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 ones II
fate is adverse, must bear it like man;
il you can granDmy suit, / will not wish ia
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, devotediy 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 agitated that bent over
the notebook. you are a young lady Of
taste, Miss Wilson, and should like your
opinion. How do you think that sounds'
Not very flowery, ehr'
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. II the lady for whom it ia
intended will only regard it as apprecia-
lively, l shall have little to fear" replied
Mr.. Raeburn, with very beaming expires
sion Nov if you will kindly copy the
letter for me that '.'ill close the work for
today. And you need not come down to-
morrow, for il the answer Ia favorable ]
shall spend the day with my friend, and
the office will be closed So you can have
a holiday and enjoy yourself"
.'Thank you, sirv'-another unmistak.
able culver of the pretty chin this time.
And Miss Wilson got out of the room as
quickly an possible and returned to hertype-
writer.
Bertha prided herself upon being both ;,
rapid and accurate operator. but she
would not for worlds have had 1t known
how many sheets were torn 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 ou 1t as
she was reading it over to look for possible
mistakes.
It was done at last, however, and she car
riad H. IN IN Mr. Raphtlrn who WAS ha,,.