Waterbury evening Democrat., 1894-08-28
HIS PROPOSAL.

but delicasely insinuated it in such a way that his meaning would have been riddle to the sphinx, and was, nat urally enough, never successful.
 Now, at 40, and growing extremely stout, he was as romantic as ever. MT. Softheart was very we'll of and not ill looking.
 For six months Belinda Bellows had been waiting for Mir. Softheart to pro- pose and growing every day more cer- tain that he positively intended to place count at her disposal.
 But, though Mrs. Bellows was kind enough to allow the cook to summon her to consultations when Mir. Softheart called, and so leave the pair tete-a-tete, and although Miss Angelina was equal ly considerate, and invariably remem- bered that something she wanted very particularly was up stairs when her mother went to speak to the cook, poor Mir Softheart could never bring himself to the point of saying, Twill you have me?''
 ''I'll do it by letter." he said to him. self after long consideration. Women, so far, have misunderstood me. I'll do it in black and white now"
 And so, on the last day of March, MT. Softheart wrote an offer of his hand and heart, enveloped, sealed it and put it in his pocket before he made his evening call on his beloved Belinda
 Now, it so happened that that very evening Belinda herself had come to a resolution. Her twenty fifth birthday was approaching, and she could not af- ford ito waste time. ''
 If MT. Softheart meant anything, he should say it; if he did not, she would accept young Spooney.
 When MT. Softhears rang the bell, he found the field quite cleaf at the Bel lowses'. Miss Belinda had artfully con- trived that 1t should be so. That per fidious young person had actually pur- chased tickets for concert; requested young Spooney, who was half mad with joy at the idea, to accompany Angelina and herself and on the evening in quess tion was smitten with a terrible attack of neuralgia; but, after all, MT. Spooney should not have his trouble for nothing mamma and Angelina would go
 Ten minutes after the departure of the trio Miss Belinda, arrayed in blue silk, was playing at such a rate on the piano that it seemed quite certain that the demon neuralgia must have vanish ed.
 She did not even hear Mir Softheart's ring and started ill sweet confusion on his appearance.
 I'm all alone" she said. Mamma ir,n hn o'clock" and the two talked together ill very low voices, sitting very close to each other on twin chairs.
 Mir. SOftheart looked a6ld sighed and uttered romantic sentiments, but he did not pop the question. Miss Belinda did all that a modest young lady could to further this object, but ill vain.
 She did not know-how should she?- that at the door MT. Softheart had said to Biddy:
 Look here, girl, put this in Miss Belinda'S room, where she will be sure to see it, and I'll give you a quarter" and had presented her with the billet containing his proposal, crowned by a silver p cent piece.
 If the man did not avail himself of such a chance after six months court ship, plain even to the servants ill the kitchen, why, he meant nothing And the unhappy. unlucky Mir. Softheart did not utter the expected words and left at 1O:45.
 Hes a contemptible thing" said Miss Belinda. ''I'll show him my heart is not broken. I'll marry Spooney.
 And Belinda wept, for she was bit terly mortified, and Spooney did not own brOwnstOne house.
 Belinda wept, as we have said, and went tn bed i'll the dark. Of course she did not see the letter ill the workhasket, and no one else saw it until the 1st of April dawned.
 Now, ill their normal condition, with no love affairs on tho tapis, the Bel lows were merry people, who indulged i'll practical jokes, and April Fools day was always religiously kept in the fam fly.
 But this year the three particular Bel lows with whom we have to deal were not prepared with any practical joke. though each suspected the other. And when Angelina, sitting up in bed beside her sister, saw the glittering white note i'll the workbasket she immediately made up her mind that it was a trick
 She crept softly toward it and read the inscription - Miss Belinda Bel lows''-and retired to her pillow again.
 What a fiat trickr' she said to her self ''Why, Bell will guess at once unless sine fOrgets that it is the 1st of April.
 Then thought struck her. She crept tiptoc out of the room and down stairs to the kitchen, where Bridget, with a smutty face, was making the fire, talk ing the letter with her.
 "Biddy," she said in a whisper, 'come up stairs and awaken my sister and tell her 1lr. Softheart brought this this morning."
 And Angelina tiptoed back to bed But Belinda was awake this time "She Is going to try to fool me, know, |" said she to herself, with her eyes shut and in a very cross mood, and awaited the denouement
 Biddy meanwhile had recognized the letter.
 And up stairs she stumped and knock ed at Belinda's door.
 "Misther Softheart bade me give ye this, num-" she said
 "I'll teach you to tell lies," said Be- linda "You know Miss Angelina gav' it to you"
 Biddy was confounded-
 He gave it to me last night, miss as true as hope to go to heaven, sh said
 Last night?' said Angelina, with warning glance, supposing Biddy t have forgotten her lesson II mane this morning." said Biddy | taking the hint
 ''Give me the letter." said Belinda