The enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 188?-1899, 1894-09-19

Try 70 hinder MRS. AmerS0nB accept
ance of your proposal, whether she
may incline to it or not. At all events
1t won't do any harm to make 1t. On
reflection, it may do you some good,
even If it's rejected, provided 1t be-
comes generally known. You see, 1t
will be the amplest apology and COM
pensation you can make for any words
they may prove you to have said against
her. You seem to be in earnest aboutit."
Looking down for a moment, Amer
son took from his pocket handler-
chief and wiped his eyes, Then he
said.
"Mr. Watson, I'm going to tell you
something. I've loved Hannah ever
since she was girl, and I've never
loved anybody like I've loved her.
Don't ask me why didn't marry her,
as could-at least as l thought l
could have done. She had nothing but
herself, and I-well, was ambitious to
get rich, and the more I've got the
more I've been disappointed. Ny wife
that's dead saw how it was, but she
was good woman, and not healthy,
and after Cullen died she said on her
death-bed that she hoped l and Han
nah would marry. Itold Hannah that
six months ago, and offered to settle
on her good part of fathers property,
but she as good as ordered me out Of
her house. It's impossible; but I've
got to that, Mr.. Watson, I'd be willing
to give up mighty nigh the whole
of that property If could get her."
His voice and lips trembled with the
excess of his passion and its hopeless
ness. After moments pause he said,
in augmentation that seemed to his
counsel really pitiable:
"You say, Mr.. Watson, that people
say Mr.. Dabney wants Hannah for
himself? Why, does it seem reasonable
to you that Hannah would take up
with man that's got nothing except
what little he picks up at law, when,
as l tell you, she's woman that's al
ways loved fine things and wanted
more than she could get2 You see how
fine she dresses now when she comes
to town, which she can't afford, and
which she knows Mr.. Dabney couldn't
begin to allow her without they won
this case, which they can't, as there's
the will to show for itself. AS for
suing me for SANDER, it's done for
nothing else but to scare me-"
"And perhaps to drive you to COM
promise"
II hope that's 1t, Mr.. Watson; and
you know my terms-that Is, we can
figure on it, and see what you think is
the best way to put it."
After some pause, Watson said;
"Mr. Amerson, on reflection, l be-
lieve I'd rather not make to Dabney q
proposal of that kind, and I'm sure It
wouldn't be the very best for you to
do it. Why not make it directly to the
widow, either by yourself or through
some friendP Isn't there some one who
is friendly to all parties whom you
could trust with it?'
II wouldn't like, myself, to go to Mr..
Dabney about 1t, or for you either, be-
cause, from what you say, he'd be
against me. The old man Flint Is q
friend Of Hannah, and he used to be
good friend to me. Once or twice he's
told me ought to compromise the case
somehow, because he knows they can't
break the will, which he signed as
witness; and he tells everybody that
mentions 1t to him that he never saw
father In stronger mind than he was
on the day he made 1t. / don't know,
but think he might advise Hannah to
take my proposition"
''The very man! The very mani
Among other reasons for that Is that
If his mission fails he'll be sure to cir
culate it, and that will take off some
of the prejudice against you. Willy
see him?"
"I'd rather it would be you, Mr.. Wat
son. The old man would take 1t as a
compliment II you was to send for him,
and you'd know better than me how to
talk to him, and, besides, it'll bolster
him up more on my side when he's told,
in the way you know how, that want
to be reasonable"
"All right. Do you get somebody to
tell him want to see him."
After an understanding as to the pre-
else terms in which to put the PROPOSE
ton, Amerson left the office. AS he
stepped upon the sidewalk, Hannah,