The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1895-04-17
MRS. BLACKS PROPOSAL.

"Oh, dear! cried Mr.. Coates, ftl
lively mopping his forehead, 'wha
ever can il mean ,"
He knitted his brow and gazed iir-
at the ceiling, then at the floor, an
finally took ont of his pocket an,
read for the fifth time the followin
note:
"DEAR SIR. CoArEs-I am deeply scnsibl
Of the honor you have conferred upon me /
asking me 10 be your wife, and hasten 10 81
that 10 nobody could | 50 confidently civ
my hand and heart. quite agree with 20
that we are both past the nonsensical ac,
and shall be happy TO conform TO your wishC
as regards the absence OF undue ceremony.
you are really bent on the twenty-eisEth
| viii Try TO manage il.
Yours afIectionately,
MATILDA BLACK,
"Nyrtle Cottage"
Mr.. Coates buried his face in hi
hands and subjected himself to 81
we're mental cr1ss-eXamination.
'Nvhat did happen last night afte
that innocent little festival? l re
member taking Mrs. Black home
but I'll swear I didn't speak ten word.
all the way. The weather, know, ",
touched up11, and / think l made
some slight aliusioa to the moon. Be
yond that I'll take my oath nothing
passed-most certainly nothing of the
alarming nature insinuated. Egad
though, | don't remember the partins
at the gate, 1t is possible-but no
II i neutrality-suspicious. -
Mr.. Coates unused for few moments
then he broke out again:
"Of course, I've nothing to say
against the womln-ls woman-
she's a nice, decent little body, and if
wanted wife I'd us lief PICK on her a
any one. Bat don't want 70 marry.
I've knocked along in single blessed
ness these forty years come Michaelmas
and have never felt the need of wife,
Moreover, Martha understands me- lik,
Il book, and | doubt if there's her equa
in all Thornbury for cheese-cakes anC
delicious mullins
This mention of his handmade seem
ed TO offer suggestion to Mr.. Coates
and ringing the bell. he requested Mar
tia to give him the pleasure OF a few
minutes conversation.
Martha was jewel of a cook and ;
nice houselleeper. She had made !
her special object in life to minister q
Mr. Coates comfort it needed but hal
an eye to see that she had not beel
unsuccessful. She had bat one com
| plaint-the smalness of the field sh
worked in. In her own words, sh
wanted "a larger spere to hoperat
| in"
Martha had long desired TO see MI
| Coates married; and although sh
knew her position too well TO try TO in
struct her master, she had by variOu
gentle hints conveyed Ia him her viii
ingness TO be under the superintendent
of another.
All these hints had proved uuavail
ing, though as Mr.. Coates called her t
his study on this particular night
several of the aforesaid were presente'
to his feverish Imagination in their ira
significance.
"rake seat, Martha, please"
Martha dumped herself into th
nearest chair, rubbing her iioury hand
the while, and Mr.. Coates proceeds
in as off-hand manner as he coul
command:
Lets see; what time did | com
home last night?'
"Why, sir, | should say about te
o'clock-mebbe quarter past"
"Ah, to be sure you see, my watc
stopped last night, Martha, and Ter
have reasons for wishing to know tn
exact time"
''To be sure, sir"
Mr.. Coates narvel himself up fo
another effort.
"By the way, Martha, you didn
notice anything extraordinary i'll M
conduct last night. did you?'
"Extraordinary in your conduct, sir
No, sir, that didn't, and the chap 8
means to insinuate-"
.'Stay, Martha, didn't say that an
one had been insinuating. / merel
wished to know from yourlips that m
conduct last night was just the same /
on every other night. Can you assui
me confidently that such was the east
Martha ~
"Ycs, siE, excepting"
"Excep'ing what? Speak out, Ma
Iha. Don't be afraid"
"Well, sir, You sang just little bit
not boisterous, sir, or rowdy like; bi
Just low and sweet, sir, as if you Wei
afraid of being overheard. In fact, 81
il was quite treat to hear you"
II sang, Martha?n echoed Mr.. Coatet
in genuine amazement, knowing i'll
well that he had not done such thin
in twenty years. care you quite saI
of that, Martha?'
Perfectly, sir"
Mr.. Coates thought long and dec
for a moment, while his countenan'
betrayed his worst apprehensions.
perhaps you can tell me what
sang about, Martha-the words,
mean"
"Why, no, sir ] can't say that
remember the words, hut ii went som
thing like
'HaRpy the wcains
That's not long adding
"Wh-at ~ gasped Mr.. Coates
Martha slowly repeated the line
Mr.. Coates groaned.
"You-you're quite sure of tha
| Martha ~ no fapIly asked