The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1895-03-19
MRS. BLACKS
PROPOSAL.

'S)h, dear. crleu MI. Soateo' AoA N
II nopping his forehead, "WhateVea
car 1t mean"
He knitted his brow and 'gazed trs1
at the ceiling, then at the floor, and
finally took out of his pocket and READ
for the fifth time the following note:
Dear Mr.. Coates-I am deeply sem
sible Of the honor you have conferred
upon me in asking me to be your wife,
and hasten to say that to nobody could
I 50 confidently give my hand and
heart. l quite agree with you that we
are both past the nonsensical age, ana
shall be happy to conform to your
wishes as regards the absence OF undue
ceremony. Ifyou are really bent on the
twentv-eishth will try to manage It.
Yours affectionately,
MATILDA BLACK,
Myrtle Cottage"
Mr.. Coates buried his face In his
hands and subjected himself to a Sc
we're metal croSs-examination.
What did happen last night after
that innocent little festival? I remem?
Der taking Mrs. Black home, but III
swear didn't speak ten words all the
way. The weather, know, we touch
ed upon, and I think I made some
slight allusion to the moon. Beyon!:
that I'll take my oath. nothing more
passad-most certainly nothing Of the
alarming nature insinuated.. Egad,
though, I don't remember the parting
at the gate: 1t is possible-but no! 1t
is neutrality-suspicious.!
Mr.. Coates mused for few moments,
then he broke out again:
"Of course, I've nothing to say
against the woman-as woman-She's
1 nice, decent little body, and it l
wanted a wife I'd as lief pitch on hcr
us any one. But don't want to mar
~. I've knocked along in single bless
cdness these forty years come Michael
mas, and have never felt the need Of a
wife. Moreover, Martha understands
me like q book. and doubt If there's
her equal in all Thornbury for cheese
cakes and delicious mullins"
The mention of his handmade SEEM
ed to offer a suggestion to Mr.. Coates,
and ringing the bell, he requested Mar
tha to give him the pleasure OF few
minutes conversation.
Martha was a jewel Of cook and =
nice housekeeper. She had made it her
special object in life to minister to Mr..
Coates comfort; it needed but half an
eye to see that she had not been unsuc-
cessfrl. She had but one complaint
the Smallness of the field she worked
in. In her own words, she wanted "a
larger spere to hoperate in"
Martha had long desired to see Mr..
Coates married; and although she
knew her position too well to try to in
struct her master, she had by various
gentle hints conveyed to him her wik-
Ingness to be under the superintendent
Of another.
All these hints had. proved unavail-
ing, though as Mr.. Coates called her to
his study on this particular night, sew
eral Of the aforesaid were presented to
his feverish imagination in their true
significance.
Take seat, Martha, please"
Martha dumped herself into the near
est chair, rubbing her foury hands the
while, and Mr.. Coates proceeded in as
off-hand O manner as he could COM
mand:
Lets see; what time did I come
nome last night?''
"N'hy, sir, l should say about ten
o'clock-mebbe a quarter past"
"Ah. 70 De sure; you see, my watch
stopped last night, Martha, and I-er--
have reasons for wishing to know the
exact time"
'To be sure, sir
Mr.. Coates nervcd himself up for an
other effort.
by the way, Martha, you didn't no
ticc anything extraordinary in my con-
duct last night. did you?
Extraordinary in your conduct, siri
No, sir, that 1 didn't, and the chap as
means to insinuate-
"Stay, Martha, didn't say that any
one had bncn insinuating. merely
wished to know from your lips that my
conduct last night was just the same al
on every other night Can you assure
me confidently that such was the case,
Martha?"
Yes. sir. excepting"
Excepting wllat2 Speak out Mar
tia Don't be afraid"
We'll. sir. you sang just little Bit
rot boisterouS. sir. nor rowdy like; but
just low ard sweet, cir, as If you We're
Etrlid Of being overheard. In fact Sir,
il Vas quite 4 treat to hear you"
- sang. Martha?" echoed Mr.. Coates,
Ia genuine anazencnt, knowing full
we'll that he had not done such q thing