Blackfoot news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1891-1902, 1895-12-28
NOW JOHN PROPOSED.

VI MI pongs, and piled
her needle more rapidly than ever
~ does seem TO me very strange
she added after brie. pause, that a
great bic man should be SO timid
about saying be loved girl. Dear
me. It's enough 10 aggravate a Girl in.
70 taking advantage Of"
And Mis, Mary blushed rosily and
finished the sentence with hysterical
laugh.
Mary Branwood was Just at this
moment thinking OF John Walker
whoior the past two years had been
ner escort nPon every possible occa.
sion. For long time each had look.
cd upon the other with expressive
eyes. and, thougli the eossips OF that
part OF Harlem looked upon the end
ing oil their eourtship as settled
matter. John had not asked the all.
important question. Mary's woman.
~ intuition prompted the thought
that he had been trying TO voice the
love he so often displayed, but his
natural bashtnlness seemed an insur.
nlouEtnbie barrier.
80 Mlss Mary sat that February
afternoon "a her chair. briskly rock.
lng TO and fro. The afternoon was
nearly gone aud the girl was impa-
tisntly waiting Tor O'Clock. when the
bsshtnl John would arrive 10 take her
10 the class in vocal music at the
church. Her heart beat faster as the
moments sped. Her rosy cheeks
flushed more deeply a q her mind dwelt
upon the possible form Of question
that she irlt must soon be asked. She
knew there would be nothing roman.
TIC about Johns asking her. for she
Wa SURF he would do so in a blum.
dsring way. The thing that troubled
her most Was that alter he really did
muster up sufficient courage, her long
knowledge OF l,is purpose would pre-.
vent her showing a proper amount o!
surprise and embarrassment She
knew he would blush. but she hoped
u would be 80 deep blush that John
could not fati 20 sre IL.
She started suddenly and her lace
flushed with a feeling that there was a
tinec OF immodcsty aud hypocrisy in
het train ~ thoughts. She tclt guilty
OF bciitg immodrst IN thinking Of pro.
posing hrre..ii and oihypocrisy in hop.
ing she would blush ns though she had
not expected the question. Her
thoughts annoyed her. and failing 10
drive them away as sine sat sewing,
she laid down her work and busted
herself cleaning up the room.
When both hands OF theclock reach.
cd = the light ring Of the door bell told
her of Johns arrival. A. be entered
Il could bv seen tina, though his youth.
ful iacc uAs suHus~d with bushes there
sAs nm uumis,akAblc air OF maniiness
about him. When his brown eyes
looked into Mary's she lelt so strong
and confident that her halt Suffered
thoughts dniing the afternoon OF tax.
ina advantage OF the season TO render
a little assistance came TO her, and n
moment later she Was oppressed with
the thought Il he had asked her then
she really would not have blnshed.
Then she tried 70 drive away the
thought with mighty effort as
Ter old feeling Of inimodssty and n.y.
rrocrisy came TO her, and the crimson
iInsh covered her lace ~ .he saw that
John was trying to say something.
A icw minutes later the two were
carefully walking aionF the icy side
walk IN the direction OF the church.
They discussed the weather and every.
thing in connection with the singing
school until they reached the church
snd then they both joined heartily IN
the exercises. Mary sang exceedingly
we'll John WAS equally suecessiul un.
tll they sang the strain:
we share our mutual woes,
,,ur mutual hurd rus bear,
Then q suddenly dawned upon him
how easy ID would be to say. MARY.
1T us share our mutual woes. and
he couldn't dismiss it from his mind
all the evening. Every now ard then,
to his great Embarrassment, he got
out OF tune. To make matters worse
the professor noticed IL each time,
and, IN a kindly tone, offered a sue.
restion which increased Johns con
fusion. There was no one in the class
oladder than John when $50 came
and. he and Mary stepped out into
the moonlight TO 90 home' They
picked their way along the sidewalk
slowly. cautiously, and IN silence.
Jehn did not speak FOR two reasons.
III. was oppressed with the thought
that he had been particularly stupid
during the whole evening. and he was
rrpeatins the sentence. Mary, let US
share our mutual woes" so that
when they stood beneath the light IN
the parlor he could put his arm
around her and say IL without blum.
derinr. Mary was silent with expecta'
ton.
How brief sentence would nave
made them supremely happy ],
Johns absent mindedness served
70 distract his attention from the ICY
walk more than he should nave
allowed. and no less than nan a
dozen times Mary's feet slipped, but
each time she found herse, borne up
bv her sturdy lover. Each alp was
accompanied with little shrek, ana
when she was again safe her soft laugh
was music to him.
A group OF boys pulling sled turn.
ed the corner ahead and dashed past