Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1895-06-21

In the Office until the soft, sweet days
of early June came around. and then
venturcd on taking Miss Higgins driv-
ing with me. IL was delightful after
noon, and was feeling extremely good
in mind, body and spirits. Miss llig-
gins enjoyed the drives rs well. and be-
ing acquaiutances of such long stand
ing and on such an everyday. practical
basis, think we both had IA very much
nicer time than if our relations had
been of the ordinary kind existing be-
tween young men and young women.
In any event. | felt perfectly at
home, and Miss Higgins was looking
50 much better than | had ever seen
her-shc was tweuty-four, and when
woman Is pretty AT twcnty-four she is
pretty for <eeps-that before really
knew what | was about | was making
love To her. Not making it, either. ex.
actly. for IL had been made in my mind
for weeks, but didn' quite know it un-
I'll ! began 10 talk TO her about il.
Then il dawncd on me all at once, and
If II had not been for the superior
Judgment and tact of Miss Higgins
firmly believe | would have made an
egregiOus ass of myself
But didn't. | reserved that until
later period.
The point had reached when | left
her al her modest, unpretentious home
was firm resolve that on the next day
| would have business for Jeremy out
side of the Office for an hour, and there
and then, on the spot where had first
met her, ! would make formal prop
osition-and get her, as a matter of
course ! was assured of that, because
there was no other fellow in sight; |
was rich and paSsably good-looking,
not So old as people might think was,
and on general principles | was just
what sensible young woman, like
Miss higgins was, wanted.
When next morning came | was in
hilarious humor, going So far as to
slap Jeremy on the back, thus discon-
certing him TO such an extent that he
stuck his red ink pen in the black and
almost said "doggone it," his one
weakness of language.
odd man" said 70 him, why don't
you get married?'
why don't you. sir?" said he
That's just what I'm going 10 do,
Jeremy" said |, and So quick that it
will make your head swim"
Il hope not. sir, said he.
Hope ! wont get married." said |,
with a feeling that poor Jeremy had an
idea that il would be a desertion of
him for me 10 marry.
"Oh, no, sir" said he; II hope il
won't make my head swim. / used to
be troubled with vertigo, and
wouldn't like TO have a return of it,
sir"
Loud laughed and slapped the good
Jeremy on the back again.
"Out of regard for You and your
faithful services 70 me, jeremy said |
l, IL will go about il less rapidly than
a. a. first contemplated.
Have you anyone definitely in view.
sir?' said he rather slyly, | thought,
seeing that he knew ] was slightly |
variant in such matters.
Indeed have. Jeremy" said ], and |
] am sure you will be surprised and at
the same time pleased, when tell you |
who il is TO whom | am about To trust |
my whole future"
II am sure 1 shall be pleased, SIR"
halu ne, InttklN.
''To be frank with you, then, Jer-
envy" said, more seriously, IL am go
ing to marry Miss higgins"
Jeremy looked at me as the cherubs
look up in that great picture Of Rapha-
els.
1.-THE typewriter" said he
THE same" said |. And by the
way" | added, she hasn't come down
yet, and it is half an hour after her
usual time. l hope she is not feeling
any bad results from the drive she took
yesterday afternoon. | wonder IL she
is?"
matter with her | saw her on my
way to the office and she said she would
not be down until eleven o'clock this
morning"
That's all right" said I, much re-
lieved. 1T will also be better for you,
rs there will not be that haste which
might give you a return of your verti-
go. Eli, old man?"
Yes, sir" said he, and for the first
time observed that he was growing
nervous. Ill wanted TO say, sir"
he stammered, as he lay down his pen
and faced me. that think you ought
TO try TO marry some one else"
Ohio" / laughed. perhaps you
would like to marry her yourself?'
NO, sir, said he, II can't marry
her"
"Of course you can't, you dear old
man. said |. I'm going to marry
her myself"
That is not the only reason why
cannot marry her, sir, said he.
This was a poser, and | wondered
wharf strange freak had struck Jeremy.
The thought of losing me had unsettled
his brain, possibly.
What other reason could there be?''
said | in DOUBT. .
because I have already married :
her, SIR" said he. I'VE have been
married three weeks, but we didn't
want you TO know it until we could get
moved into our own little house, then I
we were going TO give you "A surprise !
Il