Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1895-01-15
HIS PROPOSAL.

and five young ladies who were neither
one nor the other he had never been
able to pop the question point blank,
but delicately insinuated it in such a
way that his meaning would have been
riddle to tho sphinx, and was, nat
urally enough. never successful
Now, at 40, and growing extremely
stout, he was as romantic as ever. Mr..
Softheart was very we'll Off and not Ill
looking.
For six months Belinda Bellows had
been waiting for Mr.. Softheart to pro-
pose and growing every day more GER
tain that he positively intended to place
his brownstone mansion and bank nc
count at her disposal.
But, though Mrs. Bellows was kind
enough to allow the cook TO summon
her 10 consultations when Mr.. Softheart
called, and so leave the pair tete-a-tete,
and although Miss Angelina was equal
~ considerable. and invariably remem-
bered that something she wanted very
particularly was up stairs when her
mother went to speak to the cook, poor
Mr.. Softheart could never bring himself
to the point Of saying. "Will you have
me?"
"I'll do It by letter, " he said TO him.
self after long consideration. Women,
so far, have misunderstood me- III do
IL in black and white now" "
And So, on the last day Of March, Mr.
Softheart wrote an offer Of his hand and
heart cnvelopcd, sealed IL and put it in
his pocket before he made his evening
call on his beloved Belinda
Now. il so happened that that very
evening Belinda herself had come To a
resolution Her twenty fiftl birthday
was approaching. and she could not af
ford Ito waste time
II Mr.. Softheart meant anything, he
should say it; IL ho did not. she would
accept young Spooney.
When Mr. Softheart rang the bell. he
found the field quite clear at the Bel
lowses'. Miss Belinda had artfully con.
triycd that II should be So That per
fidious young person had actually pur
chased tickets for n concert; requested
young Spooney, who WAS half mad with
joy at the idea, 10 accompany Angelina
and herself and on the evening in ques
tion was smitten with terrible attack
of neuralgia; but, after all, Mr.. Spooney
should not have his trouble for nothing
mamma and Angelina would go
Ten minutes after the departure Of
the trio Miss Belinda. arrayed in blue
silk, was playing at such rate on the
piano that II seemed quite certain that
the demon neuralgia must have vanish
ed.
She did not even hear Mr.. Softheart's
ring and started III sweet confusion on
his appearance
''In all alone. she said Mamma
and Lima won't b. home until Il
O'Clock" and the two talked together
in very low voices, sitting very close 10
each other on twin chairs
Mr.. Softhcart looked and sighed and
uttered romantic sentiments. but he did
not pop the question Miss Belinda did
all that modest young lady could TO
further this object, but in vain.
She did not know-how should shc:-
that at the door Mr. Softheart had said
TO Biddy:
Look here, girl, put this in Miss
Belinda's room, where she will be sure
TO see it. and I'll give You quarter,
and had presented her with the billet
containing his proposal. crowned by a
silver 20 cent piece
II the man did not avail himself o!
such chance after six months court
ship, plain even to the servants in the
kitchen, why, he meant nothing And
the unhappy. unlucky Mr.. Softheart did
not utter the expected words and left at
l0:45
Hes q contemplate thing, said
Miss Belinda I'm show him my heart
is not broken. I'll marry Spooney. "
And Belinda wept, for she was hit
terly mortified, and Spooney did not
own q brownstone house.
Belinda wcpt, as we have said, and
went to bed in the dark. OF course she
did not see tho letter in the workhaskoi,
and no one else saw it until the LIST OF
April dawned.
Now, in their normal condition, with
no love affairs ON the tapis, the Bel
lows were merry people, who INDUCED
in practical jokes. and April FOOLS day
was always religiously kept in the fam
lily
But this year the three particular Bel
lows with whom we have TO deal Were
not prepared with any practical joke,
though each suspected the other. And
when Angelina, sitting pin bed beside
her sister, saw the glittering white note
in the workbasket she Immediately made
up her mind that it was trick
She crept softly toward it and read
the inscription - Miss Belinda Bel
lows"-and retired to her pillow again
"What fat trick!" she said to her
self. "why. Bell will guess at once
unless she forgets that it is the LIST of
April F"
Then thought struck her. She crept
tiptoe out of the room and down stairs
TO the kitchen, where Bridget, with a
smutty face, was making the fire, tax
ing the letter with her
"Biddy," she said in a whisper,
"come up stairs and awaken my sister
and tell her Mr.. Softheart brought this
this morning"
And Angelina tiptoed back to bed
But Belinda was awake this time. "She
is going to try to fool me, / know, "
said she to herself, with her eyes shut
and in a very cross mood, and awaited
the denouement
Biddy meanwhile had recognized the
letter.
And up stairs she stumped and knock
cd at Belinda's door.
"Misther Softheart bade me give ye
this, num-" she said.
"I'll teach you to tell lies, said Be-
linda "You know Miss Angelina gave
it to you. :"
Riddy was confounded
"He gave it to me last night, miss
as true as hope to go to heaven, she
said.
Last night?' said Angelina, with q
warning glance, supposing Biddy tc
have forgotten her lesson.
"I name this morning." said Biddy.
taking the hint
"Give me the letter, said Belinda
Then, snatching it, she tore it deliber'
ately into four pieces and threw them