The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1896-03-26

am not / tell yon this merely to show you
why Mr.. x is frequent visitor at orr
home aud how he and | came to be so init
mate.
The incident. or accident. of which / shall
speak occurred in n singular way. / was at a
church social at little village about two miles
from here. j had gone TO tho church in tho
afternoon. Like the annste Paul had journcd
foot. However, / expected 10 ride home
with papa; but accidents will happen. you
know, and he failed to appear.
In this emergency Mr.. K came 10 my
rescue. He gave me cordial invitation to
ride home in their family carriage. accepted
with thanks, but was Mortified when he lifted
baby May on one arm, and clenching me with
the other. started. / walked along like n crimi-
nal in the hands of the Sheriff We reached
the carriage-a buggy for two. | was ushered
into the conveyance. Baby May, soundly
sleeping, was laid in my lap. Two of them"
j heard n mischievous y0ung man excialm
under his breath. was scarcely more than n
child in size and side by side with Mr.. K
j must have looked even smaller. | know
felt dimnutive, anyway.
The grounds we're brightly illuminated. and
one of the lights reflected directly on my face.
The crowd turned to stare at me. Ny cheeks
were surely crimson. Not word did | hear,
except the three already quoted. i felt conf
punching the other half in the ribs to call at
tention to my embarrassment.
Mr.. k took up the lines and the old horse
started off at snal's gallon. When we got
out of sight of the people | began TO breathe
more freely
Baby May lay motionless in my lap. She was
truly beautiful little child with long golden
curs which lay out on the folds of my white
dress and formed a lovely background for the
delicately- moulded face
The vehicle rolled slowly toward home. Mr..
K seemed in no hurry, neither did the
horse. Mr.. K is not in any sense rapid.
Old Dobbn may have been racer in the early
part of the century, but his laurels If he ever
won any, are faded by the touch of time
broke the sience-t had not lasted long-by
suggesting that he make prophecy concerning
the weather. He predicted that it not
going to rain. at least not just then; for it
never rained until the moon got CROOKED
enough to hang powder.horn on" Having
explained the Memberships he proceeded TO
touch on more important subjects. Looking
down on the little form in my lap he inquired:
And what do you think of my little girl ?"
" She is very beautiful" replied.
Somewhat coqueitishly came the next ques-
ton: And how would you like to call her
your own?"
/ stared at him like an idiot.
Or to put it another way" he continued by
way of explanation. how would you like 10
call me your hubby ?"
What shock, i had not received such a
surprise since the day that my Sunday school
teacher first broke to me the startling news
that the whale had swallowed Jonah. / felt as
il j were to meet similar fate. | tried to
speak but my tongue Glove TO the roof of my
mouth aud / could not utter n sound. 1t was
the only time in my life that my tongue re-
fused to wag. My heart beat like bass-dt nm.
/ can never explain why; but it was with
neither love nor joy. Through all this excite
ment and agitation on my part, that child silent
as soundly as if she bad been given dose of
morphine.
In the meantime Mr.. K - proceeded to
"press his suit" His housekeeper was going TO
leave. and he would then have no one to take
her place.
AT this jnncture my speech returned. oh,
Mr.. -" | managed to say; why should
Why shouldn't ~" he interrupted emphat-
icaly. " / need wife. 1t is Just cheap to
get married rs TO pay bousekeeper. How can
find time 10 cook the meals. do the washing,
and sew buttons on the children's clothes?
want your answer right away. / will need
you next Saturday"
assumed an air of utmost politeness. "You
shall have my answer" | replied, forcing
faint smile. Il like your children very WELL"
his face frightened and il / wanted
position as housrkeeper should be pleased to
consider your offer. But ut present / think
you would do we'll to look elsewhere"
That WAS four years ago. Time has made mo
older aud. ! hope. wiser. am still single.
have had other proposals, but they even
les romantic than he one described. Pictured
proposals usually show the sutton on his knees,
but / have never vet had a single sutton who
risked sacrificing the knees of his jeans for my
heart aud hand
Now. Brother Amos. this is surely a repndia-
tion of yonr arguments for single blessedness.
"A burnt child breads the fire. did you say
Well. that wdower cond not have been so
badly scorched in his first choice, or he wonld
never have dared 10 propose to second live
coal.