The Newtown bee., 1897-10-01

he noticed nothing amiss. Rem finally
promised to accompany John on weekly
visits, after Rosy should be made to I'M
derstand that they were particular
company and that no one else was to
be admitted while they were there.
Rem conducted the negotiation and re-
turned to John with the report that they
might go on Monday evenings; but at no
other time. Also that their visits must
end at 10 o'clock.
what's that for?" queried John, feel
ing that Rosy was rather dictatorial, a
thing that Katy had never ventured on.
son." said Rem unveraciousIy, "her
pa objects to our staying longer. He
wants to 60 to bed, early"
"But why Monday nights? Why
can't we go on Sundays! II she's going
to be so big feeling don't know as I
care to go at ALL"
"Just as you like. But there'll be
crowd there to sing Sundays, and you
know you said that we were to be par
ticular company
John sulked about it for some time,
but finally recovered his temper; and
was as eager as ever. And SO the matter
was settled; and every Monday evening
for three slow hours those three people
would sit in parlor; Rose and Rem bub-
bling over with ill-repressed merriment;
John as stolid and self-complacent as
ever. Sometimes, with his permission,
they tried to while away the tagging
hours with song or two. When they
tried to make conversation, especially if
Rose addressed him directly, John would
only turn red and grin in sheepish
fashion. Six repetitions of this sort Of
thing was sufficient for the two mis-
chievous conspirators. The holidays
were near.
''Rosy is tired" said Rem one day.
''If you're going to propose, you better
be about it, or somebody else will get
ahead of you, if you don't look out.
Hadn't you better give it up, hey!
don't believe Rosy would have you any
way"
But John had too good an opinion of
himself for that. He did not want to
give up; but he shrank from the test.
when are you going to do it?" reiter-
ated Rem. ''Don't be afraid, man Just
tell her what you mean. What are you
'fraid of? She won't eat you'll 1t isn't
hard when you once break the ice.'
"But what must L say2 Did you ever
do it, Ren?''
"Well-yes-onee. Oh, hang it,!
Don't be such calf!'
"But what did you say?" persisted the
would-be sutton.
"Why-I just don't remember. But it
don't matter so much about the words.
You've got to tell her that you love her,
of course, and"
''But she knows that if she knows any
thing"
sob, we'll it won't do any harm to
tell her, but you mustn't forget to ask
her to marry you"
"Pshaw! that's going to be sticker
Rem, 1 just can't! Must I say that !!
Couldn't you kind o. bring it in some
how?"
"Why, certainly. What do you sup
pose girl would take you for, If asked
her right before you! The sweet things
are just to fiatter her up and make her
like you, but you've got to ask yourself. -
"Will you be there?' asked John after
a pause, during which he had been rumf
mating upon all of this problem.
Rem could not repress laugh as he
said, "Why, yes, il you want me-"
The time for the awful deed was
agreed upon for the next Monday even
ing, which happened to be Christmas eve
as well. Rem departed full OF inward
merriment; and, although he had prom
ised not to tell, fear he did not keep
his promise.
But when Monday evening came and
Rem called for him at the appointed hour,
Johns courage had quite oozed away !;
and yet he would not consent to let it
go. Instead, he implored Rem TO act as
bis proxy and pop the dreadful question
for himl After many objections and
much laughter, Rem at last consented to
do what he could for him and to let him
know las soon as ne could"
Christmas morning dawned clear and
frosty. The sun was shining, but the
air was sharp, and the sleighing was ex-
Ecellent. John, for the first time in his
life, could not eat any breakfast. He
went back ana forth to the barn half
dozen times, waiting for Rem. He had