The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1897-04-06
THAT BASHFUL BLINKER.
By W. J. sAMProS

NiSOhuiScu WltuOul war luR
''But I'm giving you warming" he
said, half with bravado, half with
apology. "You don't have to go right
away"
II do not want to go at all until |
know why / am going" she argued.
This is all i have in the world, and /
am entitled to know why am untitled
for this"
"Oh, it isn't your fault, exactly"
he went on evasively. There are no
such things, you know, as misfortunes,
which can scarcely be classed as faults
In your case, Miss Prince, your mis-
fortune is that you are too pretty"
and Mr.. Blinker actually tucked his
head to one side and simpered at her.
She had been suspicious for long
time, as most women are when they
have their wits about them under cir
cumstances similar to those surround.
ing Miss Prince and Mr.. Blinker, and
she almost smiled through the mist
that was gathering in her eyes.
You have always said, Mr.. Blink
err" she pleaded, "that you liked to
see pretty things in your Office
He coughed nervously, uneasily.
How many things he had said TO her
he did not know. How many more he
wanted to say he did not know. What
ne was now saying he did not know
how he was ever goingto finish.
III know that" he admitted, "but
sometimes, you know, my dear Miss
Prince, man cannot always have
what he wants. AS long rs I was a
bachelor, Miss Prince, I could do as 1
pleased, but / am to be married, at
least hope SO. and you know n mans
wife sometimes differs with him on
what may seem to the world at large
to be quite trivial points
Married
AT one blow all her castles were
thrown to the earth, with not so much
as q corner standing to show that they
had ever been other than crumbling
ruins.
True. no had never said anything
definitely to her, but there is so much
more in what is never said, and daily
out of the unspoken affinity which
surely existed between these two con-
genial people the more foolish woman
had constructed such hopes as women
cherish to the end of time. That he
had thought enough of her to warrant
these hopes, thousand wordless wit
nesses testified.
Now thus in the very midst of the
work that he had given to her to do
for HIM, and that she loved to do be.
cause it was for him, the blow fell.
Yes" she responded to his state.
ment in the faint pathetic question
ing that fills u woman's voice when
she is thus called upon to face her
hearts doom, and her hands uncon.
sciously sought to go on with her
work.
Yes, Miss Prince, he said, with no
sound of sympathy in his voice, "and
l am pretty sure my wife will not per.
NIT you to remain here as my type
writer. may say" and he simpered
again, ''as my pretty typewriter.
She never 80 much us saw the sim
per, and in that far Mr.. Blinker should
have thanked his good fortune.
II have thought the matter oil
over" he continued, "and / leave it
to you as fsirminded woman whether
it is my duty to gain wife and lose a
typewriter, or vice versa?"
BY this time she had recovered
from the primary shock. She had
even begun to wonder how he had
ever mustered up sufficient courage to
propose to the future Mrs. Blinker
She even went further and made up
her mind that the lady was widow,
and had used the traditional wiles of
the widow on the unsuspecting and
bnshful Mr., Blinker
''By all means, Mr.. Blinker," she
said coldly, gain the wife. The
world is full of typewriters, but it is
not every day that man can get a
wife. AT least such wife as you de.
serve" and in spite Of herself there
was something soft in her tone that
she did not want to BIO there.
Mr.. Blinker noticed it, too, but he
didn't stop to comment upon it.
"Good for you, Miss Prince" he
laughed. 81 knew you were a woman
of sense"
She sbranll ns il she had been
touched with hot iron.
THANK you, Mr.. Blinker," she said,
''Now, if you please, we will go on
with our work.
II had seemed as il lifetime had
past since she had written the last
word, aud as she bent down over IL, ms
if the better see what it was, a tear fell
upon the line.
This Mr.. Blinker also observed, but
said nothing, seeming to enjoy it.
"Beforo we do, MISS Prince" he
said, "may ask favor Mt your hands
"a promise?"
"What isit? Yes" she answered.
Mr.. Blinker bracod himself
"Thnt, IL this woman whom 7 QUO
soon TO ask formally 10 be M wife, "
he said, should refuse lue, that you
will marry me"
For an instant the girl looked at
him, then she rose TO her feet, her eyes
'1'rIy blnziuQ.
Mr.. Biinker saw hat a.. t.skcss was
about TO spring, and he was fright.
ened.
"Wait, stop !" he exclaimed, hold.
ing mp his hands as il 20 shield himself
from tho blow. Hold OH till I tell
you who the woman is. It's you, Miss
Prince-you-you--youi Won't Won
marry me2 Will you be my wife?
Haven't you always known / didn't