The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1897-02-22
Is s-it;t
HIS PROPOSAL.

Mss cmiuh' a lace WAS very bri4ht VIII
sne entsred the Office that morning. 4.
yhe aotually hummed little as she hui
PIP hat up and bcgan 70 dust the up
her wp6wfiter Mr.. Jones, The Junior par
nes OF the FIRM, oouldu't see any outwa,
grounds for this exuberance and felt corr
spondingly hurt that she did not see At
Voluntarily explain 'hsr causes for joy.
was to him an especially dull mornip,
and her sweet GOODNESS was Irritating.
| Jones wasn't generally a villain, hut Il
sight OF eompanion's unnecessary happ
ness when oneself is undeniably misera b
has been the cause of many little traa,
~ since the world began. He tried first /
disconcert her by half groan, half sigi
bpt he was ashamed Of himself and haster
Cd to explain that he had headache, Sb
pursed up her lips In pretty sympathy
| proposed sending the boy for some tiru
stuff and then proceeded to hum over he
| typewriter agaih. He endured II hak a,
| hour longer, then swore softly at the DO,
and began TO pile her desk high with ,
mountain Of work. She merely smiled ,
trife and went on, looking as cool az .
wayaide daisy In her fresh blue waist ant
her soft hair staying exasperatingly fiuffy
unrewarded effort has made many .
nan heartiess, 90 Jones In sheer despera.
tion announced that he feared there
WoulGn't be time for her to go out for her
lunch. And this most MISUNDERSTANDING
Of women actually lifted her eyes to biz
and aoquiesced with all the grace possible.
That settled Jones. Any human, be II
even woman, who would smilingly con-
sent to be locked up in that office all day
wasn't human, to tell the truth, and IL
would take heroic measures to make any
impression on such perverse nature. So
he Ravagely jammed his hat over his ears,
rushed out to fortify himself with an am.
pie lunch and appeared an hour later as
cool, calm and determined as any man In
the whole town. 1t was evident that he had
hit upon plan and that he had screwed
bis courage several notohes above the stick
ing point. The sight of the last Of o cream
puff which his cruelty had limited her to
for lunch made him waver little, but
when she went back to her mountain of
papers and began anew that exasperating
little song he set his teeth and began:
"Do you know, I've been thinking of you
all morning." This was said with most
tender information, and he leaned his beet.
on bis hand at just the right angle to
bring out the fine curves of his forehead
and chin. She glanced up moment, then
went on with her work with renewed
swiftness and replied innocently:
"Oh, you needn't worry, think. I'm
sure that II hurry can get all the briefs
copied at least.
II didn't mean the work, he answered,
biting his mustache to hide his ohagrin.
II said that was thinking of you"
Miss Smith opened her eyes in finely as
sumed ,irprise and then said little nery-
ously, "Why3'
Because like you"
A hot flush rose to her forehead, and she
made move to go. Then she changed her
mind and began her work again, though
he rejoiced to SEQ that she tangled her copy
terribly. He was sorry that things had
grown SO awkward so early in the scene,
but he was angry with her that she had
complicated matters SO, and went on:
Did 1t ever strike you that you are aw-
fully prettyP"
The anger In her eyes began to be dan
gerous. At the same time there seemed to
grow all at once subtle, fierce determine
ton to meet him on his own ground, and
he quailed little before her straightfor-
ward gaze as she answered:
well, have mirror at home" Then
a hint Of o smile crept up to her lips, and
she lot her hands fall into her lap as though
waiting for the next.
Jones prayed that no one would come in
now until the little scene was played out,
and there was a heightened flush on his
face as he asked:
"Do you ever think of mel"
Miss Smiths eyes dropped In pretty
confusion as she answered softly:
"Often, very often"
Jones at this lost his head completely.
He had begun in fun, and his traitor of
heart played him false as early as this
What had been farce to him five minutes
ago now grew to be dead earnest, and the
worst thing about 1t was that he feared
that she realized 1t. He had always been
but never before had he seen
anything that he wanted SO much as this
slip Of girl before him. He knew fully
how the fellows would laugh at his suo-
cumbing to his office girl, and he shud-
dered at his mothers rage at such an I'M
suitable alliance, but the enhancing curve
Of her upper lip and above all the girls
carefulness goaded him on.
Miss Smith," he began hesitatingly,
her face at every word, miss
Smith, you have made me miserable all
"Pm SO sorry cooed Miss Smith en-
as the hand now wandering
over the keys began to tremble.
And fyou'd-you'd justsay something
10 mako fellow feel little-er-encour-
aged, you know, why, I'd'-
Miss Smith seemed to fully understand
all this disjointed statement with charm
ing sympathy, but she didn't say anything
with her lips though poor Jones mag
med that he could read volumes in her
bright timid eyes.
He hesitated and was lost So out went
both his hands, and he whispered bravely:
MY dear Miss Smith, you must know
that love you.
She drew away just to escape his clasp,
and the pink in either cheek spoke We.
hement encouragement for his happiness,
the frantic Jones thought. Still he was
tritle staggered at her reply:
" Yes IL thought SO"
Was she fooling him, this innocent eyed,
pink checked atom of femininity before
himP But, no, for she was looking too
glad, and he drove on to destruction
" Miss Smith, will you make me the hap
piest man in this world2 Will you TO my
wife?"
Then the smile suddenly grew frigid,
with an iciness that CONCEALED his very
blood. As she rose to her feet Jones' fright
bned vision pictured her as tall as a queen,
this erstwhile tiny maiden who had seem
ed to tremble under his very glance Slow
ly she laid aside her beruf1led apron, took |
down her hat and tucked the ends of her
veil in among Che ourls at the back of her |
head. Then she turned, with her hand on
the doorknob, and remarked;
II had intended to tell you this evening,
but might as well do so now and have it
done with. You will havo to get new
for I'm to DO married next
week Toto man." |
And Jones hadn't succeeded in making |
her unhappy after all.-Exchange.
Yelled the Scene.