The Greenville times. [volume] (Greenville, Miss.) 1868-1917, 1897-05-22


down on the short grass aud broker
S board sidewalk just as Nicholas Bod
) man opened his window and thrus
out his head to make representation
, Of the weather for the coming l.
. hours.
1t was then Just G. 10 o'clock. Mich.
olas was quite sure Of the time, for lie
; had looked at his watch the first thing
after getting up, and had made a
rapid calculation as to the exact nun
Der of hours, minutes aud seconds
that hour hand should point to
o'clock agnin.
1t was the Goth day of May, and a
day that was fraught with matters OF
the gravest import for Nicholas Bod
man. He had loug contemplated max
ing hazard of strange and untriod
fortunes, aud one evening away back
in the winter, when he had sat before
his CRATE fire cogitating the most fell
citous manner of bringing the venture
to a successful issue, it had suddenly
been borne in upon his mind that
o'clock on the Goth Of May would be
the most propitious time for him to
make the trial.
1t was a momentous question that
Nicholas had determined upon having
decided, being nothing more or less
than a problem of matrimouy. Nicho-
las was unlike most men in a good
many respects. Up to the time when
he met Mrs. Rosewater he had never
had an affair of the heart that was
worth mentioning.
He had no idea how to proceed in
cultiyating the widows acquaintance,
and as his passion grew the quandary
in which he found himself increased |
in corresponding ratio. At last,
however, he decided to trust himself |
blindly to Providence on the Goth of
May and do oahand whatever circum-
stances might suggest.
All things considered, it was very
aggravating that it should rain that
day. BY 3 o'clock the heavy down
pour Of the morning had subsidized in
to n dreary monotonous drizzle, and
Nicholas sheltered his new hat under
his best silk umbrella and went to call
on Mrs. Rosewater.
May goth fell on Wednesday that
year, which did not happen to be his
hostess regular day at home, but she
was too bright woman to let him
know that his call had been ill-timed.
"What do you think of the preacher ,
we are to have as a substitute for our
regular pastor this summer" she
asked at length, after a slight pause, d
during which he wondered If she a
would ever say anything that would c
serve as a key for unlocking his own Y
Ourdened mind. a
Il don't know" he answered, with
map Of determination. II have not
bought anything about him. I've had t
'ther things to think about" t
"Oh, have you % she said softly. II
'Yos, said he, bluntly. 1--WE been 0
about you," he had found Il
be key and the words came easily A
nough then. II have loved you for o
1onths, Mrs. Rosewater indeed, even Il
Or years, 1 think-iu fact, l have lost
rack Of the time, And want Won to n
larry me. I've got about as much to o.
fer you in the way of the worlds
Gods as the average man. I'm the SO
wner of a good business down town, Ia
have an interest iu three railroads.
nd the corner lot over there is mine. d'
% you think You can care enough for SC
g to marry me?" d
Really, Mr.. Bodmau," she an
7ered, going over to the window and m
oking down the street at the board to
ak in front of the Bodman house. ar
have not thought of marrying yc
IT just now. You have been frank WI
til mo and will speak plainly to
III l have quite little money of
y own; so much that it will not be ab
cessary for me to marry a rich man sa
order to insure myself a home. I wi
We always known you were strongly
avn toward me, Mr.. Bodman, and I tn
mildly confess that the attraction iif
S been mutual. Yes, Mr. Bodman. VIC
I'M wiling to marry you an
Nicholas had arisen from his chair tn
1 had started toward her, bat sue W.T.
we'd him back
Provided, she continued, "yon Nj
U comply with one request. Come SOC
re-" size
Nicholas gent and s'l4l beside Dor. chi
4 che ppiatoI 90 tue huken ddg- wa
Tx sarf9nndiag bis pre- mIsos, > RE