Santa Fe daily New Mexican., 1897-08-25
A SLIGHT MISTAKE.

tends to propose to you tonight.
'But, mother, he is so much older than
I am.
"Nonsense, child His age at the very
outside cannot be more than six or eight
and thirty"
"And am only 49, and besides"-
Besides what?'
ooh, nothingl'
"Do you mean there is some one you
like betterl l am too fond of you, darling,
to try to force a husband upon you, but |
must say that James Harwood has always
shown himself to be very model gentle
man and well endowed with estimable
qualities that too many of the young men
of the present day unfortunately lack.
eyes"
"And his financial position is of indls-
putable frmness. He has not only the
will but the means to provide the comforts
and even the luxuries of a home for his
wife,"
ooh, yes, mother!"
"Well, child, if your heart does not
draw you to him, will not press you, but
I think he is man any woman might
feel proud of, and in my marrying days
r.
"Why do you talk of your marrying
days as though they were over, mother?
Do you never think of marrying again2"
"My darling, you forget my age"
"Why, dear mother, you talk as If you
were Methuselah. You are not SO very
old"
II shall be Al in few months, Elsie.
The girl laughed brightly. "And you
look hardly 81. YOU
Whatever else she may have been con-
templating saying was cut off by the an
nouncement of "Mr. James Harwood, a
gentleman who was short time following
his name and greeted the two ladies rather
nervously as he entered. He was tall,
well shaped man, with good natured
face, but whose hair was getting a little
scanty on the top, indicating that he had
passed the meridian of youth.
He sat down and for little while tried
to maintain his share in general conyer
sation, but he seemed uncomfortable and
talked in somewhat preoccupied manner,
| as though something were weighing on
| his mind.
At last Mrs. Singleton, thinking it
polite to leave the two together, made some
excuse to go out and rose from her seat.
| She had reached the door when James Har.
wood, with an evident effort, leaned for.
ward in his chair and said quickly, Please
don't go, Mrs Singleton" She stopped
on the point of leaving the room and came
back. She believed that he desired her
consent first and thoroughly approved OF
| the straightforward course. Looking al
Elsie, she said gently:
II wish darling, you would answer
| those cards for me that are in the drawing
room I feel q little fatigued after my
| drive"
| Without requiring a second bidding the
| girl departed lightly on her GRAND, leaving
| her mother alone with their visitor.
Mrs Singleton was sitting on low
sofa, and James Harwood left his chair
and went to sit beside her, his nervousness
becoming more marked as he did so. Ha
looked straight in front of him as he said
"Mrs. Singleton, wished-rather- to
speak to you upon subject. trust you
will bear with me moment while p
The lady noticed his agitation and was
| sorry for him. She tried to help him out.
~ think I know to what you are allud-
ing have been expecting this, James
| you will let me call you James?-for some
time. Please go on. /"
| "It is kind of you to say that 1t makes
what I have to say much easier" He
clasped one of his knees with both hands
and for the first time looked straight into
his companions face. 81 have recently
had thoughts my dear Mrs. Singleton
though feel much diifidcnce in telling
| you'll have lately been contemplating
| marriage"
'That is exactly what / expected you tc
say and think at your age and in your
position it is very proper course to take. -
| "Then may take it? May be SO bold
as to assume-that you are not averse--ir
| fact, that you CONSENT"
"That is what intended to convey.
said just now that had been little pre-
pared for this, and am very glad that you
have given me the opportunity of saying
as truly think-that no woman could
wish to find better husband.
She looked into his face with a quiet
smile as she concluded.
| For a moment Harwood shuilled nerv
ously on his seat. Then, moving closer tt
her, he took her hand. Mrs. Singleton
looked surprised, but she let it remain.
'Then, as everything is so satisfactorily
settled" he said awkwardly, "would you
mind if THAT is--it seems perhaps little
strange at flrst-but may kiss your"
Mrs. Singleton was more than ever tax
en- aback at this unexpected request, and 4
flush came over her face. Then she
thought that as prospective son in law
! his request was perhaps not altogether
unreasonable, and she turned her face tt
his, smiling rather consciously as she re
| piled:
"Oh, we'll, I suppose you may, as am
to be your mother
"My mother!'
"Yes shall be your mother, shant I,
| if YOU marry Elsie?'
''Marry Elsie! But I want to marry
youp'