Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1898-08-26
A OFFER.

MANN ia RAREk"NaH ~
Miss Greatorex smiled.
"And why have you notY''
al have been at times half afraid that
you might accept" replied the candid
young man. "At others" he added,
t~houghtfully rcncving an almost invis-
ible dust speck froiu his sleeve, II have
been much perturbed by the possibility
oh, certainly, the possibility-that
you might ~refuse."
1T would be ~disagreeable TO DO re-
fused, Z" remarked tho lady imperEonal-
y.
THAT" tho gentleman considered,
depends. If I was sure / wanted to
marry you, it would unquestionably be
disagreeablo to bo refused"
"You are not sure whether you are
in love with me or mott" remarked the
young lady.
Fir. Markham readjusted bis back to
the mantelpieoe and said in a low voice,
looking down at tho very adjacent
brown, bent head:
II admit I am disappointed. l had
no idea that you could be stupid. 1t IS
evidently possible"
From the motion Of Miss Greatorex's
head-as they would say in the old
books-he implied q note of interroga-
ton.
at is stupid not TO have grasped tue
question. 1 have for quite a long time
known that l was in love with you"
Ever since luncheong'
"Perhaps not quite 90 long as that.
But certainly ever since, almost over
since, Lady Grca.erex loft the room"
Tho young lady laughed.
"Was my mothor sroh an instance Of
George Eliot's malign prophet standing
behind her daughter and threatening
what she will be?''
~ merely meant that The presence Of
q chaperon is Incompatible with senti-
ment."
81, observed tho young woman, do
rot mind admitting that l am getting
confused. You now assert that for moro
than 20 minutes you have adored me-
{Mr. Markham's shoulders appeared to
deprecate tine exaggeration Of this rhet-
oric), land a moment ago you seemed
much to doubt your love"
"Not at all. That is why | lately
called you stupid. l am sure that l an
In love, bot | am very uncertain as t,
whether l would like to marry tho be-
loved object"
Miss qreatorox laughed.
IL admit it sounds perhaps improper
1 merely mean that marriage as the nee
essary denouemont Of being what il
called in love seems to me quite {
doubtful expedient.
"When thure Is no question Of being
in love-" no continued, relaxing him
self by a short walk to the other end o
fhe room and back, II think rarriagi
not o bad arrangement. 1t is tIteu mere
" a form Of business partnership, anC
now that 1t has ceaEed to be insolubl'
has no special terrors. But you and
have nothing to gain by that. I am OK
ceedingly well of co are you. do no
noed to marry for position; nor do you
We neither Of us need TO demand BLOOD
like Hamlet's aunt. In fine, as they cay
in tho Arabian Nights, you haze moth
ing to gain by me, ard | haze no mate
rial need Of anything You can supply t.
me. Markham is just as fine o place ~
Greatorex Abbey, and not a bit finer
When / speak Of being in love, 1t i
purely a personal sensation. l SHOULD
like it to become chronic. / really en-
Joy being in love. Bnt if We got mar
ried'-
"You cannot anticipate your Low
standing that crucial test?"
~ honestly admit that l have m.
doubts. We live in a straightforward
age. Let me make O clean breast G
them"
"You mean that you would dislik
the duty Of being permanently in lov
with me" said the young lady, VIII
perhaps found his remarks becoming to
general, Though as a temporary sent.
mental excursion you have not hithert
found it disagreeableg'
"What I find fault with Is" he d'
clared. without very directly replyin
to her question, THAT unless one Wei
to merry you one could not do sever;
things one would like. For instance,
would like very much to take you
India"
"When?' inquired the young lad.
with somewhat startling definiteness.
"Not, 4" he replied, "till, say Ootobe
India in the middle Of the season yc
would not enjoy a bit. But Ireally fea
unless we do get married. the trip
impossible. All tho same, / should iii
TO explain the Tai to you, and sha
Aims mosque at Ahmedabad-oh, an
the Golden Gates at San Francisco;
is tiresome that ! cannCt take you the
without marrying you"
You could take mamma as well, al
Aunt Adeliza, perhaps"
"That would DO different. A superb
plan for those to whom il oommenda !
self, but personally / should not like
80 much"
Miss Greatorex lhughed. Mr.. Mar
ham left his sequestered seat and to-
one beside her on the little sofa.
Were you thinking" asked Il
LADY. "that you would like to take n
hand2'
II have thought that before, I "
thinbipg Of taking it. Now, II We We