Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1898-05-28
A MODERN OFFER.

MISS GreabOre8 smlleu.
"And why have you net?''
~ have been at times half afraid that
you might accept" replied the candid
young man. cat Others" he added,
thoughtfully removing an almost invis-
ible dust speck from his sleeve, ~ have
been much perturbed by the possibility
oh, certainly, the possibility-that
you might refuse. "
1T would be disagreeable to be re-
fused, remarked the lady impersonal-
ly.
THAT" the gentleman considered,
"depends. If | was sure / wanted to
marry you, it would unquestionably be
disagreeable to be refused. y
"You are not sure whether you are
in love with me or not?" remarked the
young lady.
Mr.. Markham readjusted his back to
the mantelpiece and said in low voice,
looking down at the very adjacent
brown, bent head:
~ admit | am disappointed. l had
no idea that you could DO stupid. 1t is
evidently possible "
IIOui bnG IlOblOh VI MISE AE1CaLOItA
head-as they would say in the old
books--he implied a note of interroga-
ton.
1T is stupid not to have grasped the
question. l have for quite long time
known that was in love with you.
Ever since lunoheonY
perhaps not quite SO long as that.
I,-+ i,,Ixp al
since, Lady Greatorex left the ROOM"
The young lady laughed.
"Was my mother such an instance of
George Eliot's malign prophet standing
behind her daughter and threatening
what she will be?"
II merely meant that the presence of
chaperon is incompatible with senti
ment. -
81, observed the young woman, edo
not mind admitting that / am getting
confused. You now assert that for more
than 20 minutes you have adored me"
Mr.. Markham's shoulders appeared to
deprecate the oXaggerati0n of this rhet-
oric), land a moment ago you seemed
much to doubt your love.
mot Mt all. That is why | lately
called you stupid. | am sure that am
in love, but | am very uncertain as to
whether | would like to marry the be-
loved object. "
Miss GreatOreX laughed.
II admit it sounds perhaps improper.
merely mean that marriage as the nee
essary denouemCnt of being what is
called in love seems to mo quite
doubtful eXpedient,
"When there is no question Of being
in love-" he continued, relaxing him
self by a short walk to the other end of
the room and back, Il think marriage
not a bad arrangement. 1t is then mere
ly form of business partnership, and
now that it has ceased to be insoluble
has no special terrors. But you and [
have nothing to gain by that. [ am eX
ceedingly we'll off; SO are you. | do not
need to marry for position; nor do you.
We neither of us need to demand blood
like Ha1nlet's aunt. In fine, rs they say
in the Arabian Nights, you have moth
ing to gain by me, and have no mate
rial need Of anything you can supply to
me. Markham is just as fine place as
Greatorex Abbey, and not bit finer.
When speak of being i'll love, it is
purely personal sensation. | should
like it to become chronic, 1 really en-
JOY being in love. But if we got mar
ried -
''You cannot anticipate your love
standing that crucial test?"
Il honestly admit that have my
doubts. We live in straightforward
age. Let mo make a clean breast of
them.
You mean that You would dislike
the duty of being permanently in love
with me, )" said the young lady, who
perhaps found hisremarks becoming too
general. Though as a temporary senti-
mental excursion You have not hitherto
found it disagreeable:'
"What l find fault with is, ," he de-
clared, without very directly replying
to her question, "that unless one were
to marry you one could not do several
things one would like For instance, l
would like very much to take yoa TO
| India.
"When?" inquired tho young lady,
with somewhat startling dedniteness.
"Nct, " ne replied, Tin, say October
! India in the middle of the season you
would not enjoy bit. But Iroally fear,
unless we do get married, the trip is
impossible All tho same, l should like
to explain the Tag to you, and shah
Aims mosque at Ahmcdabad-oh, and
the Golden Gates at san Francisco, il