Connecticut western news., 1899-01-05
A MODERN OFFER.

"I have been at times half afraid tha you might accept" replied the candid young man. "At others" he added thoughtfully removing an almost invis ible dust speok from his sleeve, "I 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 I was sure I wanted tc marry you, 1t would unquestionably be disagreeable to be refused" <" "You are not sure whether you are in love with me or notr' remarked ths young lady.
 Mir. Markham readjusted his back tc the mantelpiece and said in low voice, looking down at the very adjacent brown, bent head:
 ''I admit am disappointed. I had no idea that you could be stupid. It is evidently possible. '
 From the motion of Miss Greatorex' < head-as they would say in the old books-he implied a note of interroga. tion.
 "It is stupid not to have grasped the question. I have for quite long time known that was in love with you" "Ever since lunoheon?''
 Perhaps not quite so long as that. But certainly ever since, almost ever since, Lady Greatorex left the room." The younp lady lauphad "Was my mother such an instance of George Eliot's malign prophet standing behind her daughter and threatening what she will be?" ''I merely meant that the presence of a chaperon is incompatible with senti- ment."
 "I, observed the young woman, "do not mind admitting that am getting confused. You now assert that for more than 20 minutes you have adored me" (Mr. Markham shoulders appeared to deprecate the exaggeration of this rhet- orio), land a moment ago you seemed much to doubt your love- Mot at all. That is why lately called you stupid. I am sure that I am in love, but am very uncertain as to whether l would like to marry the be- loved object
 Miss Greatorex laughed.
 "I admit it sounds perhaps improper. I merely mean that marriage as the nec- essary denouement of being what is called in love seems to me quite a doubtful expedient.
 "When there is no question of being in love-" he continued, relaxing him. self by short walk to the other end of the room and back, "I think marriage not bad arrangement. It 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. I 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 Hamlet's aunt. In fine, as they say in the Arabian Nights, you have noth- ing to gain by me, and I have no mate rial need of anything you can supply to me- Markham Is just as fine 8 place as Greatorex Abbey, and not a bit finer. When I speak of being in love, it is purely a personal sensation. should like it to become chronic. really en. joy being in love. But if we got mar ried''-
 "You cannot anticipate your love standing that crucial test?"
 1T honestly admit that have my | doubts. We live in 8 straightforward age. Let me make 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 his remarks becoming too general. "though as temporary senti- mental excursion you have not hitherto | found it disagreeable?"
 "What 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, would like very much to take you to India" "Wheng" inquired the young lady. with somewhat startling definiteness.
 "Not," he replied, "till, say October. India in the middle of the season you would not enjoy bit. But really fear, unless we do get married. the trip is impossible. All the same. should like to explain the Tai to you, and Shah | Aims mosque at Ahmedabad-oh,.a .and the Golden Gates at San Francisco; il is tiresome that l cannot take you there without marrying you.
 "You could take mamma as well, and Aunt Adeliza, perhaps" | "That would be different. A superior plan for those to whom it commends it. self, but personally should not like il so much"
 Miss Greatorex laughed. MT. Mark ham left his sequestered seat and took one beside her on the little sofa.
 "Were you thinking" asked the lady, "that you would like to take my hand?'
 "I have thought that before. wal thinking of taking 1t. Now, if we were married" he continued after an inter val, "this would be my business. l would be expected of me, as it is of | hen to lay eggs or the Prince of Vale | to lay foundation stones."
 "And then it would cease to pleasef'
 "It would then become detestable And often lately I have pictured mysel as riding home in the deepening dust of a winters afternoon from hunting
 either with you by my side or to fin' you waiting for me at home. When
 think of it, 1 nearly take q hanson an,
 nnma hAss to lay myself At your feet. "