The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1900-06-05

~ have never been properly intro
duced, that is why" was Mr.. Oddie's
anguished reflection. ''She must have
been exquisitely brought up; the very
pink of propriety."
Something will have to be DONE"
cried the poor man. desperately, on the
day that be went to the city without a
tie and an unfeeling acquaintance
jeered at him and inquired If his liver
were out of order. His liveri Perish
the thought 1t was his heart
He decided at length that, like Heze-
kiah, he would ask for a sign from
heaven. He would send the object of
his alteration bouquet, an anonymous
bouquet of the choicest; she would
surely guess from whom 1t came. IL
she placed 1t In the window be would
write to Mrs. Hexham, explain himself
and his intentions, and request per-
mission to call.
Mr.. Oddie took holiday the day the
bouquet was sent of from Covent gar
den; to sit still in his Office was thing
impossible. He went for a long walk,
but where his neat little legs took him
he was never able TO say.
The next day the agony increased;
there was no sign. Mr.. Oddie fell plump
into the depths OF despair, and was
convinced that be had offended his lady
love. BE had not been properly intro
duced; the phrase became perfect
nightmare to him.
But the second day there was the
bouquet in the window in all its glory,
and, moreover, Miss Hexham was bend
ing over it, inhaling its perfume. She
was a beautiful woman; not too young
for a man-ahem-in his prime. The
wonder was that such treasure had
not been snapped up before.
Markham Oddie wrote to Mrs. Hex
ham. 1t took him hours and hours to
compose the letter, and it was the most
deliciously old-fashioned epistle ever
penned in a practical century. Two
whole days elapsed before little note
came in reply:
"Mrs. Hexham presents her compli-
ments TO Mr.. Markham Oddie, and
would be pleased to see him, IL he could
make it convenient to call this evening
between eight and nine o'clock"
The note was formal one; but when
the agitated little old bachelor was
shown into the sitting-room at Holm
wood, Mrs. Hexham, who was alone, re-
ceived him with a very kindly smile.
Her eyes looked as If she had been
crying.
s'Please take a seat" she said. ut
has been very close all day. has it not?"
Terribly" answered the visitor. do
you feel the heat much?"
"Yes, I am afraid i do" was the re-
ply, and Mr.. Oddie suddenly recollected
that his future mother-in-law was said
TO be deaf and dumb. This lady was
certainly neither.
MY daughter" said Mrs. Hexham,
after pause, desired me to tell you
how very, very grateful she is to you
for your letter and the flowers She
has gone away for a short time to stay
with friends. She-she thought it
best"
Mr.. Oddie sat there, unable to utter
word. "She had gone away, because
she thought it best" That meant that
there was no hope for him.
Mrs. Hexham's eyes filed with tears
as she looked ut him. "Oh," she cried
81 am SO sorry-so very sorryi You are
such q good. kind-hearted man, l am
sure. OF course. you did not know, OF
you would not have thoughtof it,"
Thought of what 2" asked MIR. Oddie
heavily.
''Of marrying my poor Agatha YOU
did not know that she is deaf anc
dumb?"
Mr.. Oddie stared at the speaker In
blank smazement. 1t was fully min
ute before he grasped the significance
of what she was saying. 1t was tbs
. daughter, not the mother, who wa:
afflicted" as Mrs. Roper would hav,
phrased it. He was silent, and Mrs
Hexham continued:
MY poor girl is over-sensitive. ant
your kindness went to her heart, cal
assure you"
Mr.. Oddie pulled himself together
and rose to his feet. At this momen
there was something almost nobl
about his rather tubby little figure.
Madam" he said, firmly, "you
/. daughter is an angel. and | love her
viii you have the goodness TO give m
her address-that is, if you will sane
> tion my asking her to do me the homo
to be my wife?"
, at seems rather unconventional,
, she said; "but ii is not exactly an OF
, binary case. is il? And I am sure 20
!. are a good man. Mr.. Sedley, the vical
: was talking about you only the othe
, day, and saying how charitable 20
q were. Agatha has the sweetest dispC
sition, and she is so quick You hardl
realize that she is not like other peopl
: indeed, l think you would be very hal
4 Ply together"
= 81 think we three would be very hal
: by together" answered Mr.. Oddie. en-
phasizing the "three." he took ii
, widows hand and kissed it with oil
q fashioned gallantry.
II is unnecessary to mention at whit
!, unearthly hour Mr.. Oddie required b
!. breakfast the next morning. or TO sta
n that he hardly ate mouthful of il.
= In the afternoon of The same da
NJ -