Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1900-08-15
out Of order. His liver! Perish the
thought. 1t was his heart.
II an.tl.I .,x l,..~xt. xt,c< ttY., Iouo


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 a bouquet. an anonymous
bouquet Of the choicest. She would
surely guess from whom it came. If
she placed it In the window. he would
write TO Mrs. Hexham. explain him.
self and his intentions and request
permission to call.
Mr.. Oddie took holiday the day the
bouquet was sent Off from Covent Gar
den To sit still In his office was a
thing impossible. He went for 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
his ladylove. He had not been proper
ly introduced. The phrase became a
perfect nightmare to him.
But the second day there was the
bouquet In the window in all it's glory,
and, moreover. Miss Hexham was
bending over it, inhaling its perfume.
She was a beautiful woman, not too
young for 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
dellciously old fashioned epistle ever
penned in practical century. Two
whole days elapsed before little note
came in reply;
"Mrs Hexham presents her compli-
ments to Mr.. Markham eddie and
would be pleased to see him IL he
could make it convenient to call this
evening between and 8 o'clock"
The note was a formal one, but when
the agitated little old bachelor was
shown into the sitting room at Holm
wood Mrs. Hexham, who was alone.
received him with a very kindly smile.
Her. eyes looked as If she had been
crying.
'Please take seat" she said. at
has been very close all day. has it
notY
TERRIBLY" answered the visitor.
"Do you feel the heat much"
Eyes, l am afraid l do" was the re-
ply, and Mr.. eddie suddenly recollect-
ed 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 short time to stay
with friends. She-she thought it
best"
Mr.. Oddle sat there, unable to utter a
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 at him. "Oh," she cried.
IT am so sorry-so very sorry! You
are such good. kind hearted man.
am sure. OF course you did not know
or you would not have thought Of it."
Thought Of what" asked Mr.. Cd
die heavily.
"Of marrying my poor Agatha. You
did not know that she Is deaf and
dumb?"
Mr.. Oddie stared at the speaker In
blank amazement. 1t was fully min
ute before he grasped the significance
of what she was saying. 1t was the
daughter, not the mother, who was
afflicted" as Mrs. Roper would have
phrased it. He was silent. and Mrs.
Hexham continues:
my poor girl Is very sensitive, and
your kindness went to her heart, I can
assure you"
Mr.. Oddie pulled himself together
and rose to his feet. At this moment
there was something almost noble
about his rather tubby little figure.
Madam" he said firmly, your
daughter Is an angel. and l love her.
Will you have the goodness to give me
her address-that is, If you will sane
ton my asking her to do me the honor
to be my wifeT
II SeeluS rather observation-disclosures,
she said. "but it is not exactly an ordi-
nary case, is it? And l am sure you
are good man. Mr.. Sedley. the vicar,
was talking about you only the other
day and saying how charitable you
were. Agatha has the sweetest dispo-
sition, and she is so quick you hardly
realize that she is not like other peo-
pie. Indeed, think you would be very
happy together"
II think we three would be very hap
py together" answered Mr.. eddie. en-
phasizing the three" He took the
widows hand and kissed 1t with old
fashioned gallantry.
1t is unnecessary to mention at what
unearthly hour Mr.. Oddie required his
breakfast the next morning or to state
that he hardly ate meuthful Of it.
In the afternoon of the same day
Mrs. Hexham might have been seen
reading a telegram with beaming
face. 1t was not long one. for II con-
tanned only five words. Love from
Agatha aud Markham."-Sketch.