Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1900-09-29
Illustrations by I. W. Taber.


ed from their boudoir at the tinkling OF
the breakfast bell next morning.
Madge was full of mischief, and even
the usually staid and dignihed. Flor
ence caught the infection, and together
they alternately bantered and bullied
Draper and Chester until Mrs. Hurst
came to the rescue.
They fingered long after the meal,
and In after years both couples looked
back with fond recollections to that
memorable morning. They were speed
Ing over the level Nebraska plains, rich
with the lush green promises Of the
coming harvest. For miles the prairie
farms spread out on either hand, dot
ted with white homesteads and quiet
village stations. past which the train
tore with ceaseless and steady energy.
Breakfast ended. Mrs. Hurst found
an excuse for leaving the saloon on the
plea of ''tidying up" the boudoir. A
few minutes later Ives invited Madge
to inspect the view from the rear door
Of the Pullman. SO John Draper and
Florence Grannlss were left alone. The
moment for them had come!
Florence lay back In her seat. toying
idly with some trifIe Of needlework,
but her eyes were often turned to gaze
windowward at the moving panorama
without. John watched her. all the
love In his great heart showing In his
face.
Suddenly he rose and leaned over the
back Of her chair. It was a prosaic
wooiug. amid prosaic surroundings, but
with him It was now or never!
Men never know exactly what they
will do or say at such times. The most
carefully prepared speeches are apt to
Hy away when the supreme moment
comes; In fact. John Draper had made
no verbal preparation. He wanted to
tell her he loved her.and tosask her to
be bis wife In q simple and earnest
way. as became his whole nature, and
then to listen to her answer and abide
by it
Florence, dear girl" he began and
then stopped
what ls it?'' she inquired. He had
taken her hand. and as her uplifted
eyes met his she must have read bis
secret with q woman's intuition, for a
rosy flush swept from throat to fore
head and then as quickly faded. But
she could not help him-not yet. he
dropped her hand and took q few hasty
steps across the car and back again.
then. drawing up his chair beside hers.
he took her unresistlng hand again.
my dear child" he said. I'VE have
known eacH other good many years
90 many that l sometimes fear you
only regard me as grim and gray old
fellow. with no part nor purpose In
tour young life but that Of mere
1Isiness relation" p
',Say, rather, the best and kindest
and truest friend have ever known
she replied. lifting her eyes to his. On
less he was mistaken the true lovelight
was dawning there.
"I would not for the world disturb
that feeling unless could put some
thing better in Its place" he went on.
"Fiurence, have learned to love you
not as daughter, but as a man loves
the woman he would make bis wife.
VIII you marry me, Florence?
Her glossy head bent low, but her
unresisting hand nestled in his not un-
willingly. Bending nearer, he waited
for her answer. Slowly and shyly Size
raised her eyes to his and bravely au-
swered:
"Yes, dear. will"
In the Pullman another wooing was
in progress. Chester Ives had likewise
determined to put his fate to the test
that very morning and went at the
matter with his usual dash and deci-
sion. For few minutes be and Madge
stood watching tie flying prospect
from the vestibuled door. Then his
arm stole round her waist. and, putting
! his lips close to her ear 80 as to con-
quer the din Of the train, he said: =,
"Madge, / can't 90 on like this any
longer. Do you know why / asked
you to come out here"
"The prisoner is not bound to answer
any discriminating questions" she re-
torted, as saucy as ever.
"Well, I'll tell you, though believe
you've known 1t for ever SO long.
Madge, dear, one little word from you
will make me the happiest or the most
miserable fellow in the world. / love
you. Madge, and l want you for my
wife. Is it to be happiness or misery;
Madge-yes or no? Don't keep me in
suspense, dear"
A moment she hesitated. All her
bonhomie and piquant insoucience
were gone, and she was just q simple
daughter Of Eve. Again he urged her.
(Which is it to be, Madge"
Then she shyly turned her face to his
and murmured:
1.-THE word is Yes"
There is little more to add to this ro-
nance of the rail Mrs. Hurst remain
ed in seclusion for sufficiently decent
space Of time, and when she emerged
she found her brother and Florence sit
ting side by side in calm contentment,
and by the quick, happy glance which
flashed from her brothers eyes she