St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1900-02-24

kiah. he would ask for a sign from
heaven. He would send the object oi
his alteration a bouquet, an anonymous
bouquet of the choicest; she would
surely guess from whom it came. Il
she placed it in the window he woulG
write to Mrs. Hexham, explain himself
and his intentions, and request per
mission to call.
Mr.. Oddie took holiday the day thu
bouquet was sent OF from Covent gar
den; to sit still in his Office was 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 was
convinced that he had offended his lady.
love. He had not been properly intro.
duced; the phrase became perfec,
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 beautiful woman; not too young
for a man-ahem-in his prime. The
wonder was that such a 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 oldfashioned 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, If 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 4 very kindly smile.
Her eyes looked rs il she had been
crying.
"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, am afraid l 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 a 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 filled. with tears
as she looked at him. "Oh, /" she cried.
II 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 ofit."
Thought of what?' asked Mr.. Oddie,
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 q min
ute before he grasped the significance
of what she was saying. 1t was the
daughter. not the mother, who was
'.afiicted," as Mrs. Roper would have
phrased it. He was silent, and Mrs.
Hexham continued:
my poor girl is over-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
tion my asking her to do me the honor
to be my wife?"
she said; but it is not exactly an or
binary case, is it? And l am sure you
are q 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 il not like other people.
indeed, think you would be very hap
py together"
81 think we three would be very hap
py together" answered Mr.. Oddie, en-
the "three." He took the
widows hand and kissed il with old
fashioned gallantry.
1t is unnecessary to mention at what
hour Mr.. Oddie required his
the next morning. or to state
that he hardly ate mouthful of it.
In the afternoon Of the same day
Mrs. Hexham might have been seen
reading a telegram. with a beaming
face. 1t was not long one. for it con-
tained only Ave words: Love from
Agatha and Markham" Sketch.