The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1900-03-06

one was a beautiful woman, not toe
young for 8 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 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 If he
could make 1t convenient to call this
evening between 8 and 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,
received him with very kindly smile.
Her eyes looked as If she had been
crying.
"Please take seat" she said. sit
has been very close all day, has it
notr'
4CIIlO1yg Oils WOICu TIC fl6AtOIs
'Do you feel the heat muchT
Eyes, am afraid l do" was the re-
ply, and Mr.. Oddie 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.. Oddie sat there, unable to utter a
word. tShe 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,
II am so sorry-so very sorry! You
are such good, kind hearted man, l
am sure. OF course you did not know
or you would not have thought Of it."
Thought of -whatY asked Mr.. Cd
die heavily.
"Of marrying my poor Agatha. You
did not know that she is deaf and
dumbW
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 continued:
"My poor girl is very sensitive, and
your kindness went to her heart, 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 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
at seems rather unconventional"
she said, "but it is not exactly an ordi-
nary case, is 1t? And 1 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
by together" answered Mr.. Oddie, en-
phasizing the ''three." He took the
widows hand and kissed it 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 mouthful 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 it con-
tanned only five words, "Love from
Agatha and Markham" Sketch.