The St. Johns herald., 1900-05-05

cried the poor man, desperately, on the day that he went 10 the city without tie and an unfeeHng acquaintance jeered at him and inquired if his liver were out of order. His liver! Perish the thought! It 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 adorstion bouquet, an anonymous bouquet of the choicest; she would surely guess from whom it came. If she placed il in the window he would write to Mrs. Hexhsm, explain himself and his intentions, and request per mission 10 call.
 Mir. Oddie took 6 holiday the day the bouquet was sent of from Covent gar den; 10 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 10 say.
 The next day fhe agony increased; there was no sign. Mir. 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 . perfect nightmare 10 him.
 But the second day there was the bouquet in he window in all its glory. and, moreover, Miss Hexham was bend ing over ii, inhaling its perfume. She was a beautiful woman; not too young for a man-ahem-in his prime. The wonder was that such Q treasure had not been snapped up before.
 Markham Oddie wrote 10 Mrs. Hex ham. Ii took him hours and hours to compose the letter, and it was the most deliciously oId-faahioued epistle ever penned in a practical century. Two whole days elapsed before a little note came in reply:
 Mrs. Hexham presents her compH' ments to Mir. Markham Oddie, and would be pleased to see him, if he could make it convenient 10 call this evening between eight and nine o'clock"
 The note was formal one; but when the agiiated little old bachelor was shown into the sitting-room at Holm wood, Mrs. Hexham, who was alone, re- ceived him with . very kindly smile. Her eyes looked as if she had been crying.
 "Please take e seat" she said. "It has been very close all day, has if not? ?"
 Terribly" answered the visitor. "Do you feel the heat much2"
 "Yes. I am afraid do." was the re- ply. and NIT. Oddie suddenly recollected that his future mother-in-law was said 10 be deaf and dumb. This lady vas certainly neither.
 My daughter" said Mrs. Hexham, after a pause. desired me 10 tell you how very. very grateful she is to you for your letter and the flowers. She has gone away for short time 10 stay with friends. She-she thought ii best
 Mir. Oddie sat there, unable 10 utter a word. "She had gone away, because she thought il 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. "I am so sorry--so very sorry! You are such a good. kind-hearted man, am sure. Of course. you did not know, or you would not have thought of it."
 Thought of what2" asked Mir. Oddie, heavily.
 ''Of marrying my poor Agatha. You did not know that she is deaf and dumb?"
 MT. Oddie stared at the speaker In blank amazement. Ii was fully min ute before he grasped the significance of what she was saying. If was the afflicted" as Mrs. Roper would have phrased it. He was silent, and Mrs. Hexham continued:
 My poor girl is over-sensitive, and your kindness went 10 her heart. can assure you"
 Mir. Oddie pulled himself together. and rose 10 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 1 love her. Will you have the goodness to give me her address-that is, if you will sane tion my asking her 10 do me the honor to be my wife?"
 "lt seems rather unconventional" she said: but ii is not exactly an or dinary case. is ii? And l am sure you are good man. Mir. Sedley. the vicar. was talking about you only the other day. and saying how charitable you were. Agatha has tbe sweetest dispo- sition. and she is so quick you hardly realize that she is not like other people. indeed. I think you would be very hap py together"
 "l think we three would be very hap py together" answered Mir. Oddie. em- phasiziug the three" He took the widows hand and kissed it with old fashioned gallantry.
 IL is unnecessary 10 mention at what unearihly hour Afr. 0ddie required has breakfast the next morning. or to state that be hardly aie mouthful of it.
 Tn the afternoon of the same day Mrs. Hexham might have been seen reading a telegram. with a beamiug face. IL was not long one, for il con- tained only five words: "l.ove from Agatha and Markham."-Sketch.
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