Barre evening telegram. (Barre, Vt.) 1898-19??, 1900-02-09
out OF order. His liver! Perish the

thought! 1t was his heart.
He decided at length that, like Heze-
KAN, he would ask for sign from
heaven. He would send the object Of
his alteration bouquet, an anonymous
bouquet OF the choicest. She would
surely guess from whom 1t came. e
she placed 1t 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 Covcnt Gar
den TO sit still in his office was q
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 ladylove. He had not been proper
~ introduced. The phrase became a
perfect nightmare to him.
But the second day there was the
bouquet In the window in all its glory,
and. moreover Miss HeXham was
bending over 1t, inhaling its perfume.
She was beautiful woman, not too
young for 8 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
dellciously old fashioned 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 eddie and
would be pleased to see him if he
could make it 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. at
has been very close all day. has it
not?"
"Terribly," answered the visitor.
"Do you feel the heat much?"
eyes, am afraid do" was the re.
ply, and Mr.. Odde suddenly recollect-
ed that his future motherinlaw 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 a short time to stay
with friends. She-she thought it
best"
Mr. Oddie sat there, unable to utter q
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,
II 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 what" asked Mr. Cd
die heavily.
"Of marrying my poor Agatha. You
did not know that she is deaf ana
dumb?'
Mr.. Oddie stared at the speaker in
blank amazement. 1t was fully a 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, can
assure you"
Mr.. Oddie pulled himself together
there was something almost noble
about his rather tubby little figure.
"Madnm," 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 wife?'
| at seems rather unconventional,
she said, but it is not exactly an ordi-
nary case, Is 1t? And 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 dspo'
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"
81 think we three would be very hap
by together" answered Mr. Odde 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.. eddie 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 1t con
tanned only five words, Love from
Agatha and Markham. "-Sketch.
Bird Legends.