The central record. (Lancaster, Ky.) 18??-current, 1902-04-03
Proposition.

neither commented nor encouraged, but
merely waited for him to unfold himself.
" NV present salary" he continued. is
$4,000 per annum, ana | have, invested in
shares in the SquaWtunket * SIuaWoag
Railroad COMPANY, S7,053, which is, at
present, paying seven per cent dividends
and which will, when the VanderbitS have
purchased the controlling interest, Weld at
least, ten per cent per annum." Mr.. Jop-
ling paused again; this time to note the
effect of his statement: but Miss Bascom,
displaying no perteptible evidence of emo
ton, and still regarding him silently and
without blinking, he experienced a slight
feeling of disappointment.
las an employee of the First National
Bank of SquaWtunket," he resumed, sit
has come under my notice, Miss Mehetabel,
that YOU have on deposit there, at present.
the sum of $3.50 90, on which YOU are re-
celVing, of course, in bank of deposit, no
interest whatsoever. Suppose, Miss Mehet-
abel-noW do not be startled at what am
about to say; Miss Mehetabel looked about
as likely to be startled as a wooden Indian
and fully as SeIt-cOntalned as 4 hard-bolled
egg;) suppose, | say, that S7,053 We're
added to IS, 90: the sum would amount
to SIO,I00.o0 This sum invested in shares
of the Sluawtunket and SquaWoag Railroad,
paying dividends of ten per cent-for have
it on the highest authority that the Wander
bits fully intend to take the cOntrOl-Would
afford an annual income of, in round num-
berS, 81 900; this, added to my salary,
would amount to $500; and, as take it,
the annual profits of your business here
amount to not less than 81 900, may place
the grand total at $1,000. Now, Miss Me-
hetabel, said Abjah, throwing back his
head and eyeng Miss Bascom with the air
of an attorney who had made out a lucid
and all but unanSWerable a case, "yOu will
perceive the end of this somewhat eXtraor-
binary interview. have the honor to offer
you-that is would lilie-no mean-er-
er-w-will you be kind enough to marry
me, Miss Bascom?"
Rather to his disappointment, but much
to his relief, nothing of the kind happened.
Miss Mehetabel kept her head in a truly
remarkable manner, indeed, and gave way
to no such passionate outburSt of affection.
Instead of that, she continued to regard
him, immovably, arms folded, bolt-upright,
the little black points in her gray irSeS
seeming to pierce the glasses of her steel
bound SpectacleS and to gimet into the very
brain and soul of Abijah Joplng.
After she had thus continued to gaze for
about twenty seconds, and when Abijah
had been reduced to a state bordering closely
on imbecillty, she spoke.
tibet would be a very nice arrange
ment," she said, very deliberately, "a very
nice arrangement"
Abjah frightened up at once and was be-
trayed into atqueStlng, Yes Indeed "
when she continued: eur you. Ez fur
me, now tibet I've found out that folks is a
pryin' and a-peepin' ento my private affairs
an tibet them, en- fack, thet'S got nv money
en- charge, is a-devisin' an ntriggin' to lay
hands onto ct to put ct entO wildcat railroad
sheers an buIlin' an barin' an other I'M
christian bedeviment, | intend to dror all
my money out of the SluaWtunket Bank to-
morror mornin' an to take ct over to SquaW-
Gag where know twill be safe. And YOU,
young man." she added grimly, can be
very thankful to me et don't tell the drec-
tors all about vOurlittle speckerlatin' COINS
on adj cuttin's-up. Marry YOU? Why,
YOU oughter he thnldn' about funeral in
Std of you're old enough "
When Mr. Abijah Jopling reached home
five minutes later, he was somewhat flushed
from the rapidly of his motion thither, if
not from other causes; and, as he glanced
ut himself in the mirror of his bureau, he
noticed that, not only was his hat rammed
down very tightly upon his head but that it
had been put on backwards,
Now, never before, in the whole course of
Mr. JopIing's tortV-eight years. had he once
put his hat on wrong enItoremOSt; and, let
/ be added, never again, in the entire course