The San Angelo press. (San Angelo, Tex.) 1897-1907, 1903-07-22

see ii was alone, set his hat on the
floor and then accepted my invita-
ton with kind of sigh.
THANK you," he said, 81 only
want TO see you for a moment"
| offered him a pipe, and he de.
clined it. / told him my cigars were
out.
ut doesn't make any difference"
he said. I'D rather not smoke. l
came here to ask you some things
about the Burkes." m.
The Lord only knows how / look
cd at him as he hesbated for a mo-
ment.
81 have seen enough of them," he
went on, Ito believe that they are
perfectly respectable people-other-
wise | would not have taken lodging
there. You and / are old friends,
and you will take away even the
slight doubt there is in my mind.
Are they perfectly respectable?"
Somehow or other | managed to
nod my head, but his presumption
was paralyzing me.
"Thank you again." he proceeded.
"The reason that | asked YOU is that
l am going to marry Edith"
1t took me couple of minutes
to master my emotions, but / am
proud to say ] did it. My reply was
cool-almost chilly.
'Tndeed" | said. elias she ac-
cepted you?"
"No, because l haven't proposed
yet. have given the matter a good
deal Of thought, but before ! took
so serious step in my life l want
ed some such wise old head as yours
to advise me. Now ! am happy,
and we'll get married at once"
He shook hands with me, and the
old idiot didn't notice that | failed
to respond. AT the door | man
aged to ask him this question:
"What makes you believe she'll
have you?"
He seemed astonished.
"Have me" he repeated. "Why,
she's been after me ever since she
knew me. III settle it tomorrow
evening"
AS he turned the stairs | noticed
that he had on suit of new clothes,
a white vest and a red nccktie. lie
said something about feeling like a
schoolboy, and | rushed back to my
room more aifronted than | had
ever been before in my life. | can
always think best when | am in
bed, and so ! undressed and got I'M
der covers very quickly. When | had
thought diligently for an hour, ]
turned over and said this to my.
self:
"The old fat beast! The idea OF
her marrying him! I'll propose my.
self to her tomorrow morning. She
has been expecting it, know, for q
long time"
| didn't sleep very well and arose
little after Z o'clock. 1t took me
an hour to dress myself, and, having
no appetite for breakfast, only
drank cup of strong coffee. then
walked nearly a mile before l had
decided what to say, and was barely
satisfied with the result. Edith was
the sort Of girl to be particular
about such things, and wanted to
please her fancy.
Mrs. Burke came to the door and
was just as much surprised to sec
me as l thought she would be.
at was very good of you to come
so soon," she said, "and l didn't
think you knew it yet"
"Knew what?" said l.
She pulled me inside the hall and
looked at me, half smiling and hall
fearful.
Didn't you come to-er--con'
graduate anybody"
Then | sat down on the hatrach
and shook my head. / felt that il
was all over and that old Browne
had won, and never in my life did
suffer so much misery in SO small {
space of time.
"Then," said Mrs. Burke, 81 ar
glad to be able to inform you my
self. Edith and Bob are engaged t.
be married."
! arose and sat down again.
thought of many things, but only
one sentence struggled through my
lips:
"Does-does old Browne know
about it" | asked.
: "Oh, yes, but it won't Interest
him. Before he went downtown thil
morning lie told me that he would
} have to give up his room on &C
count of the sun shining in it too
brightly in the morning. Pm go
ing to turn the whole house nov