Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1904-10-12
a ton he placed his back to the

III lSH ABOUT tue uduce, he SIAM
mered. It's about you. II want
you to marry me-
Nothing could have been more awk-
ward than his proposal, but it reduced
her to a state of despair.
The piano tuning was going on SOL
EMMY. -tap-tap, went the notes,
followed by grand flourish Of chords.
Then tap-tap-tap, again.
"Why?" she asked, argumentative-
ly.
"Why-what?" he gasped, blinking
his little eyes in bewildered way
81 really must call at the butchers"
she said, jumping at the chance for
delay given by his indecision.
"But-will your
"You mean, marry you?" she asked
demureIy. You don't give me time to
think"
I'm awfully fond of you, and-and
all that sort Of thing" he said, eager
ly. I'VE should be tremendously jol-
ly, and-all that sort Of thing. The
governor says l can draw up to $1,000
a year out of the business for a start.
and-and things would be ripping"
She looked at him desperately. What
was she to do?- She began to feel for
some queer reason that to accept him
was almost impossible, but she had
given her foolish little word.
Then bright idea struck her., Per-
haps he would let her off.
Suppose l don't love you," she
said
THAT doesn't matter a Bit" he said
cheerfully. IF you will promise to
marry me, I expect l shall make you
love me in time. I am-oh, lord, what
Beastly row that piano-tuner is max
ing"
perhaps it would be better to talk
it over another morning." she sug-
gested.
mo, no, tell me now" he said. The
piano tuning had suddenly ceased, and
he was dashing at the subject brave
~. I'm awfully fond Of you, Mar
garet. The fact is you-you have fair
ly bewled lne over. can't say exactly
what l mean, because l am not much
Of hand at talking, and all that sort
of thing, but"
There was gentle knock at the
door, and Monty muttered something
under his breath which no British prin-
ter would set up in type.
1t was little Mr.. Winterf1ood who
entered.
Good morning. MISS he said. II
hope / haven't disturbed, you"
Not at ALL" she said, beaming with
pleasure. r: =,
"Oh, / found something Of yours in
the piano., said the little man.
Something of mine?'
Yes, it's a letter. No wonder the
bass notes were nearly dumb. Good
morning, miss"
She took the envelope, and tore it
open. It was addressed to her in
Jacks handwriting.
Dear Maggie"-it ran-I expect
you'll be wild with me for not turning
up to take you to the concert. But I
have been summoned into the country
by telegram. Uncle Tom is seriously
i'll, probably dying, and has asked to
see me. l leave Euston tonight, and
have just dashed in here hoping to
catch you, but too late. I shan't be
back for two or three days at the
soonest. Goodbye, dear little girl, or
rather au reyeir. This Is my birth
day, and l made up nay mind long
time ago that l would ask you to-day
to share my lot. Will you be nay wife?
There! at last, [ have summoned up
my courage. When l come back I will
try to tell you how much ] love you.
Goodbye. once more.-Jack. I am
leaving this ON the top Of the piano,
SO that you will find it in the morning.
Wait for me, Maggie. Don't promise
yourself to any one else, until l have
told you all mean
For some inscrutable reason that let
ter cleared the way. She knew exact
w what her answer was. She knew,
not only whom she. did not want to
marry, but whom she must marry, un-
less she wanted to be miserable wo-
man for the rest Of her life.
us it settled?" asked her mothr,
after Monty had gone.
quite" she said. II kept my word,
and have accepted the one who asked
me first. Jack came last night. There's
his letter. Montreal Family Herald.