The daily Alaskan., 1904-07-13
A BASHFUL COUPLE
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| 10 DC NuNl up Nllu uGL bAdAhfth Nhlos Besides, she's of an age when I fancy Q young girl ought to have a lover."
 q wonder if she has anything on her mind"
 "Its my thinking she's unconscious | of the true cause.-the natural yearn- Ing for husband and children"
 'Polly's always been backward in encouraging young men"
 even have to give her more oppOr- tuniy to mlngle with them. In that way her bashfulness will gradually wear oT."
 The next day grandma announced to Polly that she might invite Edward Dwight, a young midshipman from the Naval academy home on leave, to tea, Polly colored at the mention of such thing.
 "Oh, grandmaw she exclaimed.
 'Well, what is 1t, POllyY
 'Do you really think we'd better in- vlte him to teay'
 Certainly. Why not, childT
 "Oh, l don't know. I'll think about It."
 "John," said grandma that evening to her husband, q never in my life saw girl so timid about meeting one of the opposite sex as Polly, I've told her to invite the midshipman to tea, but I'm afraid she'll never have the courage to do so."
 Don't force her, Sarah"
 However the invitation was given and accepted. Young Dwight appeared on the evening in question and sat talk Ing with grandpa while supper was being prepared. He was somewhat in- coherent in his remarks and repii's. and the old man thought him as easily embarrassed as Polly. Then they all went in to supper, and under the in, aueuce of the hot biscuit. cream pOta- toes. thin slices of ham and a salad, re-enforced by the grandparents efforts to make the young people feel easy In each others company, all was going well, when grandma made a bad slip of the tongue. She was dreaming of the time when her dear little Polly might be the wife of an admiral, and in the midst of her reverie, having occa. sion to speak to Polly, called her Mrs Dwight
 Had a 2,OOO pound projectile been eX, plOded on the deck of q man-of-war it could not have created as much con sternation as this blunder produced upon the young people, The midship- man turned white, the girl rcd, while grandpa and grandma may be said to have looked blue, Grandpa saw the midShlpman dart a glance at Polly, half angry, half surprised What It meant the old man could not explain, but he took 1t to mean that Dwight had no fancy for muuimOny, which, COusiu, ering his youth and condition, Was not surprising.
 There was no comfort at table after the fatal blunder, and grandma, who had caused it an, had the adroituess to leave out the cake and preserves, which had been intended for a last course, and, rising from the table, led the way to the drawing room. But grandpa found something to take him out to the barn. and grandma found 1t necessary to interview the servants. The young couple were left sitting on opposite sides of the room, and grandma could have bitten off her tongue at having spoiled an incipient affair between a boy and a girl She wished she could have left them not so far apart but did not dare risk any more blunders by trying to bring them together. She was busy for some time about house hold matters, and grandpa was talking to a neighbOr Then grandpa came in, and the old couple went upstairs.
 "The young fellow don't seem to be in a hurry to go,' remarked grandpa at Q o'clock.
 Hasn't he gone?" replied grandma. q thought I heard the gate click some time ago."
 ..I don't know. Perhaps we'd better go down and see"
 They went together softly down stairs. All was still in the drawing room. The door was shut, but if there had been an ordinary conversation be- tween two people 1t could have been heard in the hall. The old couple lis- tened for a moment; then grandpa re- marked that he reckoned the room was | empty. He opened the door. Wonder of wonders! There sat Polly on the midshlpman's lap and in the mldshipman's arms.
 Polly sprang up, and Dwight, rising, stood looking with a mingling of sheep Ishness, assurance, conscious pride and happiness. Then he spoke out like the little man he was:
 This can go on no longer. Folly and l have been married for a month. If it is known, I'll be shipped from the academy, for no undergraduate is al- lowed to be married. If you good peo- pie will keep our secret all will come out right. I graduate in the coming June and will then be an officer in the United States navy. If you object to me as a husband for Polly, I shall blame myself; if not, shall be glad for what I've done"
 By this time the old people had some what recovered from their surprise, grandpa seized the boys hand and Polly flew into grandma's arms. "JOhn," sOid the old lady before they went 10 bed, how do you suppose