The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1904-11-24
Mrs. BitterSweet's PROPOSAL

moved IN rlgnC next door, and this lean
year"
Mr.. Alonzo Larkins stared appre-
hensively out of his window, as if he
expected to see his newly arrived neigh
Dor fitting up his porch steps in search
of him with lasso. Instead he really
did see small, inoffensive- looking
woman walking serenity from her door
way toward her own front lawn, bea1-
ing a pot of pansies and trowel. ooh,
of course" he continued caustically,
wants to make a good impression first
before she lets out at me. Well, ma am,
my heart is tough. But you are neat
little bundle" he added with a slight
change in tone; trim as sassafras
whistle. That's right-let that ruffled-
up pink c0ntraption slide off your head.
Gum, what shiny brown hair! And look
at the little curl bObbing over her off
ear!'
Little Mrs. Bittersweet did not seem
at all troubled by the orb Mr. Larkins
deemed it expedient to keep focused
upon her. She trotted around about
her own business, paying little heed to
the doings of her bachelor neighbor.
The first time she met him plump and
square she gave him sweet Indifferent
| little neighborly Good morning"
which somehow exited his discomfort
and ire.
''Took about as much notice of me as
she would of a brindle dog" he COM
| planned to himself; sin fact, not so much.
She puts up all stray dogs and gives EN-
bones. What's the matter with me Id
| like TO know"
| He looked anxiously into the mirror
| as he brushed his hair. He saw therein
a good-looking and fairly good-natured
| face the chief defect of which was an
expression tending towards self-conceit.
Now ma am" he observed dicisively,
| addressing the absent widow, you've
got to see me and appreciate me; then
if you choose to take the advantage of
leap-year privileges, don't know as I'll
run away
Meantime Mrs. Bittersweet's atten-
ton had been directed to MI Iarkins
by her friend, Miss Podderly.
He's the smartest man i'll Blbbvllle,
said she, land got everything in his
house woman's heart could wish, from
gas ranges to teaspoons, not to mention
scuds of blue and white ware sauce
pans. But seems like he's afraid some
woman'll marry him in spite of himself.
But | believe in my heart you could
overcome the difficulty, Polly. if you'd
set your cap good and strong
''Set a tiddlestck," retorted Polly
Bittersweet, scornfully. III never
set my cap for any man.
"Well," said Miss Podderly, 81 wish
| had the opportunities you turn up
your nose at SO recklessly.'
Mr.. Larkins finally grew decidedly
discontinued and little puzzled.
Il don't understand you, ma'am, he
admitted. in one of his mental apos-
trophies to the widow. Il have so far
modified my views as to give you every
opportunity to signify your wish to be-
come Mrs. Larkins, and yet you're as
cool and calm as a bale of snow. I'm
not used to it, ma am, and | won't stand
it. I'll give you three weeks more to
get interested in me, and then III take
and propose to you that's about what
When the allotted three weeks of
grace had expired Mr. Larkins, in des-
peration, executed his threat and re-
ceived a plump 'No!"-the result of
Miss Podderly's championship and a
streak of contrariness in the widows
disposition.
116 dCCcpL6u Vic ScIlUCllCC WIFI IolDiO
disappointment, but bore it with manly
fortitude.
I'm sorry, ma am" he said, frankly,
clearing sorry. I've taken more of a
shine to you, some how, than ever did
to any one, and I'd be good to you,you
can bank en- that But if you can't like
me, you can't There, now, ma'am,
don't go and cry-don't l wouldn't
hurt your feelings for forty farms,'
for the widows heart all at once had
smitten her sharply and some. subtle
pathos i'll Mr.. Larkins' simple accept
ance of defeat caused her eyes to brim
with misty tears.
I'm so-soo-o sorry," she faltered,
blushing and sobbing, L"
Don't mention it," implored Mr..
Larkins, don't you be miserable or
blue about it, But if you should kind
of change your mind, you know, maam,
Just let me know, won't you?"
Mr.. Larkins dove headlong into his
garden patch and hoed vigorously to
distract his thoughts, and the widow
sat down Oh the edge of her porch and
swung her neat little foot dejectedly.
| Il do believe I'm half-witted," said
she, under her breath. dare say I've
lost as good man as IN ever meet,
and all because Henrietta Podderly
told me to run after him. l needn't
have run after him, but | could have
thrown him away, and l amt half as
smart as thought l was. I'm lonely
and miserable, woo-Oo-oo." Mrs.
Bittersweet ran into her sitting room
and cried as heartily as Nj. Larkins hoed.
After that she smiled sunnily when
ever she met him. He smiled genially'
The widow daily became more lone
some and more convinced that she had
discarded a congenial spirit
''He won't propose again in hun
dred years." she bemoaned herself,
land no wonder he don't want to risk
another snub. He did tell me to let
him know if had changed my mind;
l hate to, like fun. but"
Zone golden afternoon when both
were sitting, in an unusually pensive
mood, upon Mrs. Bittefsweet's porch,
the widows heart suddenly prompted
her to a little prospecting.
"Mr Larkins," she said softly, edo
you ever change your mind?"
NO." returned Mr.. Larkins plumply,
mot without solid reason"
"W e-ell," she continued, holding her
breath at her own boldness, would you
still like me Observation-Disclosures