Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1905-11-03
Mr.. Migg;'s Proposal


o-~
Widow Drayton would like to speak
to you'm.'
Not in ere" intcrposed MI. Migg
abruptly.
"Ill come to her in a minute, Ell
"a" l said.
An III clear out an post h '
added the squire OF danes hurriediy
as my maid vanished. If she seea me
she'll get round me with 'cr tongue,
an I'll not alter now!"
l hastily crammed my letter and
his own into their envelopes.
You'll find a stamp in that little
box, SO you can post it at once, and
this one for me, If you will, and if you
let yourself out by the conservatory
door Mrs. Drayton will never see you
l cut short his thanks as | departed
to h individual whose hopes l had
shattered during my brief period as
a~mnnuensis. When returned from
with the price of eggs, MI. Migg had
made good his escape.
1t happened that l was starting on
the following morning for a f~ortnight's
visit to q cousin, and l heard nothing
more of the little bootnaker or his
project until the day of its close, when
by hostess looked across the breakfast
table from Il letter in her hand
rs from your respected Wears
wife, Mary, n there's a message FOR
you. One Thomas Migg is--'
tC0tnr To no n, rrinJ ', coiJ
"Oh, you knew? But she says. Tell
Mary Thomas Migg has astounded us
all by proposing to little Martha
Mayne, at the lted Lion. lie
seems"
"What?" shouted.
"'Oddly depressed. poor little man,
and the two Juliets to whom we mad
~opportioned him are frankly furious.
Martha Is chccrfulness itself, but l
can't help thinking there is something
at the what on earth's the mat
ter, Mary?"
"Ohv' 1 gnsned. Il believe it's my
dOing-my mistaken
l knew-knew Of a surety! OF
course l had been writing to Martha
Mayne when Thomas Migg had sought
my services, and it came to me with
a flash of intuition more convincing
than any direct information that in
hurricdiy manipulating utIr joint cor
respondcnce when leaving him, l had
put her letter and Martha Cowper-
thwaite's into each others envelopes!
And Mr.. Migg, with his unfailing hor-
ror Of making himself ridiculous, and
possibly some slight awe of me ana
consideration for my feelings-to say
nothing Of Martha Mayne's-was
keeping silence and allowing himself
to be engaged to a pretty slip of a
girl, who had evidently jumped at her
first chance Of a husband!
l faltered out my story, and my
cousin laughed till the tears ran down
her cheeks.
There's nothing for it but owning
up" she said.
II suppose not 1 agreed miserably.
And before starting for Great Hale
again I indited a note to Mr.. Migg,
asking him to make it convenient to
call upon me during the following
evening, though I felt rather as
though l should have sought his shop
on my knees!
1t did not reassure me when the ap-
pointed hour arrived to note han a
new and depressed Thomas Migs
stood before me, a nan who cast ner-
Gus glances anywhere but in my di-
r~ection. and whose fingers strayed
restlessly round his hatbrim.
"Mr. Migg," l began n%ervously, Il
don't know what to say to you! Sit
sit down. please!'
"I'd as lief stand, num-" he said,
shifting his weight from one leg to
the other. you've card. them"
"Only yesterday. Why didn't you
manage somehow to let me know ut
the timer"
II dursen't,' muttered Mr.. Migg, to
the carpet. An that's a fact
Am l such a very terrible person."
l said, miserably. Don't you see now
much easier it would nave made
things If you'd spoken out at once?
Martha Mayne?'
"She's that l~ight-'earted," began Mi.
M1gg. deprecatingly, AN 'er fathers
4 boy again"
l groaned inwardly. Should ever
hold UP my head in Great Hale again?
THAT doesn't alter the fact that
you're doing n very wrong thing" |
said. Then it occurred to me that '
vas somewhat reversing our positions.
Its done, any'ow. an too late to be
altered" said Mr.. Migg, with a touch
of spirit. --t.
'Mr. Migg, it's not too late" I said
earnestly. I'm very sorry-more sorry
than l can say. I'll go to Martha my
self. I'll do anything you wish.
I'll" rs.
1 saw a CLEAN CT something akin to
hope in Mr.. Migg's eye.
SIS that a fact. NUMB he interrupt
ed eagerly. "Then-thcn don't do moth
! :n'p'