The Hocking sentinel. [volume] (Logan, Ohio) 1871-1906, 1905-10-12

lor as like as not. I'll ave nothin put
l might reproach meself,fer after. I'd
like VIII you marry meY simple"
1t struck me that even limited
skill in caligraphy might have achieved
this much for itself, and said so. Mr..
M!gg shook his head.
III you've wrote it." he said, "she
can't fer shame say If it's not to 'cr
likin'. Ave got to sign me name"
explained that the letter would
otherwise be valueless, and he traced
his signature in irregular, disconnec.-
ed characters. At the moment there
was a tap at the door.
"Widow Draylon would like to speak
to you'm."
Not in 'ere!" interposed Mr.. Mlgg,
abruptly.
"l'll come to her in a minute, Eli
"a" said.
AN I'll clear out an post this"
added the squire of danes hurriedly
as my maid vanished. If she sees me
she'll get round me with 'er tongue,
an I'll not alter now!"
1 hastily crammed my letter and
his own into their envelopes.
you'll find stamp in that little
box, SO you can post it ut once, and
this one for me, IL you will, and IL you
let yourself out by the conservatory
door Mrs. Drayton will never see you."
cut short his thanks as I departed
to the individual whose hopes I had
shattered during my brief period as
umanuensis. When / returned from
an interview which concerned itself
with the price of eggs, Mr.. Migg had
made good his escape.
II happened that was starting on
the following morning for fortnight's
visit to cousin, and heard nothing
more Of the little bootmaker or his
project until the day Of its close, when
my hostess looked across the breakfast
table from a letter in her hand.
"Irs from your respected Wears
wife, Mary, and there's message FOR
you. One Thomas Migg is"
"Going to be married." I said.
"Oh, you knew? But she says, Tel
Mary Thomas Migg has astounded us
all by proposing to little Martha
Mayne, at the Red Lion. lie
seems"
"What" I shouted.
"'Oddly depressed, poor little man
and the two Juliets to whom we nat
opportioned him are frankly furious
Martha is cheerfulness itself, but
can't help thinking there is something
at the what on earth's the mat
ter, Nary"
"Ohv gasped. II believe it's my
doing-my mistakep
knew-knew of surety! o.
course I had been writing to Marth,
Mayne when Thomas Migg had sough
my services, and 1t came to me witt
a fash of intuition more convincin,
than any direct information that ii
hurriedly manipulating our Joint cor
respondence when leaving him, hat
put her letter and Martha Cowper
thwaite's into each others envelopes
And Mr.. Migg, with his unfailing hor
ror of making himself ridiculous, an,
possibly some slight awe of me an,
: consideration for my feelings-to sa!
nothing Of Martha Mayne's-wa
keeping silence and allowing himsel
to be engaged to pretty slip of
I girl, who had evidently jumped at he
first chance of husband!
faltered out my story, and m.
: cousin laughed till the tears ran dow
her cheeks.
There's nothing for 1t but ownin
: up" she said.
II suppose not" agreed miserably
And before starting for Great Hal
l again l indited note to Mr.. Mige
, ing him to make It convenient t
upon me during the followln
e ming, though felt rather a
r though I should have sought his sho
: on my knees!
It did not reassure me when the ar
!. pointed hour arrived to note that
new and depressed Thomas Mig
Q stood before me, man who cast mel
t vous glances anywhere but in my d
0 rcction, and whose fingers straye
restlessly round his hatbrim.
8 "Mr Migg." I began nervously, "
a don't know what to say to youl Sit
: sit down, please"
"l'd as lief stand num-" he sale
ling his weight from one leg t
other. you've 'eard. then7"
, Jhu Ant