Valentine Democrat. (Valentine, Neb.) 1900-1930, 1905-11-02

we shall ave it framed in the par
lor as like as not. I'll ave nothin' put
1 might reproach meself fer after. I'd
like viii you marry meT simple"
1t struck me that even a limited
skill in caligraphy might have achieved
this much for itself, and 1 said so. Mr..
AIigg shook his head.
If you've wrote it, he said, "she
can't fer shame say if it's not to 'cr
likin. Ave 1 got to sign me name:"
l explained that the letter would
otherwise be valueless, and he traced
his signature in irregular, disconnect-
| ed characters. At the moment there
was q tap at the door.
Widow Drayton would like to speak
to youm."
Not in 'ere-' interposed Mr.. Migs,
abruptly.
"Ill come to her in minute Eli
"a" 1 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!'
L hastily crammed my letter and
his own into their envelopes.
You'll find q stamp in that little
box, SO you car 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"
oh fho, MI
to the individual whose hopes l had
shattered during my brief period as
amanuensis. When l returned from
an interview which concerned itself
with the price Of eggs, Mr.. Migg had
made good his escape.
1t happened that was starting on
the following morning for fortnights
visit to a cousin, and I heard nothing
more Of the little bootmaker or his
project until the day Of its close, when
MY hostess looked across the breakfast
able from a letter in her hand.
IT'S from your respected wears
wife, Mary, and there's message for
you. One Thomas Migg is"
Going to be married." 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. He
seems"
"What?" 1 shouted.
"'Oddly depressed, poor little man,
and the two Juliets to whom we mad
opportioned him are frankly furious.
Martha is cheerfulness itself, but 1
can't help thinking there is something
at the what on earth's the mat
ter, Mary?"
"Ohv' / gasped II believe it's my
doing-my mistaken
I knew-knew of surety! OF
course 1 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
hurriedly manipulating our joint cor
respondence 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 and
consideration for my feelings-to say
nothing of Martha Mayne's-
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!
1 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.
Il suppose not" l agreed miserably.
And before starting for Great Hale
again l indited note to Mr.. Migg,
asking him to make it convenient to
call upon me during the following
evening, though 1 felt rather as
though 1 should have sought his shop
on my knees!
1t did not reassure me when the ap-
pointed hour arrived to note that a
new and depressed Thomas Migg
stood before me, man who cast ner
vous glances anywhere but in my di-
rection, and whose fingers strayed
restlessly round his hatbrim.
Mr.. Migg," l began neryously. Il
don't know what to say to ysu! Sit
sit down, please!"
I'D as lief stand, num-" he said,
shifting his weight from one leg to
the other. you've card. ihen?"
"Only yesterday. Why didn't you