The Central Nevadan. [volume] (Battle Mountain, Nev.) 1885-1907, 1906-05-24
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A SLIGHT MISTAKE

tends to propose to you tonight"
sBut. mother, he is 20 much older
than | am"
"Well, child, II your heart does not
draw you to him, l will not press you,
but | think he is a man any woman
might feel proud of, and in my marry
ing days r.
"Why do you talk of your marrying
days as though they were over, MOTH
err? Do you never think of marrying
againT'
my darling, you forget my age
Whatever else she may have been
contemplating saying was cut Off by
the announcement of "Mr. James Har-
wood" a gentleman who In a o
time followed his name and greeted
the two ladies' rather %nervously as he
entered.
He sat down and for a little while
tried to maintain his share In a general
conversation, but he seemed uncom-
Portable and talked In a somewhat pre-
occupied manner, as though something
were weighing on his mind.
At last Mrs. Singleton, thinking II
polite to leave the two together, made
some excuse to so out and rose from
her seat She had reached the door
when James HARDWOOD, with an evident
effort, leaned forward In bis chair Inc
said quickly, please don't so, Mrs.
Singleton" She stopped on the point
of leaving the room and came pack.
She believed that he desired her con-
sent first and thoroughly approved OF
the straightforward course. Looking
at Elsie, she said gently:
81 wish, darling, you would answer
those cards for me that are In the
dra wing room. | feel a little fatigued
after my drive"
Without requiring a second bidding
the girl departed lightly on her errand,
leaving her mother alone with their
visitor.
Mrs. Singleton was sitting on a low
sofa, and james Harwood left his chair
and went to sit beside her, his nerv-
BUSINESS becoming more marked as he
did so. He looked straight In front OF
him as he said:
Mrs. Singleton, | wished-rather-to
speak to you upon q subject. l trust
you will bear with me a moment
while r.
The lady noticed his agitation and
was sorry for him. She tried to help
him out.
81 think | know TO what you are al
luding. | have been expecting this,
JamesLyou will let me call you Jamesf
for some time. Please go on
at is kind Of you to say that II
makes what | have to say much cas-
ier." He clasped one of his knees
with both hands and for the first time
looked straight Into his companions
face. II have recently had thoughts.
my dear Mrs. Singleton. though feel
much dlmdence In telling you'll have
lately been contemplating marriage"
"That Is exactly what | expected you
to say. and | think at your age and In
your position It is a very proper course
to take"
'sThen may | take It? May | be so
bold as TO assume-ttat you are not
aversa-ln fact. that you consentT'
THAT ia what | intended 10 convey.
| said just now that | had been a little
prepared for this. and | am very glad
that you have given me the opportu-
nifty of saying. rs | truly think. that
no woman could wish to find a better
husband"
She looked into his face with q quiet
smile as she concluded.
For a moment HARDWOOD shufled
~nervously on his scat. Then. moving
closer to her. he took her hand. Mrs.
Singleton looked surprised. but she let
It remain.
'"Fhen. as everything Ia so satlsfac-
torlly settled" he said awkwardly,
"would you mind II THAT ls-it seems
perhaps a little strange at frst-but
may l kiss youf'
Mrs. Singleton was more than ever
taken abaek Mt this unexpected re-
quest. and a flush came over her face.
Then she thought that as a prospective
son-ln-law his request was perhaps not
altogether unreasonable. and she turn
ed her face to his. smiling rather con-
s~clously az she replied:
"Oh, well. I suppose you may. as I
am to be your mother!"
"My mother"
Eyes; l shall be your mother, shnn't
l, II You marry ElsleT'
"Marry Elsie! But I want to marry
you"
Mrs. Singleton jumped away from
him to the other end of the sofa. and
her fnce flushed scarlet as his meaning
burst upon her.
There was silence betwess, them for
a few minutes. Mrs. Singseton's eyes
were bent upon the ground, and she
looked almost like a young girl who
had listened TO her first declaration of
love as the blush on her cheek grew
deeper and deeper and then moved