The Wahpeton times. [volume] (Wahpeton, Richland County, Dakota [N.D.]) 1879-1919, 1912-11-14
-Yss. Henry. Of course. 1 am surs

thoughtfully, then asked: do you
really love him 20 -nuch?"
Nov. mama. Why do you put It that
way?" returned the girl. while al
shadow seemed to gather over her
brows. mo. come to think Of 1t, II
don't believe I love him at all. T."
why. daughter, you amaze me-"
cried the mother In establishment,
"Then why were you 20 delighted? II
can't understand"
"Because-becauss. plainly abash.
ed. II Just wanted him-anyone-to
propose. I 1anted to SEQ how he
would act, md what he would do, and
what he would say. and all that"
Rosie pulled . ring. cot with en-.
eralds and pearls, from her finger and
toyed with It In her lap, during the
silence that ensued. The mother look.
ed on. then arose and walked to the
window where she stood gazing at the
whirling eddies Of snow driven with
the late February storm. When she
turned back into the room, she seem,
cd less perplexed. and said In mat
terof-fact way:
"Henry IL splendid chance, my
little girl. He has q good heart and
good business. am not eager for
you to maryland there Is lots Of
time yet-but any mother wants to ses
her daughter
But mama. he's 90 much older
than L"
Eyes. you are very young-too
young to marry-not too young to
become engaged. How ole is Henry?"
Il don't know" replied the maiden.
candidly. II never thought to ask
him. But he seems-oh, even older
than you"
The mother laughed. "And this
from little girl who should not try
to datter her mama"
During the month or 80 that follow.
ed Henry came regularly. sometimes
20 often % two and three times q
week, to the Farnam residence. Since
the morning after her birthday party
Rosie had seemed less at ease and, at
times. half frightened, when in his
company. Especially was this the
case when they were not Joined by
her mother, who usually, because Of
the cold weather and the necessity Of
economizing In fuel, sat with the two.
At such intervals when the widow was
absent, Henry, also, was restless and
wandering in attention.
But 1t could not be winter always.
Spring breezes came at last over the
Ozarks into Missouri. The sun shone,
robins fitted between the boughs of
naples beginning to rejuvenate with
the rise and flow Of sap through their
trunks, and out in the pasture, just
then turning family to green, young
colts frolicked and raced beside their
mothers. Life and love were unfolding
from single bud.
Then, on q night, when Henry
came, the weather was warm. He
called to them through an open win.
dow as he passed and. hurrying around
to q side door. he entered the dining
room, where the mother and daughter
sat. Mrs. Farnam remained with the
couple only short time, when, with.
out pretext, she withdrew to the front
porch.
She was gazing absently into the
east, where the moon was rising,
and giving only half attentive ear
i to the medley of insect voices Just
then awakening, when she was star.
tied, not half hour after she had
found her seat, by the sudden appear.
ance Of Rosie, who rushed to her side
and whispered breathlessly in her
ear.
"oh, mama, mama," the girl ex.
claimed in subdued tones. II Just know
Henry is going to propose! What
shall dot"
do! Why. I thought you wanted
him to propose"
mo; I don't-I don't-not since you
told me-" she cried, almost on the
verge Of tears.
We'll. daughter. what's caused Jon
to think Ill this3 Did he say"
He said he wanted to go you.
know he wants 70 ask e hs can pro.
pose"
"Hov sillyl" intsrpossd the ,aothse.
WITH . laugh not wholly natural.
~oh, hs said he wanted 70 80 20
alooe-taa4 b mast oss you-tAa& b
couldn't stand x any joqees-<Aa4-s
:ltf Stand what 6eari"
'Oh. mama. Do % in-doi And ten
him that he must not propose To- ma.
any more. and that I'm soins % b a
old maid. and that-s
Don't worry yourself %. little siEi
Its nothingl" enjoined the mother.
% she arose.
Rosie. left alone, for . time grew
moro excited. Then, - the minutes
passed and her mother did not 70.
turn, her agitation began to pas6
away, and gradually she became calm.
Suddenly she leaped upright from her
chair. ct the prompting Of q bold
thought.
Why shouldn't she hear what was
being said between Henry and her
mother? It concerned her.