Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1912-10-18

become engaged. How old is Henry?"
Il don't know" replied the maiden.
candidly. Il 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 flatter her mama"
: During the month or so that follow
ed Henry came regularly, sometimes
so often as two and three times a
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 it 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 a night, when Henry
came, the weather was warm. He
called to them through an open win
dow as he passed and, hurrying around
to side door, he entered the dining
room, where the mother and daughter
sat. Mrs. Farnam remained with the
couple only a 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 a half attentive ear
to the medley of insect voices just
then awakening, when she was star
tied, not a 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, Il just know
Henry is going to propose! What
shall dor
DO! Why, I thought you wanted
him to propose"
mo; l DON'T don't-not since you
told me-" she cried, almost on the
verge of tears.
We'll, daughter, what's caused you
to think all this? Did he say"
"He said he wanted to see you. !
pose"
'How silly!" interposed the mother,
with laugh not wholly natural.
ooh, he said he wanted to see you
alone-that he must see you-that he
couldn't stand it any longer-that-"
at? Stand what, dear?"
ooh, mama, do go in-do! And tell
him that he must not propose to me,
any more, and that I'm going to be an
old maid, and that"
Don't worry yourself so, little girl
its nothing!" enjoined the mother,
as she arose.
Rosie, left alone, for a time grew
more excited. Then, as the minutes
passed and her mother did not re-
turn, her agitation began to pass
away, and gradually she became calm
Suddenly she leaped upright from her
chair, at the prompting Of a bold
thought.
Why shouldn't she hear what was
being said between Henry and her
mother? 1t concerned her.
She crept lightly into the hallway
and through the parlor toward the
folding doors that separated it from
the dining room. The doors were a
foot or two apart, and over them was
hung a curtain. Screened within its
folds, she stood in an attitude of lis
tening.
At he first she distinguished nc
word or sound. Then, there came to
her ears low, suppressed sob, that
OF 2 woman's. Could her mother be
frying? And why? Then, a voice
-1enry's.
It's you, Mrs. Farnam-Mary, It's
you love-it's you, you l have al.
ways loved. These-dont cry. Do
look UP and tell me"
But Rosie could restrain herself NO
longer. Tearing the curtains apart,
she burst into the room. Between her
cries and tears and half hysterical
laughter she rushed to them, and, in
an effort to gather the two within her
arms, embraced both, exclaimipg:
OF course, Henry, she loves you.
OF course she does; she always did
and always will. And now, mama
with little shout of delight, 81 know
how they do, and what they say, and
low they act, and-Im goose!"
. Copyright, 1912, by the Mcclure News
paper Syndicate.)
The Ni1;ouo NiroIa