Year: 1877

cannot imagine what is to become of me
unless you will have me-"


he paused point blank, and read the
long sentence over again, curious ex-
preston coming into his eyes and a smile
creeping under his moustache.


"Unless 1 will have her Can it be
possible she has really cared for me
cares for me enough to lay aside all con-
yentionalities, and SO gracefully, sensi-
bly, offer me her precious self?"


His eyes we're tenderly solemn, yet
triumphantly happy, as he went on,
touched to the heart by her artlessness-


"I know am very, very bold in
daring to ask such favor of you. I
an almost sure you will be vexed and
refuse me; but do not mean any harm.
/ must not let dear mamma he weighted
with me, and know you are very good
and kind; and indeed, / will try hard to
please you in every way. Please, Mr..
Coleman, let me come, will you not
But, if you would rather not have me,
do not be afraid of hurting my feelings
by saying SO. Unless You really do
want me [ would rather you sail no
than take me Just because 1 have ven-
tared to ask. If you will write to me
just word will be very much obliged.


Yours,


"MAY E. DEAN"


There were more suspicious of emo
tions in Rowland Coleman's eyes than
had been there for many long year as
he folded up the letter, and put it in his
pocket.


There was no thought of the projected
improvement in the huge silk mills now
no thought of the details his very
soul lovod to struggle with.


He walked up and down the library,
his eyes on the floor, his head dropped,
his hands clasped behind him, thinking
of the strange revelation the letter held,
trying to imagine the hushes that had
tinged Mays fair cheeks when she
wrote it, and being alarmingly con-
scious that his heart was at last I'M
sealed, and that May Deans little hand
had been the instrument to accomplish
that magical feat.


He knew that, although all the love Of
his mature manhood went out to this
little blue-eyed girl who had pleaded
her cause 80 well, unless she had plead
ed it, he never would have dared pre-
sumo to think she loved him.


He did not permit an hour to pass in
inaction.


"She will be In no enviable state of
suspense until I answer her note. I
will go to her at once and tell her how I
love her-how far from refusing her I
am"


Twenty minutes later his carriage
stopped in front of the house where
Mrs. Dean occupied rooms, and mo-
ment later he stood in the plain little
parlor, where May stood, her sweet face
all alight with glad surprise and con-
scious fushes.


at is very of good of you to take the
trouble to come, Mr.. Coleman" she ex-
claimed, in low, soft tone.


His heart fairly thrilled under her
sweetness and shy graciousness


You mean it is more than good in
you to allow me to come. Little girl,
you have made me very, very happy.
Let me kiss you, May ?" he cried.


But she shrank away, surprise in every
feature of her face.


"Mr. Coleman |"


He was pleased with her shy reserve
more than with her little letter.


With smile on his face he again
advanced and tried to take her hand.


You must never call me Mr.. Cole
man again, dear. But ROW let me hear
how it sounds to have you say How
land"


ooh, sir, I never could do that.
Please, Mr.. Cole"


Yes, you can, well enough, you shy
little girl Why not now, as we'll as
after we are married? Tell me, May,
when shall it be2 1 am an impatient
lover now that the ice I 80 dreaded is
broken"


She looked at him in perfect bewilder-
ment, her face alternately paling and
flushing.


"I am afraid something is wrong. ]
don't know what you mean"


Don't you? May, you little rogue.
what does this mean, thena"


He held her letter to him towards her.


"Isn't that the dearest letter that ever
man received? =? Surely you know there
could be but one answer to it, and I've
come to tell you what I should have
done long before had not been in such
fear of q refusal from you. You have
asked me, so enchantingly, in this letter,
for"


She interrupted him eagerly.


eyes, sir for place in one Of your
silk mills. Please say yes!


Mr.. Rowland Coleman stood and
looked at her, all the ridiculous con.
struct;on he had put upon her letter oc-
curing to him forcibly.


A place in the mills


His very soul sunk with the reaction
from happiness to despair.


Then he looked at her, and


May, you cannot have place in any
of my mills, although there are always
vacancies. But I must tell you what you
can have, if you will take tine, and
all the mills in the bargain. May, you
will be my wife?"


Whenever Mrs. May Coleman's hus.
band wishes to tease her. he declares
she proposed to him, and says LIE can
prove it by her own handwriting.