Year: 1878

make up an excuse for not seeing him, wher
in be walked.


81 am sorry every one is out" l said, l am
afraid, not over politely, for did not want
the trouble of having to talk to him.


"Do you count yourself as nobody, Miss
Myra p he rejoined, smiling, as he shook
hands with me. I must own that he hat
a pleasant smile.


pretty much" said l.


II knew that your aunt and cousin were
out, for met them," he continued. "As to
the gentlemen, / never expect to find them IN
at this hour. So you see you must take my
visit entirely to yourself"


This surprised me little, but said moth.
ing tried to entertain him as we'll as
could for a short time, but he seemed absent
and queer, and I was getting very much
bored, when he suddenly exclaimed, jumping
up


"Miss Myra, let's take little walk in the
garden-its delightful afternoon, and the
roses smell so sweet"


Inever knew him admire or care about
flowers before. However, I was rather glad
Of the diversion so out we went. Instead ol
stopping to look at or smell the roses, he led
the way at once to the shady part of the
grounds, where there are only trees and
shrubs, and as We walked along, asked me to
take his arm. AS I did so he took my hand
and held it in loose, shy sort of way. No
doubt he read my astonishment in my face,
for saw him color up, and all in an instant
he blurted out proposal actually propo'
sal of marriage! l can not recall the way
it was worded. I was so confused could only
make out the general sense of what he was
saying, but his meaning was quite distinct
l really thought, for moment, l must be
dreaming. He said he had long intended to
declare his sentiments but had thought it ad-
visable to wait until was old enough to
Judge properly of my feelings in the matter.


1T is quite unexpected" managed to
stammer out, presently.


Il am sorry-that is, hoped it would not
surprise you very much" he replied. II am
aware that there is great discrepancy of
years between US; but / would try and soften
this objection by conforming myself in every
possible way to your tastes and pursuits"


While be waited for an answer, ran my
mind rapidly over all the pros and cons of the
question. My uppermost thought, candidly
acknowledge, was the triumph I would enjoy
over my aunt, if accepted Mr.. Lacy's offer.
He is man of influence and wealth, and as
his wife, l would occupy very different posi-
tion from the one I hold here, and must con-
tinue to hold, as long as 1 am an object of
my uncle's charity, and my aunt's contempt.
Besides, l have respect for Mr.. Lacy, and
know him to be thoroughly good and upright
if he is prosy and dull.


I could not, however, make up my mind all
at once, and at last, told him so. He was
very kind about it assured me that he would
not press me for an answer, but let me take as
much time as l required to think it over. Of
course, he added, he hoped I would be gener-
Gus enough not to keep him unnecessarily long
in suspense. l promised him, then, to give
him definite reply on that day week-next
Thursday. In the meantime, l have not said
word on the subject to any one, and don't
mean to until it is settled. I think, on the
whole, / will accept him.


rrti4-i,O
when she hears about it!


Although. am not in love with Mr.. Lacy,
(the very idea of that is absurd( yet l have
had kinder feeling toward him than ever
before, since that happened, and am begin
ming to discover good traits in his character,
that I was not previously aware of.


July 10th.-It is all settled. This evening
said yes, and now he is in the library talk
ing to Uncle. l don't know how | feel about