A FIRESIDE PROPOSAL.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 154, 29 June 1907, Page 12

A FIRESIDE PROPOSAL.

THE TALE OF A VBRT INiwMim QUESTION, , ~Tv' "I thought it wmM be yon, , ' sfce ed, as he entered the room. : "Why?" lie asked, taking her extend hand. '•'', . ! "lon generally call when I don't exn«+ you " " . ■•■ ,-.., ' ■•^.i-v' "Does' that mean 5". \ * ; "Hα," she interrupted, -"It doesn't. ,Tii «uite pleased to see yoo. That cU|/S more comfy."- • "Thanks." ' ,: "' '" "■•• .■■..-.'"■.' "Everybody is out somewhere," ihe i, plained. I was longing for. soineoDe.tafcii ;W to, and you appeared.". " V v '' "To put Jt simply, yon.; were lonjW : mc," he ventured.. ' ■-'•■- ■;■■■ Sic laughed. "Ig that'hoV yiw"ita.understand mc. How exquisitely our Wμ. ' conceal our thoughts. , ' "1 '"•■:v; "Anyway, it's lucky I foundjon &vui luckier that you want te'talfc""' '.T\,- ;- "The log ia responsible : &r:the'ar»t ''tii' my sex for the second." ■ i>, ..' ;.;'"< ;;, . "Tnat sounds like the', besfcnjn* «» .-! riddle, but it isn't. TDghK «h» gLnrJ ' through the windows.' "But - the busiest man, in Chester, with. m^«fa?:'noon to waste. , " . > \ ~,. ■ "To -waste?" Hardly! , ? - -< ■; .» - "Well, to spare," she imeoail l «Bu someone left you a fortune y' , :' r. "No." . :.. ;. \y'f : -~ ' .'■ "What then.' , ' -V.-.i'Y,: .• ■.■ "I have been ordered to i«i»i red i; three months holiday." ■-' ■.:?%. * •-Sour' " ' ■■.-;■+ y-_ : "Yee. My brain—don't -Jng^^'^J^L really what the doctor ««npa;jf* ■ rest. And I'm to have «■ chaßgKJfoei-i. tion." ,•■.;. : .,v ; : :;,;■, :- ■"Permanentlyr* ; .;'.*; :^ "No, not as bad ••,ttit'fe Hμ months." ■ . ™ • "I am sorry," she ealii,: *ia trtait^, cerity. "Won't yon hate.*5^;.,..." "I sha.ll.enjoy.it • .•;; '^ "■'' "Doing nothing?", she tiked la. leirit "Far from it. I «hall be';r««r 'toj» W "How contradictory yoi iliijisi'^iifcifcfca you going to do!" , " ' ' "That's what the doctor' .iked Be.''-^i ß really want to know?'. ■ ; .'„ . ; "Ot conrse." '. " '"'] r ':*" | "I am going to get married.*; * , "For three months also? , ''" '■ '''■' "'• • *:'• . "No, by Jove; tin' death" ttii 'you : rilia-■"■ '; '' yonr prayer book." .-■,--■ .;•-.;•■ "But isn't the idea rather nddenr* • ~ : "Not a bit of it. I irst .nisngbi at'iVt : five years ago. When T first tttaighi/it you." ■ v l - r; - '■■>.■ . > "I remember," She said, lid" ■ dlmjii came into play. "And now?"' , ' ' \ "Now," h* said, wetchiaff »er,>we tit enrfi old friends that I know you will h*l» mc. A eenelble girl lite yon," htliMi' the smile fade, "can help * man no eti" i_ "A : red iibee". Js'.no proof ojf nenetba^.* , ' she retorted. "And mine Iβ only red'MM't ijiaye a cold."". .:" ' ..'■>.'■;•■' •" '■ vhSv'V ■' V ?*l «ant thitnk • 1 mentioned '■ A remarked mildly.;. "I was aaklng- ywi U V lielpnie." ■ '". ■ .'-,-■ ..:■.-. , >v.= s, . "I will," she said eagerly. ■'-."Mftiei^H'■;.■■ ■want to; but I. warn yon t» call no vosuin . eensibie tUI her boot* tarn op .•*. the toe. When Uiat happens ji.ilge' 'ttafito doesn't mind. ,, . -'•._-- :■ "I wish r knew wnen jou ■ were fo»ne . ; to be vexed. But you nere* /wet* woou- v able." .-. .' ..-' : ';ri": :;' ■» I, *ijz "No—thank goodnese. Bow w« «m 4. t» iquarreir' ■ •. -. ; ~ : .. . ."#:" "W« did," Sft said grimly.. "Now, e*j^« with a Buddee change of expeeeitoß-ri^; "An angel,.of course, • What .If ..*ft . earthly name,, and who.ia.ebe!". <;,;.:,;• ' "Err—l can't tell yon her; nameisj?".'{-".■■'■' well. Ton."see, she fcasa't »aid ;ehl..'•Bf - marry mc yet." :-.'-. . .Vi.,.-'. .... "Oh," sSeteal* blankly, "Supposing that I deacrlbe her to yoai , ':... he said, after a pause. "That wouldn't be telling her name.",, • . , ;'. .. ," -■':'■■ "No," she agreed. "And If I happened to guess. It wouldn't be your fault"/ ■ : ' He began confidently: "She is Juet tne right -height, and very straight ■ Her, complexion is wonderful."- • "That is so very little trouble,!', ; • -..,;. -, -..-. •; ■■■'-.•". .'i -\ He continued unmoved. "Her eye» '..» It's no goodi I can't.tell you the colour et ■? her .eyes. They change with every. expre«-- ' slon."' ' : ' ",\ . - - .**'•' ■••Greenr <;' '. '"'; . ' ; . / .. - -, ■ "They are llkft stars," he said, witt mort conviction than originality. "Nose, oplease.'" ' ,■' ~ . V He laughed outright TThe <nseereet little noee, all turned op at .the end." Her eves flashed stormlly. - "It Iβ hardly ~ tumedup at all. The least Utfle bit -In the wot M.""•■. ';' j. .- '■'■ ' '' J : .y ..-';.•..-■ "But— —"■ ■ ■■ - --'A '' " '■" ■'■"-■" I "-. . "T mean," ehe said haeflly, "that "yea could never have fallen in love with a eiab nose, I'm sure." .' * "She has beautiful ears, said her ailr curis about them bewitchingl/," : 'Z S She turned her head away to. smile. 'J. j , "Am I boring you?' he asked. - -.'-;_ J"No—oh, no. lam really <|uit* Uttf- ... ested." . -'■ • - -'l, ''■ ' /"v , ' "I never look at her mouth,? , he.iaU ; boldly, "without wanting to kiss it ..T6* dimples. ... I did kiss it oncei'V ~i>/« "Year , ' '•■ .. <v .'-'■'- "But not again. ,She. never forgave -wfi'■■■.-. "How do you know?" she asked,.\leantnf ; ; forv.-ariL . 5 "><'- "She said she never would." . ; ; ; "She is like every other v woaian, ■Jfceßt*' she said. "She said one thing and ajeeat" 1 an other." "No," he said', with deUberation. "?** Is unlike every other woman. She ie th*. woman I love." She was silent He rose suddenly, and took her band. "Can you guess?" . "She has altered since then. Her te». '/• per has improved, and her taste." He took possession of the other hand. "Will she prove it by marrying mc?" • •', "I think she will—if you ask her nicely." He laughed in triumph. "Darling,, will ' you marry me—nicely?" : "Yes," she said. Then: "How eilly 7°* "But what is her name," she pereletedt after en interval, "and who is she?' "You," he said, with happy disregard forsense and grammar.