SHORT STORY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVIII, Issue 81917, 28 January 1907, Page 4

SHORT STORY.

A FIRESIDE PROPOSAL. "1 thought it would be you," she rebarked, as he entered the room. "Why?'" he a,ked, taking her extended iiand. "lou generally call when 1 dun't expect you " "Does that mean ?" "An, 1 ' sue interrupted, "it doesn't. lam quite pleased to see you. That chair is more comfy." "Thanks." "Everybody is out somewhere," .-he explained. "1 was longing for someone 'io talk to. and you appeared.'' "To put it simply, you were longing for me," he ventured. She) laughed. "Is that how you misunderstand me? How oxquisitc.y our words conceal our thoughts." "Anyway, it's lucky I found you in, and luckier that you want to talk." "The fog is responsible for 'the fii'ot, and my sex for the second." "That sounds like the beginning of a riddle, but it isn't. Ugh!" She glanced through the windows. "Hut explain—you, the busiest man in Chester with an afternoon to waste." "To waste? Hardly!" "Well, to spare," slid amended, "lias someone left you a foitunc?" "No." "What, then." "I have been onrered to take a rest. A three months' holiday." "You?"

"Yes. My brain—don't laugh, that is really what the doctor called itrequires a rest. And I'm to have a change of occupation." "Permanently J" "No, not as bad as that. For three months." "I am sorry," she said, with evident sincerity. "Won't you hate it?" "I shall enjoy it thoroughly." "Doing nothing.." she asked in surprise. "Far from it. I shall be very busy." "How contradictory you are. What arc you going to d 0,." "That's what the doctor asked me. You really want to know?" "Of course." "I am going to get married." "For tliree months also?" "No, by Jove; till death u» you read your prayer book." "But isn't the idea rather sudden?'' "Not a bit of it. I first thought of it five years ago. When I first thought of you." "1 remember," she said, and a dimple came into play. "And now?" "Now," he said, watching her, "we are such old friends that 1 know you will help me. A sensible girl like you," he saw the smile fade, "can help a man no end." "A red nose is no proof of sensibility," she retorted. "And mine is only red when I have a cold." "I don't think I mentioned noses," he remarked, mildly. "1 was asking you to lu'lp me." "I will," she said eagerly, "indeed I want to; but I warn you to call no woman sensible till her bonis turn up at tiie toes. When, that happens it's a sign she doesn't mind." "I wish I knew when you were going to be vexed. But you never were reasonable." "No—thank goodness. How we used to quarrel!" "We did," he said grimly. "Now, she"—with a sudden change of expresdion—"she is " "An angel, of course. What is her Mrthly name, and who is she'!" "Er —I can't tell you her name very well. Y'ou see. she hasn't said she will marrv me vet." "Oh." she said blankly. "Supposing that J describe her ; fo you." he said, after a pause. "That wouldn't lie telling her name." "No," she agreed, "And if 1 happened to guess, it wouMn't be vour fault." He began confidently—"She is just the right height, and very straight. Her complexion is wonderful." "That is so very little trouble," she murmured. He continued unmoved. "Her eyes ' color of her eyes. They change with cverv expression." "Green.." "They are. like stars," lie said, with more conviction than originality. He laughed outright. fine queer. "Nose, please." es. little nose, all turned up at the end." Her eyes Hashed sloriuily. "It is hardly turned up at all. The least little bit in the world." "But " "I mean," .she said hastily, "(hat you could never have fallen in love with a snub nose, I'm sure." "Slid has Mautifull ears, and her hair curls about bewitcliingly." Sue turned her head away to smile. "Am I boring you," lie asked. "No—oh, no. lam really qiiiie interested." "I never look at her mouth," he said, "without wanting to kiss it. The dimples ... I did kiss it once." "Yes?'' "But not again. She never forgave me." "How do you know?" she asked. "She said she never would." "She is like every other woman then" she said. "She said one thing and meant another." "No," he said with deliberation. She is the woman I love." She was silent. He rose suddenly and took her hand. "She has altered since then. Uer temper has improved, and her taste." He look possession of the other hand. "Will she prove it by many-, iiig me?" "I think she will—if vou ask her nicely." He laughed in triumph. "Darling, will you marry me—nicely?" "Yes," she said. Then—"How siby you are." "But what is her name." she persisted, "and who is she?" "You," ho said, with happy disregard for sense and grammar.