MY SUDDEN PROPOSAL.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1106, 12 May 1893, Page 18

MY SUDDEN PROPOSAL.

BY PYEAMUS. 'ChaeleS' Surface.—Lady Teazle, by all that's wonderful! 'Sir Peter Teazle.—Lady Teaz'.e, by all that's d—ran—ble !' —School for Scandal. Tramp, tramp, backwards and forwards, from one church gate to the other, I went about dusk one winter's evenings I was waiting for that blighting curse of all organists, a blower. That very evening I had engaged a boy, explained to him exactly where St Michael's was situated and given him some prominent landmarks to steer by. He had seemed to perfectly understand; and yet here I was fuming because it was six o'clock (the time appointed) and he had not appeared. It was very annoying. The more so as I had had some difficulty in arranging an evening on which I could try this new organ, the pride of vicar, vestry and organist at St Michael's, I had till recently myself been organist at a neighbouring church, and on resigning my position (as it interfered with my profession) I had come to live in the vicinity of St Michael's, and Mr Barry, the incumbent, and I had become great friends. Especially was this the case within the last few months, since the advent of his niece and ward, Miss Winifred Barry. Her appearance at the parsonage, and the information that she was to remain there as mistress of her widowed uncle's establishment, had caused quite a little excitement amongst us all. With the ladies it was perhaps not all pleasurable, since it would doubtless disturb the absolute rule which a few of them were wont to exercise in the parish (and even in the parsonage) under the plea that the 'poor dear parson had no time to attend to things temporal.' But amongst the sterner sex there was not oae to be found who did not admire Miss Winifred, and approve of her induction as mistress at the parsonage. Of course, ' managing' ladies shook their heads when their husbands or sons praised Winifred's eyes or hair or pretty manners, and said they were afraid none of those things would ensure her uncle's comfort. Many of them considered she was too young and giddy for such a responsible position. Winifred was at first apt to toss her head, when these things were broadly hinted to her; but in the end she mollified these detractors by absolutely refusing to take any prominent place in the church work. So the ladies were able as of yore to preside over ' mothers' meetings,' punish the Sundayschool children, and rigidly mete out the dole-money to the few poor old women whom they considered worthy, and Winifred grew in their fayour. They even agreed that she was a charming girl. She was about eighteen, with dark grey eyes, slightly veiled by long up-curling black lashes, a mischievous smile, and a graceful figure, that made her fascinating to susceptible young men like myself. Though I had only known her about two months, we had met frequently, and our acquaintance had drifted into friendship, and then, on my part—dared I hope on hers also ?—into love. I certainly strove in every way to show her this, and to win some word of encouragement from her. But up to the present she had given me no reason to believe she cared for me. Yet sometimes there was just a momentary droop of those grey eyes as they met mine, which made me sure she at least knew of my devotion. I was, of course, not alone in my infatuation. Amongst others, the organist, Hardy-Fraser, showed plainly enough that he only bided his time to declare himself; and occasionally I fancied Winifred favoured him. Certainly her uncle did so.

Hardy-Praser was an organist solely because it pleased him to be one, for he

had an independent income. Still he devoted himself thoroughly to his work. Sometimes this independence caused him to take rather too much upon himself, as, for instance, when he put an advertisement in the local paper giving a list of the music which would be performed at the church, with no mention of divine service or indeed of anything or anyone but himself and his cherished organ. I had heard a rurnoar that be and the parson had come to loggerheads about this matter, and could scarcely refrain from hoping it might be so. For I thought there was more chance of Mr Barry accepting me as a suitor for his niece's hand if once Hardy-Fraser were deposed from his position of first favourite. So I was thinking of many things, but all in connection with Miss Winifred Barry and her uncle, and the way to soften both their hearts, as I walked so impatiently to and fro in the church grounds. I felt that a crisis was imminent. Hardy-Fraser had glared at me in a very meaning way when I escorted Miss Winifred home from a bazaar one evening. Now I was on the eve of going away for a couple of weeks, and did not know what might nappen before my return. If only I could get an opportunity I would speak to her beforehand, I thought. Just as I arrived at the above conclusion, who should appear coming along the winding path leading from the parsonage but Miss Barry herself. She exclaimed in surprise at seeing me, explained that she was taking over a fresh surplice to be in readiness for her uncle next day, and gave me the vestry door key that I might unlock it for her. As we walked to the door I began to pour out my trouble to her.

' Here I am, Miss Barry,' I said, ' come to try this new organ, as your uncle has so often asked me to do, and my wretched blower has not turned up. Put not your trust in blowers, or you will be disappointed,' I concluded, with a weak attempt at making light of it. ' What a shame !' she said; and with her usual ingenuousness (was it ingenuousness ?) added, ' Do let me blow for you till he comes. I am sure I could manage it if you tell me how.' ' Tell her how!'—l longed to complete the sentence, and to tell her how I loved her; but, alas! did not feel sufficiently sure of my ground with her—still less with her worthy uncle. I don't think I was a particularly coldblooded young man, and yet I sometimes think that, rather than try to wrest his ward from an unwilling guardian (her only relative), I might, perhaps, have given up attempting to win her for my wife but for favouring circumstances.

Most young men nowadays rather shun the dramatic, and endeavour to choose a wife not only suitable, but with consenting relatives, who are ' easy to get on with,' and especially one whom ' the other fellows' admire. In the latter respect I knew Winifred Barry was all that could be desired.. But her uncle! Would he ' get on' with me, even in the dim future, if I married his niece now, when he seemed to consider Hardy-Fraser a more desirable suitor.

As to my own feelings, I was quite sure of them. Thus it may be guessed that I was very despondent, and thought my chances small, even with Winifred herself —but fortune was to favour me most unexpectedly. However, I did not wait to think out all this before accepting Miss Winifred's offer. Perhaps some opportunity might occur (though that was hardly likely) for my offer to be made. At all events, I would try to soften her heart a little.

' I am going away next week,' I remarked suddenly, as, having opened the vestry door, we walked towards the organ. I was delighted by the startled tone in which she exclaimed,' Going away ! Why ! I mean, where to ?' ' To M ,' I replied,' and it is possible I may remain there.' ' Oh, I hope not I' she cried, and when, with my heart up very high, I asked tenderly, 'Why?' she demurely concluded, ' Uncle would miss you so!' ' Confound your uncle!' I muttered, sotto voce, but aloud I said, ' And would not you miss me a little too ?' The air of gravity with which she appeared to ponder this question Was irresistible. ' Well, I believe I should,' she said at last hesitatingly. ' But let us begin at our respective parts of the organ.' I was obliged to comply with this very broad hint. It occurred to me very forcibly that

there would be many and various comments made in our delightfully uncharitable parish if the pretty Miss Barry were to be discovered blowing for a young man. Just at dusk, too! How the tongues would wag! But I hesitated at the idea of tarnishing the simplicity of her mind by suggesting such a thought to her. She took her place at the bellows, and I showed her what to do, and then I seated myself at the organ. The blowing apparatus was a few feet away from the organist's seat, and was screened by a curtain. After rummaging amongst Hardy - Fraser's music, I selected a soft ' Communion ' by Batiste, and commenced trying the stops one by one, so as not to tire Miss Winifred, and, despite her proximity, I was getting interested, when I heard footsteps approaching. Expecting to see my errant ' blower,' I turned round.

To my horror it was Hardy-Fraser! What was I to do ?

I felt getting hotter and hotter. Perhaps he would, only stay a few minutes, and would not think of looking behind the curtain.

' What do you think of the instrument ?' he asked, after our first greetings —not very cordial on my part. As he stood gazing with more than paternal pride at the organ, he went on, before I could reply, ' Did you see my advertisement in the paper last Saturday ? About my organ recital, I mean.'

' Yes,' I said. ' Well, that confounded old idiot of a parson—l should like to knock his head off! —had the impertinence ' ' Steady, old man!' I gasped, wondering, with moisture on my brow, what Miss Barry was thinking, as she could not fail to hear all that was said. ' Steady, old man! Clergymen and their organists are always at loggerheads, as I know myself from past experiences.' 'At all events, I'm going to tell the canting old humbug what I think of him. What do you think he said ? Told me before Mr Homly Greene that the organ was ' for the praise of the Almighty God, not of Mr Hardy-Fraser.' I didn't say a word then; but I'll tell him what I think of his rudeness. Indeed, if it were not for poor little Winifred I think I should cut the whole concern.'

'Why "poor little Winifred?" ' I asked, boiling with inward rage, though outwardly I was calm enough, as I took np Mely's ' Offertoires,' and began to play one.

' Oh, I think, ah—in fact, I'm pretty sure, he said, with a self-satisfied air which maddened me, ' that she would be very sorry.' I had almost forgotten in my rage that the identical Winifred was concealed behind the curtain. The remembrance of her presence, and the thought that she might suspect me of' drawing out' HardyFraser, sent the blood to my face. ' What makes you so hot?' he asked suddenly, looking keenly at me. ' Well!' I said, mendaciously,' lam so terribly out of practice, you see, that I find the pedalling hot work ; and I fancy the organ is a little stiff as yet—l suppose from its newness.'

' It's a beautiful organ, isn't it ?' he said proudly. ' You know I collected nearly all the money for it. In fact, it was quite my own idea to begin a ' fund,' and yet that thankless old hypocrite ' This was too much !

' Fraser !' said I indignantly, ' I will not remain here to listen to your abuse of Mr Barry. He is one of my greatestfriends, and I am sure is in every way a most estimable man. He may be a little hot-tempered, but you should not have put that announcement in the paper. So stop it, old man, or one of us must leave the church!' (My hope was that I should make him angry, and that he would go off in a huff.) Hardy-Fraser gazed at me In amazement. At that moment a gust of wind slammed the vestry door. ' Who was that ?' I said, and I rose, affecting to believe some one had come in, and hoping that he would be drawn into following, but he did not move, and I had to resume playing, using as few stops as possible, so as not to tire Miss Winifred. I was running over in my mind how I could get rid of Hardy-Praser, and incursing myself for my want of discretion in landing the poor girl in such a hole. My agony was heightened by HardyFraser pulling out stop after stop, and just as I asked him not to the wind went out of the organ. ' Who on earth have you got blowing ?' he said,' and why doesn't he keep the wind in ?'

1 Oh, it's someone I picked up. He's never tried to blow before—be better after

a little while. I suppose he finds the apparatus a little stiff.'

' If he wants practice, I'll give him six pence an hour to blow for me,' said Hardy Fraser.

' All right!' I said, incoherently,' I'll tell him when I've finished. What time would you want him ? But, if you don't mind, old man, I wish you would go away now —I feel quite nervous playing before you.'

The wind went out again with a gasp, and before I could stop him Fraser had jumped up and drawn back the curtain. I took my hands off the keys and, like Mark Twain, I vaguely wondered ' where the lightning would strike next.' Eyen in my embarrassment I half enjoyed the scene. Hardy-Fraser was standing open-mouthed, with his hand still on the curtain, and could just dimly see Miss Winifred with her pretty face scarlet, and her grey eyes full of tears. It was like a scene from the ' School of Scandal.'

Hardy-Fraser stared as though he were turned to stone.

Then an inspiration seized me—' Let me introduce you,' I said to Hardy-Fraser, ' to Miss Winifred Barry, my future wife.' Hardy-Fraser clutched his hat, and exclaiming—'Well! you might have told me!' disappeared through the vestry door. Miss Winifred was as pale now as she had been scarlet, and my heart quaked within me.

'Was I right in what I said?' I whispered, as I heard the vestry door slammed.

' I hardly think the chancel of a church is the proper place in which to discuss such matters!' she replied, and, tossing her pretty head indignantly, she walked away. Half-way acnpss the church she turned around and gave me one look. I was after her then like a shot, and eventually I found I was right in what I had told Mr Hardy-Fraser.—Australasian.