A Fireside Proposal.

Timaru Herald, Volume XIC, Issue 13438, 9 November 1907, Page 1 (Supplement)

A Fireside Proposal.

A YERY INDIRECT QUBSTTOX. TT thought it would be you," ehe remarked, as he entered the room. "Why?" he asked, taking her extended hand. "You generally call when I don*t expect you—" "Does ,thab mean ?" "No," she interrupted. ''lt doesn't. lam quite pleased to eee you. That chair is much more comfy." "Thanks." "Everybody is out somewhere," she explained.*"! was longing for some one to talk-to, and you appeared." "To put it simply, you were longing for me," he ventured. She laughed. "Is that how you misunderstand m?. How exquisitely 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 ths fimt, and mv sex for the second." "That sounds like the beginning of a riddle, but it isn't. Ugh!" she glanced through the windows. "But explain—you, the busiest man in Chester, with an afternoon to waste." "To waste? Hardly!" "Well, to spare," she amended. "Has someone left you a fortune." "No." "What then?" "I have been ordered to take a rest. A three months' holiday." "You?" "Yes. My brain, don't laugh, that is really what* the doctor called "il, requires a rest. And I'm to have change of occupation." "Permanently ?" ' "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. VFar from it. I ehall be very busy." "How contradictory you are. What are you going to do?". '"That's what the doctor asked me. You really want to know?" "Of course." "I am going to get married." "For three months also?" "No, by Jove; till death us—you read your prayc-r book." "But isn't the idea rather sudden?" "Not a bit of it. I first thought of itfive years ago. When I first thought of you." "I remember," she said, and a dimple cam? into play. "And now?" "Now," he said watching, "we are such old friends that I know you will help me. A sereible girl like you," be saw the smile fade, "can help a man no end." "A red note is no .proof of sensibility,"

she retorted. "And mine is only red when I have a. cold."

;'• "I don't think 1 mentioned nosey,' ho remarked mildly. "I was asking you to help me." "L willj" she said eagerly. "Indeed I want to; but I warn you to call no woman sensible till her boots turn up-at the toes. When that happens it's a sign that she doesn't mind."

"I wish I knew 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 expression—"she is -"

"An angel, of course. What is her earthly name, and who is nhe?" "Er—l can't tell you her name very well. You see, she hasn't said she will marry me yet." . "Oh," she said blankly. ."Supposing that I describe her to you." he said after a'pause. : "That wouldn't be< telling her name." "No," she agreed. "And if I happened to it wouldn't be your fault." He began confidently: "She is just the right height, and very straight. Her complexion ip wonderfuL''... , "That is so very little trouble," she murmured. He continued unmoved. "Her eyes colour of her eyes. They change with every expression." "Green V • "They are like stars," he said, with more conviction than originality. "Nose, please. He laughed outright. "The queerest little nose, all turned'up at the end." Her eyes flashed stormily. "It is hardly turned up at all. The least little bit in the world." "But ' ■ ■ / • "I mean," the said hastily, "that you could never have fallen in love with a snub nose, I'm sure." ■ . ; "She has beautiful ears, and her hair curls about her bewitchingly." She< turned her head away to smile. ''Anx I boring you?" he asked. "No—oh no. lam really quite interested." "I never look at her mouth," he said boldly, "without wanting to kiss it. The dimples. . . . . -I did kiss it once."' ■. "Yes?" "But not again. She never forgave me." "How do you know V she asked, leaning forward. "She said she. never would." "She is like every other woman, then," she said. "She sai'd one thing, and meant another." "No," he said, with delibtratioon. "She is unlike every other woman. Slip is the woman I love.' She was ,• silent. He rose suddenly, and took her hand. "Can you guess?" "She has altered since then. Her temper has improved,-and her taste.". He took possession, of other hand. , "Will-she ■ prove- it by marrying me ?" "I think 'sho will—if you ask her nicely"'. ■ He laughed in triumph. "Darling, will you marry me—nicely?" - ' "Yes," she said. . Then: ."How silly you are." . "But what is.her' name," she persisted,, after.an interval, "and who is i-he " "You," he. said, with happy disregard for sense and grammar.