cCurdy sitting on a log. Before he could get out of the
way he overheard the loudest proposal ever made on Mackinac. It used to
be told about in mess, though how it got out Captain Markley said he did
not know, unless they heard it at the fort.

"I have brought you out here," the doctor shouted to Juliana, as loud as
a cow lowing, "to tell you that I love you! I want you to be my wife!"

She behaved as if she didn't hear--I think that minx often had fun with
her deafness--and inclined her head to one side.

So he said it all over again.

"I have brought you to this secluded spot to tell you that I love you! I
want you to be my wife!"

It was like a steamer bellowing on the strait. Then Juliana threw her
scarf over her face, and Captain Markley broke away through the bushes.

Mrs. Gunning never said a word to me about either of the suitors. It
wasn't because she didn't talk, for she was a great talker. We had to
postpone a card-party one evening, on account of the continuous flow of
Mrs. Gunning's conversation, which never ceased until it was time for
refreshments, there being not a moment's pause for the tables to be set
out.

[Illustration: Startled to see her rush down at Captain Markley 176]

I was startled to see her rush down at Captain Markley, brandishing her
parasol as if she were going to knock him down. I thought if she had
any preference it would be for an army man; for you know an army woman's
contempt of civilian money and position. Army women continually want to
be moving on; and they hate bothering with household stuff, such as we
prize.

Captain Markley did look poor-spirited, drooping against the sally-port,
for a man who in his uniform was the most conspicuous figure to Mackinac
girls in a ball-room. Maybe if he had been courting anything but a
statue he might have made a better figure at it. Juliana was worse than
a statue, though; for she could float through a thousand graceful poses,
and drive a man crazy with her eyes. He wasn't the lover to go out in
the woods and shoot a proposal as loud as a cannon at a girl; and it
seems he couldn't get any satisfaction from her by writing notes.

Mrs. Gunning was drawing off her gloves as she marched at him with her
parasol, and I remember how her emeralds and diamonds flashed in the
sun--old heirlooms. I never saw another woman who had so many precious
stones. She was tall, with that robust English quality that sometimes
goes with slenderness. She