Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1856-10-02
Why he didn't ProDosa.

Why he didn't Propose.
why did you never think of marriage!"
asked of my old friend, Robbins, who was
some ten years older thtn ,nysels,lf and n con-
frmed bac helor.
81 haze thought of it," sid he.
"Well, why didn't yon marry, theu!" " 1
inquired
"[ will tell yol," he replied 9 You know
Frank Palmer, .don's you ~
"Yes," said [; he failed list week to the
tune of four thousand pounds. But what has
that to do with your story
Something, us You will see, replied Rob
bins. 81 WAS never seriously tempted to make
a proposal but onc3, and th.t WAS to Franks
wile--beforc she was marriel--lo YOU under
stand "
"0b," said l. growing interested. And
why didn't you :"
"Yon shall know" he contnucl 81 was
young and romantic at that tims-she was beau
tiful and accomplished. We were thrown
together in society, and WAS just at the ago
to yield to her flcnaton Though had never
expressed my love in words, suppose my looks
betrayed me, and | am quite sure she was aware
Of my feelings towards her. Our families being
somewhat intimate, we were on the same footing,
and she treated me much in the same confidcn-
! tal manner as she would fayoyitc cousin"
"Do you think" inquired, " that she was
in love with yoa!'
"No," said he, 81 never tho l;ht TINT.
: presume, however, she would like to have lured
me on to declaration, and then would have
: acted as fancy dictated One day, when had
made morning call, and was retiring, she told
me she WINS going out shopping, and aughingly
proposed to me to 60 with her. Having nothing
Il of Importance to take up my time, and not be-
ing averse to the proposal, partly on account Of
its novelty, and considerably. rather suspect,
on account Of the agreeable company l should
have, consented in the same spirit, and in ~
few minutes VIC were fairly en- route.
i have but little to buy said my companion /;
y you may congratulate yourself on that, as
you will have less to carry
We made our first visit to linendrapcrs es-
& tablishment.
IS Have you any lace collars inquired Caro-
p line
y large quantity were displayed, but they
" were too cheap. At length one was found at
= ten shillings, with which, being declared the
. best in the shop, my companion at length pro-
9 fessed herself satisfied, and decided to take it.
u suppose, said she on going out, | don t
really need it, bat it was 50 beautiful | could
not resist the temptation.
A beautiful shawl in the window of another
shop next caught Carollne's observation
. 1 must certainly go in and look at those
shawls, said she Il never saw any pr, csley
like them. New kind slid she to tIfe shop
man.
Yes, miss, he replied, just imported from
France, warranted to surpass in fneness and
durability any now cxtant. Will you have
> one
The price, she inquired.
> Four pounds ten, was the reply, and cheap
: at that
d Caroline was startled at this announcement
e That is high said she.
e Not for the quality said the shopman
y just feel of it-sce how soft it is, and you
't will not call it expensive
il did not think of purchasing one to day :,
shid Caroline, however | must. You NAV
Is charge it to my father
Is The shawl was folded, envelopcd and handed
/" to me by the shopman.
III 'Isuppose father will scold,' said Caroline.
ID but it's such beauty
ee We reached ere long. another linendraper's $
n the placard of which, Selling off at prime cost
-. proved so seductive that we at once stayed ou
~ steps and entered. Caroline desired to examin
~ the silks. The first specimens offered. which t.
% my unpractced eye seemed of superior quail
= :. ity, were cast contemptuously aside, and sh
20 asked to see the very best they had in the shop
Some were shown her at -four shilings per YARD
~ After while she ordered twelve yards to b
Nv cut off for her. This was done and the pare,
"a handed to me- The bill, of course, sent in I
." her father.
VI With the shawl and silk, each of which mac
~ parcel of no inconsderahle size, was prett
~ well weighed down, and begun to be appreher
y v" sve of the consequence in case my compaic
~ should make any more purchases. She, ho,
o 10, ever, relieved my anxiety by saying that 81
'"' intended to purchase nothing more. She W;
only going to stop ut jewellers to have
eo ockct repaired. Accordingly we repaired
tho shop OF fashionable jeweller. The lock-
was handed over with the necessary direction
But this was not all A lady at the count
It was engaged in examining a very elegant pa
of ,arangs, which she was desirous of plrch
,eo sing, but dem irred at the price. AT last S
i"c laid them down reluctantly, saying, They II
II very handsome, but do not care to 20 so hi,
'he as fifty shillings.
N.Y. Let me sec them, asked Caroline.
"e' They were handel to her. She was charm
=, ' with them--chiehy, imagine, on account
o' the price, for they had little beyonl that t,
so"' commend them. Now | must absolutely
,t.. & nome said she, without purchasing anythi
efef FOR once she kept her word, and was
g !" ieased IRON my attendance. But tho thouo
'aas she had expended about ten pounds in
was single mornings shopping, and on objects
when none of which bv ber o,ro ''0'D
'0ed in present need could not help recur,ng to