Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1880-10-14
SNOOkS' PROPOSAL:
How He Got Out OF It.

How He Got Out OF 1t.
"If you will take my ADVICE" said Mr..
Wilding, making last noble but futile
effort to balance the ivory paper. knife on
the tip of his first finger, "you won't go
TO the Brownrigs' ball. y
"And why not?" asked his compan-
ion, lrritably.
well, really wouldn't, you know"
said Mr.Wilding, giving up his struggle
with the impossible, and laying the re-
fractory paper-knife upon the table--"for
a variety OF reasons. Girls play the very
mischief with you and you know what
trouble it gave me to get you out of your
last scrape. There are tour Browning
girls, aren't therea And they are all
prettya''
81 don't see what that's got to do with
it" said Shocks, sulkily. "Theres safety
in multitude. 1 can't marry 'em all,
can IL"
"Happily, no! Though if the laws OF
your land did not forbid it, I am inclin-
ed to think you might try to accomplish
even that. Still, be advised, Shocks, and
be conspicuous by your absence at the
Brownrigs' small and early Papa
Browning, when incensed, is not nice,
and you know you are decidedly esprit
with Miss Kate"
mo. am not" said Shocks, with de.
cision, snot DIT of it. Though l allow
she is handsome girl, and has lovely
eyes. Hasn't she, now9"
"I don't know. AS rule never look
into womsn's eyes. Iconsider it rude
ness" said Wilding, earnestly, telling
his lie without blush. "Never mind
her eyes. IT," warningly, 'you must go
to this ball at least try to forget she has
any eyes at all. If you don't you will
propose to her, to moral
zone would think was a raw school
boy" said young Shocks, wrathfully.
"Do you think can't look at woman
without committing myself9 Do look
like foolG'
Whatever Mr.. WildiDg thought at
that moment, he kept it to himself. Be-
fore ne spoke next, he and lis conscience
had agreed to dissemble.
my dear fellow, do not let us even
hint at such thing" he said, amiably.
AZ only meant you were slightly-very
slightly susceptible, and that Miss Kate
had certain amount of pleasing power,
and that positively would give up
this ball if /"
.'Are you going?" broke in Shocks,
Impatiently.
"welI, yes, dare say I shall look in
about twelve"
''Then 1 will look in with you," said
Shocks, defantly.
''Fact is, the fellow wants to spoon Eer
himself, and he don't see the force of be-
ing cut out" said he to himself, compla-
Gently, as he ran down the steps OF Wild
ing's stairs.
Beyond all questicr Prnwnrig's ball
was decided success. The rooms were
filed to OVERLOOKING, the staircases were
choked, the heat was intolerable. SIR
Thomas and Lady Higgins had actually
put in an appearance, and the supper, il
UNBEATABLE. was, assure you, very ex
pensive. No pains or money had been
spared; everything was what the mistress
OF the house called rug regal" and all
the Misses Browning looked as charming
assany one could desire.
There were four of them. There was
Katie, the second daughter-Snooks
friend, and the possessor of lovely ey,s
And they were lovely; large land dark
and true and tender" like the North, &C.
cording to the Laureate; "black as sloes,
said her fond if slightly oppressive moth
er, and OF the languid, melting order.
Then there was Hetty, the eldest girl
who, If her eyes were not dark as mid
night, had at least the dearest little nose
in the world. A pure Greek feature, per.
feet in every respect, ignorant of colds
her (only she would have blushed, they
were all so nicely brought up) about Du'
du and her Phidian appendage.
Then came Georgie-"George the
third" as she was playfully termed IN
the bosom of her family-who, ii she had
neither nose nor eyes like her sisters, haG
certainly prettier mouth than either
A sweet little kissable rosebud of &
mouth, that pouted and laughed alternate
~, and did considerable execution.
And finally there was Lille. A tall
pale girl, with blue eyes, a finely-cut chin
and . good deal of determination al
round.
Katie's eyes were larger, darker, anC
(when she looked at Shocks and though
of his thorsands) more melting than eve
that night.
Htr dress, slightly BIZARRE, was intense
~ becoming. Shocks, for the first half
hour, kept himself bravely aloof from he
fasclnations, declined to notice her re-
proachful chances, and, tor reward, wa
wretched. Finally, being driven into
corner during fatal set of lancers, b.
met her eyes, saw, and was conquered
She would dance the next with him
Yes (coldly). And the next7 Yes (mor,
gently. And the ninth-he can see shl
Is dlsengaged for lt9 Yes (thls tim,
quite warmly
An hour later the deed was done.
little capital champagne, dark avenu
/ q believe there were some Chinese Ian
terbs there originally, but a kind wine
had blown them ouD and q soft littl
hand slipped into his, did the work; an,
Miss Katie had promised bashfally, blu
with unmistakable willingness, to be tn
future Mrs. Shocks. Whether it wa
Shocks or the property pertaining to tina
gentleman she most affected, deponcn
sayeth not.
When, however. her betro:hed foun,
out what he had done, and remembered
his former words and all the awf1lnes
of parental wrath. his heart failed him
He went, as he usually did in sorry case
In search of Wiiding. and having discov
cred him, took him into side room, an
shutting the door confronted HIM witt
rath II pale face.
$50 the eyes were too much for your
said Mr.. Wilding, calmly, after deliber
ate examination of the disturbed face be
fore him. II told you just how it woul
be-"
"oh, well; that is just the sort q
thing any of the fellows might say.
returned snooks, pathetlcally. ~ d1dn
think you would have been SO aggravat
ing. And just when you see I'm dow
on my luck, too. Yes; I've been anc
gone and done it."
Neither will be pleased " quote,
his friend and law adviser with a shrue
6eGr hv, <I,a hx will 1ao ~vS,x,w g. It, PrVl 8