The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1883-06-09
HOW HE PROPOSED.

Major Clinton was one of the most
courageous fellows in the world, ac-
cording to the men who knew him; but
when the ladies of his acquaintance
heard this opinion they laughed it to
scorn, for they considered him the most
timid creature they had ever seen. He
was very fond of ladies' society they
said, or he would not spend all his
evenings at parties or making calls; yet
no one lady, old or young, single or
married, had ever known him to ex-
press his regard in any way that was
not extremely decorous and formal.
Flirt? They would as soon think of
tombstone or telegraph pole attempt
ing to flirt Most of the Majors male
acquaintance carried sears on their
hearts, as results either of attacks more
honorable than judicious, or of sudden
surprises by fair skirmishers; but no one
could imagine the Major to have suffered
any such mishap, for he not only made
no reconnoisances, but he always re-
tired precipitately within himself at the
first flash of a pair of eyes leveled
directly at him.
The truth was that the brave Major
maiden, but he was painfully bashful
besides. The one desire of his life was
to marry, which he was financially able
to do, but the important preliminary
step of proposing was one he had never
dared to take. Until he had reached
adult years he had met scarcely any
women but his two orphaned sisters, to
whom he had tried to be father, and
upon whose rare purity and sweetness
he had based his ideas of womanhood.
Both married and went far from their
old home, so they could not help him to
gain wife by discussing him of his
impression that all women were too
good for him. TO Clinton nearly every
woman appeared saint. He worship
ed one after another, although only
one at a time, and his tastes were so
correct that he was obliged to change
his divinity about once in three months,
to avoid worshping another mans
wife. Whenever an old scar healed and
a delicious throbbng of the heart told
of a new dart that had found its way to
his heart, he vowed solemnly to propose
a. once and vary the dreadful monotOny
OF having another man step in before
him. And each time he delayed, Just
for day ora week, or because he feared
too much or hoped too wildly and every
time he waited a little too long-every
time but one.
For when the Major met Alice Wall
.ersOn he felt that to lose her, too,
would be more than his life could en-
dure. She was pretty, as all women
seemed to the Major. She was good
s,l,n 81 r.,
else why were all other women I'M
usually fond of her? Best of all, she
seemed the most modest and bashful
maiden in his whole circle of acquaint-
ances, and through these qualities
would be able to offer him sympathy
with feelings that all other people re-
garded with provoking smiles.
But how should he propose? Being a
woman, her bashful nature must be far
more sensitive than his own, so, even if
he were to nerve himself for the ordeal,
how could he be enough of brute to
infict greater trepidation upon her, if
he loved her? Even were she favor
ably disposed toward him, he was sure
that listening to q proposal would put
her heart in terrible tumult; how
much more dreadful would it be, then,
for her to listen to him should she not
be favorably disposed. He knew that
she always looked at him favorablv he
felt. that she had even been grateful to
him one evening, when both, at party
and both, through timidity, retired to
the same half-hidden corner of the
-drawing-room, each innocent of the APP
proach of the other, and each over
70 CHI hat hn
affair was a mere accident. This was
the only basis of Glinton's hope, and
yet-he had been disappointed so many
times-he could not bear to think of
the failure now.
He made several calls with the in
tention of proposing, but every time
his courage failed him; besides, Mrs.
Wallerson or Alices sister Nell were
always in the parlor. Of course, he
could not say before two what he
dreaded to say even with a single
nearer. Worse still. Miss Nell, who
was brilliant brunette of the ire
pressible species, could not avoid teas
ing him slyly at every possible oppor-
tunity, and he always lost his tongue
under her onslaughts.
Then he tried to propose in writing,
and for week of evenings he wrote
steadily, with no more satisfactory re-
suit than a note to Mrs. Wallerson, in
which he intended to inclose his pro-
posal.
Chance finally came in play to his
aid. Miss Nell, as one of a trio of girls
who had devised a surprise party for a
recently married friend, wrote to the
Major about the project, and begged
that he would call and give her some
assistance among their mutual ac-
quaintances among gentlemen. As the
Major read her note a brilliant thought
occurred to him. While talking bust
ness Miss Nell certainly would not en-