Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1883-06-08
no " HE PROPOSED.

j q. Whittier 10 Tie Independent.
HOW HE PROPOsED
Major Clinton was one OF the most cour-
ageous fellows in the world, according 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 par
ties or making calls yet no one lady, old or
young, single or married, had ever known
him to express his regard in any way that was
not extremely decorous and formal. Flirt?
they would as soon think Of a tombstone or a
telegraph pole attempting to hrt Most of
the majors male acquaintance carried scars
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 maj jor to have suffered any
such mishsp, for be not only made no recon
naissances, but be always retired precpitate!y
within himself at the first fash of a pair Of
eyes leveled directly st him. The truth was
that the brave maj jor wGs not only as modest
as a model maiden, but be was painfully bash
full besides. The one desire of his life was
to marry, which be was financially able TO do,
but the important preliminary step of pro-
posing was Oue Ne uAu never uAreQ 10 take.
Until lie had reached adult years he Lal
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
30 they could no; help him TO gain q wife by
disabusing him OF his impression that all
women were too good for him. To Clinton
nearly every woman appeared saint. He
worshipped 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 worship
ing another mans wife. Whenever an oldscar
healed and delicious thro6bing of the heart
told of a new dart that had found its way to
his heart he vowed solemuly to propose at
once and vary the dreadful monotony OF hav-
ing another man step in before him. And
each time he delayed. just for a day or a
week, or because he feared too much, or
hoped too wildly, and every time he waited
little too long-eyery time but one.
For when major met Alice Wallerson, he
felt that to lose her, too, would be more than
his life could endure. She was pretty, as all
women seemed TO the major. She was good
and she was sweet, the major was sure, else
why were all other women unusually fond of
her? Best of all, she seemed the most mod
est and bsshful maiden in his whole circle OF
acquaintance, and through these qualities
would be able to offer him sympathy with
feelings that all other people regarded with
provoking smiles.
But how should he propose? Being &
woman, her bashful nature must be far more
sensitive than his own, 50, even if he were to
nerve himself for the ordeal, how could he
be enough of O brute to infict greater trepi-
dation upon her if he loved her? Even were
she fayorably disposed toward him, be was
sure that listening to j proposal would put
her heart IN a terrible tumult; how much
more dreadful would it be, then, for her to
listen to him, should she not be favorably dis
posed He knew that she always looked at
him favorably; he felt that she had even been
grateful 10 him one evening, when both at a
party, aud both, through timidity, retired to
the same half hidden corner of the drawing
room, each innocent of the approach of the
other, and each ovsr-anxious, on meeting, to
show that the affair was a mere accident.
This was the basis Of Glinton's hope, and yet
he had been disappointed so many times
he could not bear to think of failure now.
He made several calls with the intention of
proposing, but every time his courage failed
him besides, Mrs. Wsllerson or Alice's sister
Nell were always in the parlor. Of course he
could not say before two what he dreaded TO
say even with single hearer. Worse still,
Miss Nell, who was brilliant brunette Of the
irrepressible species, could not avoid teasing
him very slyly at-every possible opportunity,
ard he always lost his tongue under her on
slaughts.
Then he tried to propose in writing, and
for week of evenings he wrote steadily,
with no more satisfactory result than a note
to Mrs. Wallerson, in which he intended to
enclose his proposal.
Chance finally came in play to his aid.
Miss Nell, as one of a trio of girls who had
devised a surprise party for recently mar
ried friend, wrote to the major about the
project and begged that he would call and
give her some assistance among their mutual
scquaintsnces among gentlemen. As the ma
jor read her note, a brilliant thought occurred
to him. While talking business, Miss Nell
certainly would not endeavor to tease him
his bashfulness never troubled him while talk
ing with ladies on any subject requiring com
mon sense, opinion and executive ability; he
should, therefore, be able to feel at ease with
Miss Nell, and in that unusual condition he
would make conhdante of her, and ask her
advice and assistance. He would try to talk
to her as if she were a man it might be a
rash experiment, but he felt equal to almost
any degree of rashness when he thought OF
how many times before he had resolved and
failed.
So the major went TO the Wallerson's home
on the evening appointed by mischievous
Miss Nell, with a stouter heart than he had
felt, outside of business hours, since the war
ended. He arranged with the young lady to
bring all his male friends into the surprise
party, and she, rather confused by her new
view of the majors character, was most etfu-
sive in thanks and being ouly twenty three
years Of age, and being no older than her
years siguitied, was completely astouuded by
the mai cooluess. She could not help be-
traying her curiosity she looked at the ma
jor inquirngly she dropped into reveres
and she said to her mother, who came to the
door of the parlor moment about some at-
fair of a strictly family nature, that Major
Clinton was entirely different from what she
had imagined him to be,
Bot the major did not know this, and after
the business of the evening ended be began
to feel the old familiar cold sweat that had
been his torment in the swamps of the Chica-
hominy hfteen years before. Conversation
had dropped to the dead level of the National
Academy, the last new novel, and Browns
last volume of poems-all of which were very
bad Miss Nell looked interested pretty and
sentimental, until the major half wished she
would be her natural self for he had at last
reused himself up to the combatye state, and
he wanted to talk with her in the most serious
manner about her sister. At last he made
desperate effort, and said
Miss Wallerson, called this evening only
on business, but have for a long time want
ed to say something to you about a matter
Excuse me just moment, major" inter
rupted Miss Nell 'the gas is Kissing dread
/ fully Won't you be good enough to see
/ which burner it is I'm too short to reach
/ any of them, I'm sorry to say"
| The major hGstened TO the rescue. He
heard Kissing noise, as of the escape of too
| much gas he could not be sure which of the