The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1883-07-05
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HOW HE PROPOSED. :,

nun <6E PhUHUSED.. -
Major Clinton was one of the most
courageous fellows in the world, ae-
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 a
tombstone or a telegraph pole attempt
ing to firt. Most of the Majors male
acquaintances 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 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 pair of eyes leveled
directly at him.
The truth was that the brave Major
was not only as modest as model
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 a 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 disabusing him of his
impression that all women were too
good for him. To Clinton nearly every
woman appeared saint He worship
cd one after another, although only
one at time, and his tastes were so
correct that he was obliged to change
MS divinity about once in three months,
70 avoid worshiping another mans
vile. Whenever an old scar healed and
adellcious throbbings of the heart told
OF new dart that had found its way to
ms heart, he vowed solemnlY to propose
at once. and vary the dreadful monotony
OF having another man step in before
MIN. And each time he DELAYED, Just
lor day or week. or because he feared
100 much or hoped too wildly, and every
nme ne waited little too long-every
time but one.8
For when the Major met Alice Wall
erSon ne 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 SheF was good
and she was sweet, the Major was sure.
else why were all other women un-
usually fond of her? Best of all. she
seemed the most modest and bashful
maldenin bis sWhole circle of aequaint-
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 proposeP Being
woman, her bashful nature must be far
more sensitive. than bis own, so, even if
ne we're to nerve himself for the ordeal, !
now could he be enough of brute to
lnllet GREATER trepidatiep upons her, if
he loved her? Even Were she favor
aoiy disposed toward him, he was sure
sia0 listening to a proposal would put
nef heaft In terrible .taAnult;, how
aiueh more dreadful would it be, then.
iof ner to listen to him should she not
y Iayorably disposed He knew that
sle always looked at him favorably; he
ieit That she had even been grateful to
ans ,'l one evening, when both, at party,
tba aa ootn, through timidity, retired to
sie same half-hidden corner of the
ulaAWllngg-room, each innocent of the .ap-
ploaeh OF the other, and each over
as! asaAous, on meeting, to show that the
Iu''H was sa..neIe accident ag This wass
W.. e ohly basil. of Glinton's hope, and
te'-he had been disappointed So MANY
tI aIsnes.he could not bear to think of
the failure now.
ne made several calls with the in
- aeion OF proposing, but every time
W. courage failed him; besides, Mrs.
s,.. J,ailerson or Alice's sister Nell were
"oN, "sMaYs IN the parlor. OF course, he
ds dSou9 not say before two what he
Seaueo to say even with a single
saief Worse still Miss Nell, who
nras; ~as = ! brilliant brunette. of the ire
h.. b,esslote so. species, could not avoid teas
,ns;. nl'h slyly at every possible oppor-
unday rll.s' and and he always lost his tongue
unaef her onslaughts.
and eh ss ne tried to propose in writing.
( staaa;1 a1l week of evenings he wrote
snls rSsaliy, u with no more satisfactory re-
wh,aL sn note to Mrs. Wallerson, in
possI .In le intended to inclose his pro