The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1883-06-09
IN HOW HE PROPOSED.

~ HOW HE PROPOSED. T
Major Clinton was one of the most
courage0us fellows in the world &C.
cordingsto 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 tlley had ever seen. He
was very fondAd 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 krQwn him to ex-
press his regard in any way that was
not extremely decorous and formal
FlirtP They would as sooH think of a
tombstone or a telegraph pole attempt
ing to flint. Most of the Mayors male
acquainSShces carried scars Aon their
Aarts,. AS results either of attacks more
honortble than judicious, or of sudden
surprises by fair skirmishers; but no one
cQpM imagine the Major to have suffered
Nhy such mishap, for he not only made
no reconnoisances, but he always re-
tired precipitately. within himself at the
first iiash ofsaS pair loif eyes leveled
directly at him.
Thetruth was that-the brave Major
Mas not .opiy is 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 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 al women were too
good for him. To Clinton nearly every
woman appeared saint. He. worship
ed one after another, although only
one at time, and his tastes were so
correct that he was obliged to change
his divinity about opceinthree months,
to avoid worshiping another mans
wife. Whenever an old scar healed and
delicious throbbingEof the heart told
of new dart that had found its way to
his heart, he vowed solemnly to propose
at once and vary thedreadful monotony
3ha Yingano Their man step in before
him. And each time he delayed, Just
for day or week, or because he feared
too much or hoped too wildly, and every
time he waited 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
and she was sweet, the Major was sure,
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,T and Through these qualities
would be able to offer him sympathy
with feelings-that all other people ire
garded with provoking smiles.
But how should he proposep Being a
woman, her bashful naturesmust be far
worcestershire than his own, $50, even if
he we're to nerve him self for the ordeal,
how-could he be enough Of a brute to
initfct greatdrmtrepidation upon her, if
he loyed her2 Even were she fsyor-
ably1isposed toward hinl,..he was sure
athstening to proposal would put
her Heart inawasst6trible ~tdmult; how
mucfrmore dreadful would it be, then,
for her to Listen to him should she>hot
be MNorably Fuisposed. He knew that
she always looked at him favorably; he
felt fhat she had even been grateful to
hims0ue evening,ssHen both, at party,
andbeth, 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
anxious, on meeting, to show that the
affair was 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 Alice's sister Nell were
:6i%SYR q sa ERS ;5l|SS ro sSS Ssi AZ
dreaded to say even with a single
nearer. Worse stillr Miss Nell. who
wA{A Pfllianf brunette Of Tie fire.
prdssible species, could not avoid teas
ing him slyly at every possible oppor-
s "ndsy 3 eb a. s!Esya '0' ~ tongue
Then he tried to propose in writing,
'stsadily,3h,no Gx s estisia ct w[1 pss
suit than 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 trio of girls
who had devised a surprise party for q
r0centlV-nnnrried frinru} wrote ffv-xRus
&66fs s1S6t IL ljsS3sct, X SaaS i5 e.
that he would call and give her some
assist Acd tmcngs Thefr mutuai ac-
. guaintancesf among gentlemen. As the
Major read her pote a brilliant thought
occurred To bin. While taking bust
ness Miss Nell certainly would not en-
de&VorktoA tease him; his ibashfulness
never troubled him while talking with
lsdi&s on any subject requiring common
sense, opinion and executive ability; he
mhnr1IA fhor>ofowo h. Ill, 10 Sal =, = -