South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1883-06-22
HOW He PROPOSED.

Dut When INC iaaies OF his acquaiut.
ance heard, this opinion they laughed
it to scorn, for they considsr cd him
the most timid creature they had ever
ssen. He was very fond of ladies'
society, they said, or he would not
spend all his evenings at parties or
making calls; yet not one lady, old
or young, SINGLE or married, had ever
known him to express his regard in
any way that was nor extremely de.
corous and formal. Fllrt? They would
as soon think OF tombstone o. tel.
graph pole attempting to tlirt. Most
of tue majors male ac1uaintances
carried scars on their hearts, ~ re.
suite either Of attacks more honorable
4lsa~-j~dicisss: os-of suixisp, sarfsisss
by fair skirmishes; but no one could
imagine the major to have suffered
any such mishap, for he not only
made no recOnuoisances, but he al .
way q retired precipitately within him.
self at the first flash of pair of eyes
leveied directly al hin.
The truth was that the brave major
was not only as modest as a model
maideu, but he was painfully bashful
beside. The one desire of his life was
to marry, which he was financially a.
bio to do, but the important p-elimi-
nary step Of proposing was one he hld
never dared 10 take. Until he reach
ed adult years he had met scarcely
any women but lis two orphaned sis
ters, to u II I'm he tried to be father,
and upon whose rare purity and sweet
ness Ire bad based his ideas of wo-
manhood Both marped and went
far from their Old home, 80 they could
not help him to gain a wife by di,a
bnsing him OF his impression that all
womeu were too good for him. To
Clinton nearly every woman appear
ed saint. He worshipped one after
another, although only one ut time,
and his tastes were soicorrcct that he
WAS obliged to, change his divinity
about once III three months, to avoid
worshipping anothcrl mans wife,.
Whenever an old scar healed and q
delicious Unfolding Of the heart told
OF u new dart thai had found its way
to his heart, Inc vowed solemnly to
propose at once, and v9ry the dread
IN! monotsny OF having another man
to step in before him. At,l each
time he delayed, inst for day, or q
week, or because ne feared toe much
or hoped too wildly, aud every time
he waited litdetoo Dag every fine
but one.
For when ahc major met Alice
WalIcrson lie felt that TO lose her,
too, would be more than his life could
endure. She was pretty, as all wo-
men seemed 10 the major. She was
good and she was sweet, the major
was surc, elsc why were all other wo.
men unusually fond of her? Best of
all, she seemed the most modest and
bashtul maiden in the. whole circle of
his acquaintance, aud through thcse
qualities would be able to offer him
sympathy with feelings that all other
people regard with provoking
smiles.
He made several calls, with the III
tenton OF proposing, but every time
his courage failed him, besides Mrs
Wallerson or Alice's sister Nell were
always in the parlor; of course he
coull not say before two what he drea-
ded to say even with single hcarcr
Worse still, Miss Nell, who was u
brilliant brunette of the irrepressible
species could not avoid teasing him
slyIy at every possible opportunity,
aud he always lost his tongue under
her onslauglIts
Then he tried topropose in writing
and for week Of evenings he wrote
steadily with no more satisfactory re.
suit than note TO Mrs. Wa!lerson,
III which he intended u incluse his
proposal.
Chance finally came in pity TO his
aid. Miss Nell, IA one of trio Of
girls WHO had devised surprise party
for recently married friend, wrote To
the major, about tie project, and beg
ged that lie would cal aud give her
some assistance among ;heir mutual
acquaintance among gentlemen. As
the major read her note brilliant
thought occurred TO him. While
talking business Miss Nell certainly
would not endcavor to tease him !:
his bashfulness never troubled him
while talking with ladies on any sub.
Jet requiring common sense, opinion
and executive ability; he should
therefore be able 10 feel at ease with
Miss Nell, and while in that unusual
condition lie would make a COMPLIANT
OF her and ask her advice aud assist
ance.
SO the major went to tie Waller
son home on the evening appointed
by mischieveous Mss Neil with q
stouter heart than he had felt. outside
OF business hours, since the war end.
ed. lie arranged vita the young la.
dy 10 bring all his male friends into
the surprise party, and she, rather
confused by her new viovv ~ tLo,,a