Dodge City times. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1876-1892, 1884-11-13
Major Glinton'S Love Story.

Major Clinton was one of the most
courageous fellows in the world accord
in to the men who knew him; but when
the ladies of his acquaintance heard this
opinion they laughed 1t 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 ali bis evenings
at parties or making calls; yet no one
lady, young or old, slngieor married, had
ever known him to express his regard
in any way that was not decorous and
formal. Flirt? They would as soon
think of tombstone or telegraph pole
attempting TO fiirt.
The truth was that the brave Major
was not only as modest rs model maid
en-, but was painfully bashful beside
The one desire of his life was TO marry,
which he WIS financially able to do, but
The important preliminary step of pro-
posing was one he had never dared to
take. Until he reached adult years he
had met scarcely any women but his two
orphaned sisters, to whom ne tried to be
a father, and upon whose rare purity and
sweetness he had based his idea of
womanhood. Both married and went far
beip him to gain a wife by disabusing
him Of his impression that all women
were toogoOd for him. To Clinton nearly
every woman appeared a saint He
worshipped one after another, although
only one at time, and his tastes were
80 correct that he was obliged to change
his divinity about once in every three
months to AVON worshiping another
L. IL
healed and delicious throbbing of the
heart told of new dart that had found
its way to his heart, he vowed to propose
at once, and vary the dreadful monotony
of having another man step in before
him. And each time he delayed, just
for day or week, or because he feared
too much or hoped too widely, and every
time he waited little too long, every
time but one.
For when the Major met Alice Wal
lerson be 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 modest
and hashtul maiden in his whole circle
of acquaintance, and through these
qualities would be able to offer him SYM
pathy with feelings that all other people
regarded with provoking smiles.
He made several calls, with the inten-
ton of proposing, but every time his
courage failed him; besides, Mrs. Waller
son or Alice's sister Nell was always in
the parler. 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 slyly at every possible OPP
portunity, and he always lost his tongue
under her onslsughts.
Then he tried to propose in writing,
and for week of evenings he wrote
steadily with no more satisfactory re-
suit than note to Mrs. Wallerson, in
which he intended to inciose his pro-
posal.
Chance finally came in play to his aid
Miss Nell, as one of trio of girls who
had devised surprise party for re-
Gently married friend, wrote TO the Major
about the project and begged that he
would call and give her some assistance
among gentlemen. AS the Major read
her note brilliant thought occurred to
him. While talking business Miss Nell
certainly would not endeavor to tease
him; his bashfulness never troubled him
while talking with ladies on any subject
requiring common sense, opinion and
executive ability, he should therefore be
able to feel at ease with Miss Nell, and
while in that unusual condition he would
make contidant of her and ask her ad-
vice and assistance. He would try Ia
talk to her as if she were aman; it might
be 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
home on the evening appointed by the
mischievous Miss Nell with 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 to the surprise party, and she
rather confused by her new view of the
Majors character, was most ELUSIVE in
thanks, and being only twenty-thret
years OF age and no older than her year
signified, was completely astounded by
the Majors GOODNESS. She could no
help betraying her curiosity; she looked