National Republican., 1885-05-16
A MARRIAGE PROPOSAL.



middle-aged gentleman ran up tho steps
of handsome house in handsomer city
street. and asked tho servant who opened
the door IL Miss Neville was at home.
Being answered in tho affirmative, he sont
in his card. Written upon IL was this
name: William Belmore.
The servant having shown him into the
front parlor, took the card upstairs and
returned with the information that Miss
Neville would be down in moment"
and In moment Miss Neville herself ena
tered. She was beautiful young woman
of 30. She was dressed stylishly and
bore herself with an air that told she
was used to society.
She hold In her hand newspaper,
around which was folded a wrapper, ads
dressed to herself which sho had taken
from the hall tablo as she passed. She
had only glanced at the direction, and rs
yet had not opened It, That papor was
myself--I had just arrived from Washing
| ton.
At her entrance Mr.. Belmore arose and
advanced, holding out his hand. She gave
him hers, which he certainly kopt mo-
ment or so longer than was necessary. Ho
was tall, well-built man enough, of so
years Of age, with gray side whiskers and
high nose.
or course as n newspaper, and one de-
voted TO fashionable Intelligence, have =
| great experience in love affairs, saw at
a glance that Mr.. Bolmorc was In love
with Miss Neville, aud that he intended
to offer her his hand aud heart at some
time. After they had convorsod awhile, [
| knew that he had resolved TO do IL that
very day. She know It, too, when he had
remarked
"My dear Miss Neville, have some.
thing very particular 20 say TO you"
Ho began by telling her that she was
beautiful. Then ho told her that he
loved hor. Then he mentioned the
amount Of his property and real estate,
and asked her II sho would marry him.
She thanked him in very well.ar.
ranged speech. at the end Of which she
declined his offer.
When sho had done this there was
silence. Mr. Belmore broke it by an in
quiry.
Would sho over change her mind2
Might he not hope that, having thought
his offer over, sho would Wow 1t in q
better lightP
Sho replied that it was not question
of time, ana that she certainly would not
: change hor mind. She hoped, however,
that he would always be her friend.
At that he grew very angry, though he
, tried not to appear so; and in moment
he arose to go.
She bowed him to the parlor door, aud
. ho won't out into the hall, into the vesti.
, bule, and to the front door. There new
lock, which was the torment Of every
stranger, baiiled him. He stood a pris-
, oner between two doors vainly strug-
Cling to open either OF them for five min-
utes.
In this space Of time Miss Neville had
seated herself in q great armchair and
, taken me out Of my wrapper. AS soon
as she did so her eyes rested on para.
graph, on each side of which were placed
\. two pencil brackets.
There were not fifty words between
a thom, but as she read felt myself begin
!, to tremble in her hands.
a as 1t possible?" she cried. and tears
1 arose to her eyes, and just then faint
{. sound in the hall attracted her attention.
Mr.. Belmore had managed TO open the
inner door and stood at that Of the parlor.
~ beg thousand pardons. Miss Me-
, ville," he said, "but cannot manage to
q to get out Of the house as rapidly as
doubtless, would be agreeable to you"
r He was very angry by this time, and
n the marks of two red.hot tears OF rage
a and grief, midde-aged tears, were on his
f cheeks. | don't know whether she saw
n them, but ho noticed those In hers aud
, the change in her face.
L TeRTbb LUuJ uhNo ulolIOobbu
q you," he said. I'LL hoped to make
q you as happy as different answer would
o have made me-"
" As he spoke she put me down upon the
v table and advanced to him.
T. "Would different answer have made
you happy?" said she.
THAT asked the question is sufficient
" proof of that" said he.
e "Then be happy" said she, and held
10 never saw SO happy man since | was
5; He took her hands and put them to his
20 lips.
It "If It had not been for the door. lock.
II my dear he said, "how miserable L
ID should be at this moment Bless the
d door-lock The angels must have been
IN watching over me when | grew SO stupid
IS over Itch, darling?"
II am glad you came back" said she.
"And don't cry. It's all over. l did
not go away" said he.
IS "Just let me cry q little WHILE" said
le she. What has happened to-day will
70 never happenn again, you know. 1t il
At only for once"
at "Yes, it's not likely to be done over
IL again." said he. "And to think might
ID ladies said mo- when they meant yes;
is but did not believe it until to-day"
III And, after awhile, he took his leave
O. well satisfied.
They are married now and he often
speaks of that day. He says that but for the
door-lock he might have been q miserable
n bachelor; for he should never nave asked
or her o second time for what she had once
A., refused. She always smiles on him wher
:" he says that. All the world knows the
o. story of the door-lock, and how sh'
changed her mind while he was opening
In 1t, and it is quite amusing and romantic
VI but no one knows about me. j am quit
OF an old paper now, for bear date 1872
W lie In little box In which are a photo
graph, four letters, and ring. The boz
G. Is always locked, but the penciled Bracket
have not faded out yet, and between then
lie these words
H. zone of the most elegant weddings o
~ the season took place yesterday at 81
Ii 20 IS Church, where Capt. Leslie Rawder
nm was united in the holy bonds of matri
70 - mony to tho young and beautiful societ!
~ belle, Miss Eva La Croix, the hoiress o
y"' -n' ono Of our most wealthy merchants, Mr.
,h' c. La Croix. The happy pair have started
M upon tour to Europe"
ms The letters on the inside of the ring ar
Ma 81. r. to A. N"
u" Women do change their minds very un
expeCtedly, but don't think it was tn
patent lock that was the cause of Mr.. Bel
I'M more's happiness, and Pm newspaper o
he great experience philadelphia CaH
-,
nd Dimensions OF Deep Sen Waves.
ho The photographic Office of the Nav
ng Department has been engaged in securing
,- ss by means of observations made by nava
I'd. vessels data respecting the dimension
and speed Of deep sea waves. The longoS
recorded wave. up to the present tint
measured half mile from crest to cres