St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1885-12-10
THE FIRST PROPOSAL.
BY FRANCES EDWARDS.

most tempting morning Tor drive.
The owner of the turnout, Col. BAKER
was within the mansion soliciting MISS
Hazel Traits company for drive. Inc
young lady had not the slightest oDJectloli
to going with him. He was an old TREND
of her fathers. an amusing story-teller,
and very fond of his horses. tie was
called colonel" not from any connection
with military life, but it was tltle re-
ceived in his early boyhood days and 1t had
chung to him as nicknameS and titles OF this
sort often do.
Presently they came out Of the house, he
heIped her into the carriage. Very lovely
she looked in a pale ecru dress and hat
to match, with flaming bunch of peoples
low down on one side.
On the way down the avenue they met
DR.. Whitbeck driving slowly and bent over
in his seat meditatiyely cycling the dash
board, as if profoundly considering some
scientific theory or studying the latest
treatment of a case The moment he
looked up and saw them he graSped his
whip. The horse gave start which nearly
threw the doctor over backward, and went
furously up the street.
d that COLONEL" he muttered, under
his breath. what business has he to be
driving her out so much?" Then, with
grim smile and long-drawn breath, Its
none of my business, though, none what
ever, if she Eaaaes to the end of the earth
with him.a
This yoTn farsn mad met Hazel the sum-
mer before While visiting school-friend.
He was proud, poor, reserved and ambi-
tious-a self-made man-but uncomfortable
in society. He lacked the ease and polish
that many an unworthy, weak man possesses
who is brought up in the habits Of refined
6 ], aa1-I
mated his ''barb9ariStns, as he called his
unpublished style
Hazel first saw Vim by accident, binding
up the broken leg of dog one day when
she was out for walk in the country. His
goodness to this little stray creature touched
her heart, and his manly form and open face
beaming intelligence and kindness as he
arose from his cIamped position on the
ground Immediately impressed her strongly.
She went I'D to him like a child, without
embarrassment or hesitation, and spoke of
what he had beeh doing.
1t followed in the conversation that he
knew her friends with whom she was
stopping and walked home with her. They
were introduced, though, as Hazel said,
sit was entirely SupeThuOuS after such an
extensive acquaintance" Almost every
day during the remainder of the summer
fishing, sailing.
DR.. Whitbeck was more at his ease in the
open air. His scientific knowledge often
came into use and he grew to be a sort of
hero-a skilled hero in her eyes; she thought
there was nothing he did not know and
could not do.
To hhl this child woman grew more
charming every day. Her innocence and
open admiration for him was quite too
much for his reserve. which melted COM
pletely away in the sunshine of her
presence. She was such loveabe
little maiden, with her merry laugh
and ready sympathy. He did not re-
alize how he had opened his heart to her
and the strength of his passion until it was
too late. When he did see his danger with
strange faulty he said to himself: She
does not know it. I'll make no resistance
now, but go on and be happy in the pres
ent, as | shall probably never again know
happiness in my life" So they had parted
without one word of love being spoken.
The following winter Dr.. Whitbeck had
commenced practicing in the same city
where Hazel lived She met him occa-
siOnalIy and invited him to call, but he was
always busy, and a strange GOODNESS grew
up between them. He actually seemed to
avoid her She thought, with woman's
SensitiveneSS, that she had been silly and
foolish and he regarded her as too trifing a
piece of humanity to be worthy of his least
attention, so with equal GOODNESS she studi-
Ously avoided him.
The summer days slipped away. Autumn
came and early winter, still she had re-
ceived propoSaIS-nOt one. Her young gen.
tlemen friends did not find it easy to make
advances with her in spite of her frankneSs
and seeming pleasure in their society. The
only person who really enjoyed her con-
tidence was the colonel, whom she regarded
as sort of father-confessor.
However, the fatal day came at last. She
and the colonel had been out for one Of
their numerous drives. They had been I'M
usually merry. the colonel behaving much
like young boy. On bringing her home ne
came in, ostenSibIy to get warm" Stand
ing with his back to the fire and his hands
folded behind him and his feet wide apart
he regarded Hazel in an distracted way as
she threw off her wraps, dropping her
cloak on chair. her hat on a sofa, drag
ging q scarf over a stand and leaving a
mitten on the floor
Suddenly bringing his heels together with
click and raising himself up on his toes
and letting himself down again, he said:
Come here, child, want to tell you
something"
Hazel came over to where he was stand
ing, and, dropping into chair, looked up
with expectation in her eyes.
The colonel took step, wheeled around
facing her. and said in a deprecating way:
L don't know how to tell you, l am not an
eloquent man-not much of man, anyway
but II love you. have loved you since
you were wee child. Perhaps-l do seem
Old to you, but feel younger than did at
20. do so long to devote the remainder
OF my life to you. darling. Could you-do
you think you could be my wife?"
Hazel, at first dumbfOunded and feeling
strong inclination to laugh and cry both,
tried in vain to collect her wits. Her first
Offer And Col Baker, with his queer ways
and bald head standing there with that
ridiculous quaver in his voice! 1t was too
much
No" she cried, springing up. How
could you ever think would ever consent
to such thing?"
Then a sense of all his goodness and
worth-it mingled feeling of pity at his
distresS-came over her, and, clasping the
palms of her hands together, she said
brokenly: -'Oh. you are so good. 1 like
you l am very sorry. but 1 am sure-no-
don't think L could make you happy"
My dear child, he said, with sudden
courage taking her clasped hands in his,
lis there any one whom you care more
orr"
No, oh, no." she said, blushing; ana
then suddenly paling. There is no one.
Then let me have an opportunity to win
your love. L can't give you up, dear. The
thought of you has entered so entirely
into my life that l cannot go away with
out little hope. You do not hate me, lit
tie one?"
NO. nor' she said in distress: ''but I"