Semi-weekly south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1883-1889, 1886-06-22
HOW CLEVELAND PROPOSED.
A Knowing Correspondent Ups and
Tells All About II. e

[Carp in Cleveland LEADER -
heard last night a curious story
of the Presidents engagement. lie
has known Miss Folsom since she
was baby. lie has handled her on
his knee as little girl, and has been
her great friend all her life. She
Used to call him Uncle Cleve, and he
has kept up correspondence with her
for years. lie never thought of her
in the way of marriage until year
or so ago. She went away to school
a girl and came back woman. Still
he never thought of the possibility Of
an old fellow ike him marrying such
pretty young girl as frankie Folsom,
until while he was Governor at AL
bany some matchmaking cores
pondents disseminated report that
he was engaged to her. The next
time he saw her they chatted and
laughed over the report. After a
time Gov. Cleveland's love began TO
change from that of the father to the
lover. Ills letters to Miss Folsom
became more tender, and she, at the
same time inwardly knowing that
she was doing so, changed the tone
of her letters to him. She stopped
calling him "Uncle Cleve," and spoke
of him as "the Governor" lie
sent her flowers aud wrote her
humorous stories ofhis experience at
Albany. She was deeply interest
ed in his Presidential canvass, and
her enthusiasm pleased the President
more than anything el.e connected
with the campaign. The possibility
of marriage, which had been slowly
working its way into President Cleve-
lands heart, became stronger force
than ever. lie became now thor
oughly in love, and at the time he
was elected lie determined that he
would propose during the first year
of the Administration. lie felt very
delicate about it, however, for the
reason that Miss Folsom was so
much younger than himself, and
that she was his ward. Still he
thought she loved him, and he knew
that he was more and more in love
with her every day. This was the
state of affairs when Miss Frankie
and her mother came at his invitation
to spend week or so at the White
House during the last Easter vacation.
They thoroughly enjoyed the visit.
President Cleveland was being exhalt-
ed in the newspapers and the air of
toadylng Washington was full of his
praises. The warm White House
was very. beautiful in contrast with
cold New York. The grass was be-
ginning to creep out of the ground,
and the buds were showing signs
of bursting forth into the leaves
of early spring. The crocuses were
in bloom. The Presidents man
sion was filled with flowers from
itssgreen-houses, and the great con-
seryatories were one mass Of blossoms
and green. 1t was the day after
the reception and the family had just
eaten their dinner from the elegant
china and fine cut glass ofthe Presi-
dental table. Miss Folsom had pick
ed up the elegant bouquet du corsage
which was laid beside her plate, and
had pinned it in the lace at her neck.
President Cleveland, contrary to his
usual custom, came to the table in
full dress. His day had been a,pleas-
ant one, and he was feeling very
good humored. The dinner passed
off very agreeably. Miss Folsom was
talking of her school days, and she
kept the party in a roar of laughter
by her stories of Wells College and
the secret love affairs of the beautiful
girls who attended it. She had new
er seemed happier, and the President
. thought he had never seen her look
more beautiful. After the dinner,
which lasted about one hour, the par
ty adjourned TO the Blue parlor for a
moment, and then began to scatter,
Miss Cleveland going up stairs and
Mrs. Folsom settling herself back in
to a chair and devoting her attention
to a story which she was reading.
Miss Folsom and the President were
talking together, standing at the door
leading into the corridor, and looking
at the portraits of tile Presidents
which line its walls. A moment
later they strolled down toward the
East room, and then strolled arm in
arm into the conservatory. This
was dimly lighted, and the air was
full of roses. They. walked up and
down its aisles between the banks of
flowers for perhaps fullshalf hour,
taking earnestly, and their voices
were as tender as the forget-me-nots
they passed, and their conversation,
decidedly personal 10 themselves, was
under the rose in more senses than
one. They came from the conserya-
tory with happy look upon their fat
ces. Miss Folsom was blusling deep
ly, and the President held in his hand
ared rose from her bouquet du cor
sage. The engagement had been
made in the conservatory. 1t was
not announced to Mrs. Folsom until
a day or two later, and to Miss Cleve-
land even later still. Shortly after
this Miss Folsom wrote to her grand
father telling him of her proposed
marriage, and Grandfather Folsom,
who was withal a sensible fellow,
proposed at once that Miss Folsom
be taken TO Europe and spend some
time in travel 10 fit herself for the po-
sition she was to assume as the first
lady of the land. lie offered 10 fur
nish the money, and as lie liked the