The Abbeville messenger. (Abbeville, S.C.) 1884-1887, 1886-07-27
HOW I PROPOSED.

"O "SlC oCuGCu Ill luhuTlOuS drm.Cn0lrS
before the cheerful open fire in Jacks
'snug smoking-room, enjoying his excel
lent Havanas, when my host broke the
silence which had lasted for several mill
utes with the surprising question, ''Did
v tell you where and how I proposed
to my wife2"
nodded a negative reply, well aware
as 1 did so that he knew he had not told
me, but had p~refaced his tale with an in
terrogation according to his usual GUS
tom.
"1t's quite q long story" said Jack in
a warning tone, remembering my. aver
sion to lengthy yarns as told by anyone
but myself.
"Ah! but such a subject" I answered.
settling myself more comfortably in my
chair, and drawing the box of Havanas
conveniently near. 81 shall be delight
ed to hear about it, but what will Mrs.
Taylor say to your telling me2" Iadded,
knowing how the partner of my lot
would feel on the subject.
'She has positively forbidden me ever
to speak of it" said he, laughing, land
have obeyed her until now-with one
or two exceptions-but it's too good to
keep"
My curiosity was now fully aroused.
and as Jack would tell the story, of
course I was obliged to listen; and if you
think that in repeating it I am acting
unfairly, II: stop at once.
ut was during my second year at Har-
ward" began Jack, knocking the ashes
from his cigar; chow long ago it seems,
but, let me see, its only eight years. Yes,
it was during my Sophomore year, that 1
accepted Frank Wilson's invitation TO
spend the Easter holidays with him. He
was awfully good company, and 1 knew
that l would be sure to put in a jolly
week at his place. Besides, there was
another very strong induccment.
81 was in love at that time with
his cousin, Helen Wilson, who I had as
certained would be of the party. believe
we used to write to each other. know
i used to spend the greater part of my
time composing verses about her, many
OF which, however, I had not the cour-
age to send.
"Whcn I heard that she was to be at
x l was delighted. I determined to
go to New York and see if we could not
arrange to travel up together.
"When I arrived in that city I went
directly to her house; but at the door I
learned that she had just left for x
having decided to go a day sooner than
she had expected.
II inquired how long she had been
gone, and the servant said about fifteen
minutes. Hoping to overtake her, I
rushed up to the Grand Central Depot.
There was not an instant to lose. Hasti-
~ buying a ticket, tore frantically after
the already slowly moving train, and,
owing to my length of limb, succeeded
boarding the last car.
Painting, pcsspiring, but exultant, I
went through each car, in every seat ex-
Pectlng to find the object of my haste.
81 had gone through all but one when
we entered the tunnel, and I was begin
ming to fear that after all perhaps she |
might not have taken this train, when.
as l was standing by the door, the raw
OF sunlight which came in through tho
occasional openings in the tunnel re.
vealed her to me seated alone at no great
distance ahead OF me.
my heart gave a bound, and scarcely
realizing what I was doing, 1 rushed up
to her, and grasping her hand, said:
Darling! I thought I had missed
YOU
"'What do you meant = she exclaimed,
in a tone of mingled indignation and J
fright. Let go my hand; you have
made a mistakep
II obeyed her, thinking that she was
angry at my mode of address.
CT beg your pardon 1 said. 81
should not have spoken to you as I did,
but l was so rejoiced to find you that I
did not remember where we are. But as
! have begun, I may as well finish. OAR
ling moving q little nearer, will YOU
marry meG You must know that / love
you; / have so for ages, ev-ever since nv
Freshman year."
"But the mention Of that astonishing