The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1890-04-08
THE AWFUL PORTIERE.
A Household Hanging That Keeps
From Proposing.
From the Buffalo Courier.

4
A few evenings ago l said 10 my
friend Darea': Joseph why haven't
you married." The question seemed
abrupt, admit, but The moment was
most propi'inus. As We sat in the
cOz'es, corner of the club room testing
a neS and recompensins brand of CT
oars we ti kod awhile at random, anu
ii Va ly We. tno. drifte.i to The subject
of marriage II Buffalo We spoke of
the apparent re uc ance of cert in
young men to do my thing but diw-
die about tn objects of tieIr adora-
ton, and when J,seph said. "Do
not blame them: perhaps it is not
their FAULT" [ put 10 him the startling
qu.s in, Joseph why don't you
uarry?" Joseph took several long
pull 8 It his cigar before replying, but
fin V sad. his eyes fixed on The as.
cending smoke: IF you wish to
Know what has kept mo from matri-
mony L will tell YOU. 1t is the por-
tie,e." started.
Joseph went OH "In other words,
it is because par.ors have no doors
because our houses are one Vast whis-
periDg gallery in which the sl;ghtes,
sound is heard from one end to an
other. 1t is years since | fe't sure
that was absolutely alone with a
girl-an environment necessary for
sentimental demonstrations. But to
psrticulsrize. 1t is not long since |
oecame unusnslly interested i'm a |
young womsn OF my acquaintance.
Perhaps | Was in love with her. Ifl
not, L know tn | might have b.
come so. | paid her rather marked
attention for nearly a year but in
ny numerous visits tn her hon-e there
vas never an opportunity for any
hing hnt the m,st formal conyersl-
ion. Usually her father sat in the
lib AIRY acro.s the hall in full hear.
rg-if not in view-of Us. No
chance tt shut a door At the parlor
loor-port e:e> at he Library door -
,orIieres ; at the dining room door -
and rever an opportupi V
or that sen,e Of private tete-a.iete
which gives mn inspiration for
sentimental dee Is.
Now, it is my flea that the time
when mutual love is first ackn0wl-
edged should be a supreme moment
n life one to be made the most of,
md not to be thrown away Dy ANY
UGH inseusa,e proceeding "a a propos-
i by letter. or even ID ne risked at
sessions when Interrupt
ion is possible or probable. There
ore | did no; tel my love with papa
'eading his paper in the adjoining
DOM, or with the servant fumbliDg at
he sideboord in the dining room, with
,nly thickness of curtain between
her and us. / did not tell my love
while all the doors were wide omen and
he sisters weIe active in the upper
nails, and / could near the brother in
MS room overhead dressing to 60 out.
No, | waited for some moment of as
,ured privacy. 1t never came"
There was long silence. "Well?' |
said at last. THAT is all. Last |
GUNNER the young woman in question
made a visit TO a provincial town,
where she could shut the parlor door.
While there she became engaged and
vas married last autumn
And that is courtship as she is |
conducted in Buffalo," l sighed.
That is the state of things in nine |
houses out of ten where | pay my |
social visits said Joseph Dareal
And as | recalled the homes of our
yedsble but unwedded maids, | con-
,luded that Joseph was not wrong, |
md that what is most needed by our
young men is not courage, but "a
chance"
| suffered ten wears with nervous dys- |