The Ketchum keystone. [volume] (Ketchum, Idaho) 1885-1899, 1890-08-23

ing-case, as a parting gift. At frs
she admired the pretty finish, ther
suddenly her face changed anc
ciouded.
"It is very heavy" she said.
"Heavy !' he exclaimed, in aston
ishment; "oh, no. Why, you have
not lifted it," he added. "Try it,
"No," she said, capriciously, q
don't need to; am sure it is heavy
l can never carry it myself"
He looked sad and hurt. II had
hoped you would take it," he falt'
cred. ut might remind you of me
sometimes when you are far away
His voice broke.
She was at his side in moment
"Why should you be far away?
she whispered. Why should you
not 20 with me and carry it for
me?" Then he understood.
There are other cases in which it
is quite allowable for a young
woman to indicate her preference,
as when there is great disparity OF
age. An elderly man may naturally
feel that he could not hope to win
the love of a young girl. The in
cidents of the courtship which led
to the present marriage of NJ. de
Lesseps are widely known. He was
we'll advanced in the sixties when he
met his wife, then beautiful young
woman in the early twenties. 1t
was at a country house. She had
long admired the great engineer for
his achievement, and when she saw
him his grace and distinction at
once captivated her heart. But how
was she to make him realize this? :?
He was evidently attracted by her
beauty, but considered her youth a
barrier to any serious interest.
One morning they chanced to
meet in the garden whittier she had
gone to gather some roses. For
a moment they were alone, and he
made some joking remark about
her admirers asking which was the
favonte. Would she indicate her
preference by the bestowal of a rose?
In a moment she had placed the
whole fragrant burden in his hands,
at the same time faltering something
that told the secret of her heart.
There are bashful men, often very
honest fellows and deserving good
wife, who yet lack the courage to
make a proposal, and to such timid
suitors maiden may with propriety
give aid and comfort. The story Of
John Alden's courtship is one of
the most charming of those which
record how woman has taken the
initiative. The young pioneer was
as ditiident as he was handsome,
and never was a girl better justified
than was the fair Priscilla when she
silenced his pleading in behalf Of
stout Capt. Miles Standish by the
famous question, "Why don't you
speak for yourself, John?'
Not only is it properly the right
and even the duty of loving mai
den to help out her wooer when the
worldly advantages are all on her
side or he is too bashful to disclose
his passion, but there is some ex-
cuse to be offered for the girl who
assumes that he who offers a kiss
intends thereby to offer his hand.
Too many men wander through
the world stealing from innocent
young creatures little of the fresh
ness of their lives seeking only the
amusement of the moment, careless
how much suffering they may in
fict. A kiss should be the sacred
symbol of betrothal, and it is no
more than proper to assume that it
is so intended.
Some years ago gay man of the
world was riding on horseback be-
side a lively Washington belle. By
some means they became separated.
from the rest of the party. They
were alone in a wooded road, the
twilight was falling, their horses
were walking slowly, very near to-
gether. Yielding to the charm of
the moment, and attracted by the
beauty of the face that was danger
ously close to his, he slipped his
arm around the lady's slender waist
and their lips met. After moment
of pretty embarrassment she re-
leased herself from his embrace
and said gently:
"You will see mama in the morn.
ing"
He was fairly caught for she was
of a social position that protected
her, but had she been of less rank
the assumption might justly have
been the same. No man of nice
honor ought to offer an endearment
to a pure maiden without honest
intentions of marriage.
In thousands of cases men have
been punished for their carelessness
in these matters. Many a man has
lived an uncongenial and wretched
marriage with woman he would
never have chosen, because having
been weak enough to form habits of
familiarity with her, he had become
entangled in an engagement he