Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1890-12-20
THE PROPOSAL.
From the Buffalo News.

1t was late on September afternoon.
Yhe day had been damp and doleful,
and now at $50 O'Clock the fog was try
ing to envelop everything with it's usual
obstinate density.
Amid the stream of hurrying. jostling
humanity which swept down the Strand
was man whose face might have at
tracted attention if there had been any
one in that motley crowd not wholly en-
crossed in selfish interests. 1t was a
fine, dark face, beautiful in it's way, but
marked by lines and shadoWs-the face
Of man who was fighting against the
world and who was losing the battle,
and yet man whose nature had not
been embittered by sOrdid struggles,
man who had suffered and grown
strong. Such a one was Paul Ferris,
only he would have been very much
surprised to have heard it said.
He plodded along, his threadbare coat
buttoned up to the chin, head bent,
ewes fixed on the ground, thinking of
nothing more or less heroic than the
approaching dinner hour. [ suppose,
though, that even q hero may be par
doned for being hungry, if he has got
through the day without any luncheon,
That was the case with Paul Ferris, at
ell events, and consequently he was
making the best of his way homeward,
dcvoutly hoping that his sister had or
dered something substantial for the
evening meal. Presently he turned off
to the right and passed into one of those
short and comparatively deserted
streets which run from the Strand to
The Embankment. Here he entered
enc of the row of lodging-houses and
was soon in it's dingy sltting-room, with
It's dismal-hued carpet and upholstery.
As he came in u pale-faCed girl in a
black gown rose from the couch where
she had been lying and advanced to
meet him.
"You have come at last, Paul"
Yes, little one, and glad to see you
up and looking so Jolly"
"The rehearsal was late, was it not?'
Late Ishouldsay it was. Couldn't
even get out to get some lunch"
"Poor boy That was tragical. |
have ordered dinner for O'Clock, so
possess your soul in patience until then.
In the meantime | have II bit of news
for you"
Ferris throw off his coat and confront
cd her. "No bad news, child"
''No. On the contrary"
Good news? All, that's something
novel and refreshing. Let's have it my
good girl-pray do not keep me in sus-
pense."
lie seated himself by the Preside and
took off his gloves, looking across at his
sister with somewhat cynical smile.
F'To begin with, who do you think
called here this afternoon ?"
"Creditors?"
"No."
"Doctor?"
"No."
''My soIicitor?'
Wrong again-it was Margaret Stan
hope"
Ferris started and shaded his face
with his hand.
'Wel," he asked, after q pause,
what did she want of you?"
"She was very kind, Paul; inquired
after YOU, aud asked us both to an in
formal dinner on Thursday evening""
"And you accepted p
"Of course; thought it would be
treat. Surely, you do not object ?"
Il cannot object, Stella, if it would
give you pleasure. Yes; we will go, if
tate SO wills it
ut was very kind in her, Paul, to
look us up. Don't you think so? She
has only been in London a week"
Eyes. Miss Stanbope has always
been kind-and condescending. Do
you not see, my child, that she would
make proteges of us? 1t is the fashion
nowadays to patronize beggarly must
clans"
paul" Indignantly, sit is not like
you to be such bear. What makes
you speak so? You know is not true.
How could she patronize us? Why, we
knew her when she wore short dresses
and played with doll babies. There is
no one in the world SO good and beauti-
ful as Margaret Stanhope, and you know
it. And Paul"
"Well ?"
Il have sometimes faucied-"
A prolonged pause.
We'll, out with it, What have you
ancied?"
THAT she cares for you, more than
otherwise than as mere friend, mean.
There is an expression in her eyes when
she speaks of you"
Good heavens Stella, you are raw
ingf' interrupted Paul, springing up
and regarding her fiercely 81 forbid
you to harbor such thoughts for mo-
mont. Miss Stanhope is as far removed
from me as if she were of royal blood.
Evidently You do not realize the differ