The Delta independent., 1890-06-10
ENGAGED BY TELEPHONE.

The Professor Poppel tho Question Just
Few Minutes Too Lac.
1t appears, says the New York Trib-
une, that there is young lady living in
Detroit who for some time has been the
recipient Of the attentions of two young
men, one professor in the State Uni
versity Mt Ann Arbor and the other =
travelling salesman for New York
Wholesale hardware house, whose route
extends through Michigan and part, OF
Canada One day last week the New
Yorker arrived in Detroit late in the
afternoon, and, of course, Immediately
started making tho rounds of the retail
hardware dealers, with the laudsbIe
purpose Of selling each a good stock for
the winter before the representative of
any rival house should pu: Il an appear
rnce. He had hoped TO call on the o5-
j-ct OF his affections in tho evening,
but business was good, and eight O'Clock
found him bury trying to induce q
Woodward avenue dealer to take six
dozen axes, four dozen grindstones and
q hall carload Of wooden pals. At this
stage Of the proceedings = younger
brother of tho young lady dropped in
to buy a new jack-knife, and mentioned
casually that tho Ann Arbor professor
was up at the house. 1t instantly oc-
CURED TO tho eaterprising hardware
and cutlery salesman that the professor
had come for no other purpose than 10
Icy his heart at the feet of the young
lady he himself adored. For moment
there was q struggle in his breast, but
ho speedily cot control CT himself and
decided that he could not possibly leave
tho store, as the dealer was Just on the
point OF deciding TO take the pals.
But the thought of giving up the lady
who had been for months constantly in
his mind, waking and sleeping. was un-
bcarable. Light suddenly dawned on
him. Handing the dealer q circular ex-
planning the merits Of his new double
blsdcd chopping-knivcs, no requested
tho uso of the merchants telephone for
Gvs minutes, stepped TO 1t and rang up
the central Office.
A moment later the telephone-bell at
the residence Of the young lady rang
sharp and dccisivs. Tho professor had
been there for an hour talking pleasant
ly OF the grand educational work they
were doing in the department Of fossil
ology at Aan A-bor. When the bell
rang. the laay's father being assent Gao
was phyaicianl, she excused herself
and went into tao adjoining room 10 an
swor II. The professor heard her step
to the telephone and say "Ycs," make =
shor. pause and say YES" .sain. Then
there was q short pause and he heard
her say: "Ehy-why-roally. this IL
sudden Thea there IVES IT'LL longer
pause and he heard her say Yes" soft
ly, then Goodbye" and she hung up
tho receiver and came back into the
roori. The professor moved closer to
tho Gre and remarked thSt 1t was . chill
ly evening, and he thought 1t was going
10 snow, AID then resumed his talk
nbout the great work at the university.
Fifteen minutes later there was = ring
at the .roat door-bcll. Tho lady an
swered it and . district messenger boy
handed her plain gold ring, which sho
slipped on her finger and returned to
tho parlor. Miss -" said the pro
fcssor, five minutes later, 81 want to ask
you an in,portan. question this evening.
Excuse nc for putting 1t blun;ly. but
will you be my wife?" But VIC nced go
no further with this. Two minutes
later the professor went down tho front
steps, shook his hst at tho telephone
wire and took the s:%s train for Ann
Arbor.