New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-04-24
MY LAST PROPOSAL.

had made other declarations Of love, all OF
them unsuccessful, glad to think, ana yet
here was at forty-wcl. let us say between thirty
and forty-shivering on the brink of another pro-
posal had Just come home to my rooms IN
Kings Bench Walk after dining at the Barndorcs
or course. | had met little Mrs Wntcrton there ;
of course. had taken her in TO dinncr-thc world
We both lived in was always bringing us together
in that sort Of way-and equally Of course | was
soon dreaming over the fire. Of her slim, aut ittlc
figure in its dainty black silk setting. had
always liked the name Of Kate thought; 1t was
lonely, comfortable and yet not commonplace
Yes il would do very we'll Neither bad | any
narrow-mndcd aversion to widows. | felt that if
Mrs Winterton, who had trc1 the holy estate Of
natrimony once cared 20 try it again, 1t was
scarcely for me, who had no experience, 10 raise
objections. | had always regarded Weller the
cdc- as "A dull man of bluntcd sentiments, who
somewhat deserved his fate. The cXigcnclcs Of his
profession too were not calculated TO promote con-
nubal bliss In legal slang his case was not on
all fours" with mine. and knew that Mrs. Win
tcrton and could easily rofutc what one may call
the Wcllrrian fallacy, if wished 10 do So But
did we wish 10? and why should We wish to?
These were the questions troubling my mind at this
moment.
was too old 10 pretend 10 Il mad. dcspalrins
passion Kate WIS too sensible But We were both
almost alone in tn world and this. think had
brought closer together and made us rather like
old friend, than new acqnaiutanccs.
She was bright, witty, cheerful, and-yes,
think she pretty. She had nice little fort
unc too, people SAID but | had charged myself 4
hundred times with caring for that. and always
acquitted myself hoaorhly with cheers in court
did not lack money: NY wants were few, aad
could supply them without painful or anxious
labor No; was in love with Kate Winterton,
tnar was Tie Tact. lct me face it bravery.
Lighting 4 candle. for the shaded lamp was in
sufficient for my purpose, rose and looked in tie
mirror over the manicip piece. Tho candle made
tie worst II ihin.s, thought; IL seemed to bring
ont all the lines in my face and there certainly
were good many firmly etched on my forehead.
But where is tie harm in a few lines in a man,
fac? They give IL character And when looked
40 my features, there was no doubt about n,
they wrrr cicau-cu' -hlpc,y-wri, | might almost
sly-haLd.Dmc Ny mother had sahd i'll WAS
her only child-oycr and over again, and there
are things hnt one learns from ones parents that
are never forgotten in attcr life. 50 far | was
passing my examinations crcdt1hly, il not with
horor.: hui when | lifted thc candle above my
head Do -houc upon wider parting than was
either necessary or ornamental Jackson. tho hair
dresser. u-cI 2, say with profc,-i onal snin Of
sympathy. AZ. sir, them blrri>t'r's Wiz, do
br.n. tic air oI;" bat lc know well ~ dill
'll.t ,ll not put my wiz on t~icc Year, having
indeed rl occasion 10 DO -. 50 lowered tie
caaoi. hastily. AID tlcn. stepping back Il few
lalcs .ook % LONG look a. myself, deciding that
ur mu~fachc fairly caEcclic! tie partng, and
that lclt happier with ny figure IN tie middle
di>tiucr than | had in thc foreground. | have
heard people call me modest; Others know said
was dIii; ole or two-chcuy those whose books
lad rcvicwcd--ud | Was stupid meaning by
that. honest. Well well. said TO myself, taking
"A last look in the 4la>- thing, might have been
y,pr,c for a man whc Is over for mean between
thirty and forty.
made up my fire and lit my pipe again
Kate liked tobacco, | thought 10 myself with
smile. or the thing would never do. Then !
began to dream again. les, | would propose u
Kate Propose The very word called up a
host Of memories ! had proposed before this. |
ucgan 10 rccoect and had been rejected. Well,
that too might have Decn worse. | might have
been accepted and then should never seen Kate.
| shut ms eyes and travelled in memory through
strange scenes Of the past was Mt Lady
IIabcry'- standing in the large corG" rvatory
that leads out Of the drawins-r"om-lt must
have lccn at least fifteen wears asO-with tall,
bright eirl of Internationally. / could see her
brown honest eyes and truthful face framed in
ruddy curls floating before ne Had she led ne
Oh, dangling about my quiet paths, or had
rushed out Of my native element ana jumped az
her opcn-nuuthcd like silly trout at Wcll-inadc
Wr>i-cnd-fiy? Never mind now! shall never
forget her naughty indignation, her superb as
tonishmcnt and she was only an carls grand
daughter don't think ever had
pedigree and know | cat very
poor figure on that occasion IN consequence.
She married "A wealthy American soon aftcrward.
/ wonder wha sort OF pedigree ne had. As Tor
ne, | kept q lock of her hair, and wrapped IT mp
in "a newspaper cutting two years after her mar,
rage, when she the heroine Of some sad legal
proceedings that many will remember. liut IT
was cruel ugly way Of keeping the foolish relic,
and burnt il one ago, ! am glad 10 sny. saw
her al Brighton quite recently. Her eyes were
still brown and beautiful, still honest perhaps. 10
thosr who did not know her story. Why should
recall it? | escaped
These old memories and dreams were scattered
into thin air 10y rap at my outer door. knew
the knock, it, Harold Etherldgc's | saw
good deal of Harold a. that time.
Il noticed your light old fellow, and just
you don't intrudc,' said, for | was always
pleased TO src him in those dag. rye only been
dreaming over the fire. Sit down and have a last
pipe | must turn in in half an hour
Harold sat down opposite 10 me on the other side
of the fire place lie ten or maybe fifteen years
younger than / was, and a good-looking, dasliing.
There never was such an opcn-heartcd, honest
looking fellow rs Harold 20 all appearance.
had nicknamed him d" The Saxon" and the name
stuck to him, for IL was appropriate. He lived
gay, reckless kind of life, and was always talk
ing of marrying money. or going out to the Cape,
as the only alternatives to the Bankruptcy Court
but | believe ne comfortably of. | liked
him. ! thought him one of my few friends. !
like to remember him as ] thought he was. even
now, for | believe he was my friend IN those days.
as far az such man could be anyhodys friend.
| do not know what there is about the small
hours Of the morning, whether sympathy is
absolute necessity 70 lover, but within five
minutes we were talking OF Kate Wintcrton.
a fine woman? | should think she is" cried
Harold enthusiastically: and n fine fortune too"
bright. witty; ,good-tcmpercl and pleasing il
not pretty" | added continuing my description.
Why. YOU might hc in love with her, PEN
rose, TO hear you talk
II WAS very foolish Of me. ! know: hut lovers
are foolish, and H. was early in the morning. and
Of course did not know then that Harold was
my rival. Had ! suspected il. | think | should
have entered nollr proscqn and dropped my
suit. leaving him clear field After all il wns