The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1893-10-13
FIVE PROPOSALS.
A Young Girls Adventures with
Many Suitors.

Tho summer l was sixteen was tho
momentous one of my first proposal I
went to spend my vacation with four
cousins in Kentucky. Gay, charming
girls were they, living in . low, rose
covered house on the edge of town. Al
though at home men were not allowed
to call, here they could not be kept
away from me, as my cousins had them
by the score.
The day before my birthday met q.
man-a universal beau-as skilled In
the art of flirting as was unskilled.
He hattered me until my head swan
and went through all the first stages Of
= filtration without once limiting of
marriage. In confused. blind way
felt that something was wrong. was
ashamed to tell anyone, but l thought
he ought to know that did not think
of him as he professed to think of me.
Still, all he said was so intangible
could not refute it nor speak out frank
~ myself.
One day when we were driving he
suddenly threw his arm around me and
tried to kiss me. Frightened out of my
wits, 1 sprang up and actually had my
foot on the step prepared to go out over
the wheels when he caught my hand.
"Sit down. child!' he said. 81 won't
touch you"
Never shall forget the humiliation
of that moment. AS look back think
nothing more unfortunate ever hap
pened 10 me than that attempted kiss.
1t blistered the unspotted page Of my
childish belief in men, and the welt has
never been smoothed out.
There was no harm in what did, :"
he went on. ''It was because ! think
so much Of YOU" No answer from me.
! knew now that he was flirting with
me. 1t made me furious.
Take me home" I said, abruptly.
In the silence which followed my
thoughts spun round and round. l
could not formulate them. Suddenly
he said: ~ love you"
1 turned and looked at him. It was
the FIRST time he had spoken that word.
Eyes, love you" he said.
II am very sorry" l faltered. losing
my new found courage and indignation
at once.
"Sorry?" ne echoed.
Eyes, very sorry. for do not love
you"
why do you tell me that?" he cried.
| why couldn't you let me love you for
the few weeks you will be down here.
without throwing cold water over me
in that way?'
Love me for few weeks" said.
puzzled; chow do you mean"
He laughed in slightly embarrassed
way, without reply. SO went on: WAS
that cold water? did not mean to be
rude. only meant to be honest i do
not want to give you any unnecessary
pain"
He regarded me curiously.
$50 you think you couldn't love me?'
he asked.
Not we'll enough to-to marry you"
I said, with averted face and deep en-
barrassment. Another long silence
which nearly set me frantic. What had
/ done? Why didn't he talk? What
could he be thinking OF? Presently he
broke in vehemently with:
y eS. L 90 want you, 0nN you VIA
marry me, won't you?
..Oh. 10. please don't ask me. / was
afraid of this, only couldn'. tell you
sooner" l faltered. quite alarmed By
his earnestness. He persuaded and
coaxed. and l grew almost fearful in
DENYING him. Finally he said:
We'll. l won't tease you any more.
| You will have lots of sweethearts after
awhile, and just let me tell you this. If
you treat them as you have me they
! will thank God, as do. that they have
met and loved one perfectly honest
woman" And. as he helped me down
g; our own door, he added: Il shall
never get over this shall never
marry"
He did no. come in with me, thereby
making every body on the porch smile.
as my guilty aspect could not have
| failed TO do. His tone was SO tragic
-. ~bo.,rbe parhanS he vrofaid Eiij