Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1893-07-07
THE BACHELORS PROPOSAL
(By Francis Lee Hare.)

elOr. He was n tall, handsome young
fellow, with blue eyes and dark hair.
He was an artist by profession. He
had but few patrons. but that fact
did not trouble him much, as he was
very well-to-do.
He was idly toying with his watch-
chain and watching the smoke of his
cigar MS 1t curled upward in the air,
when the door opened and Mr.. Cliff
ton Wayne entered the room.
well. Arthur, how are you to-day?"
were his first words. ''Thinking of
your lady-love?"
Don't be Il fool, Clifton" was his
polite reply. You know l hate girls
like-like-"
Softly. softly, my dear sir, inter-
ruptcd Clifton. laughingly, 1.-The trouble
is you haven't come across the right
ONE"
And never WILL" interrupted Ar
thur. But enough of this nonsense. 1
heard to-day that Your sister Clara was
about to give n grand ball. Is that
so:"
"Of course it is and you're to be in
vited. And. say. Arthur, Cousin Nellie
from New Orleans is coming, too. She
will lie a splendid catch for YOU" +
"There you go again. Clifton. You
know 1 am Il confirmed bachelor. And
as for Miss Ncllie-what did you say
her name is?"
"Forsythc Nellie Forsythe. But
good-day! 1 have an appointment
down town." and he hurried away.
Now Arthur Lyle had been i'll love.
and what he believed to be pure gold
he found to be iron pyrites only, MOTH
ing more And when he found that out
it didn't take long for his heart to heal.
Years ago he felt SURF that he UNDER
stood IL He had even gone
SO far as to tell her that if she so wiled
it hcnccforth his life would be devoted
equally TO her and his profession. And
she had smiled and looked SO pleased
that he had kissed her and supposed
that she would at some time, not far
distant be his own.
But he had supposed too much. as
he afterward found out when she was
married IL few weeks later to Il dashing
young lawyer.
This hurt his susceptible and sensi-
tive heart to think she had so deceived
him and he told her SO the first time
he saw her after the marriage.
And she. with II of her innocent,
surprised looks. answered his indignant
words by saying THAT he had never
asked her to marry him."
II don't know that 1 did. but that
is what 1 meant and l tool it for grant
ed that YOU understood me-"
Yes. but you've no right to take
anything for granted when you are
dealing with n woman and she laugh
ed at his vcrdancy.
He had not met her for several
years. he went to visit his friend Cliff
ton at his beautiful villa in the SILL
burbs. He had been there but IL few
days when lie walked out on the piazza
and. to his alnazemcnt. saw his former
sweetheart walking around the grounds
OF Il ~neighboring house with IL half
grown child--a little girl-wlo in many
ways rcscmbled her mother.
Lyle yazed around ut the smooth EN-
cra!d lawn. the budding flowers, the
green waving woods, the broad mead
Ows and purple hills, realizing as never
before their sweet. serene lovcliness.
1T seems %ungratcful to be unhappy
he thought, with Il smotlcred sigh.
He walked on aimlcssly, blind, deaf
to everything around him. Thoughts
of his lost love and the fate that had
separated them were struggling to.
gcthcr unanimously in his brain.
The sound of a horse rushing madly
down the road and q low. startled cry
reused him suddenly from the reyerit
into which he had fallen. He looked
up and saw IL young lady in great peril
He darted forward and Selling thu
horse by the bit, stopped him.
He smiled proudly down in the an
xious uplifted face.
What II gentle woman's heart sht
had, this lovely girl with soft, brown
eyes and beautiful golden hair-a quici
little creature with u charming, refined
face.
Where do YOU wish to go:' he in
quired, respectfully.
TO Wayne villa she replied, in :
sweet voice that thrilled his heart.
Il found no one at the depot to NEE
me-. SO L got Il horse and thought
would ride over. but my horse tool
fright and l was thrown off, as you see
but IL YOU will assist me to remoun'
l think I can reach the villa safely"
Arthur lifted her into the saddle ant
stood gazing after her with n queer sor
of look OH his face as the horse cOntin
ued uD the road.
> =
| 1t was a splendid night. The star
shonc beautifully. the air was soft an,
balmy. Wayne villa was brilliantly II
luminated; Chinese lanterns shone her
and there among the trees-in fact
it looked like a fairy paradise; CARR
ages drove up and deposited ladies' ant
gentlemen and the sound of music wa
heard from the parlors. Miss Clar;
Wayne was giving Il ball.
When Arthur Lyle was announces
there was Il buzz through the room
as he was Il general favorite and ms
/ %neuvcring IN did not quite dc
spair of catching him.
l "Ah! Arthur, how glad I am to Sc
your exclaimed Miss Clara, seiZin
him by the hand. II must introduc
you to Miss Forsythc."
Hang Miss Forsythe!" thought Al
: thur (his thoughts were all centered O
the fair girl he had rescued on the roa
. that mocning,) but he followed Clar
obediently to the corner of the roon
where q lady who had her back turne
4 to him was talking with n party 9
: gentlemen.
"Mis, Forsythe, Mr.. Lyle" sal
Clara, presenting him. "Why, what