Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1893-07-06
THE BACHELORS PROPOSAL
(By Francis Lee Hare.)

elOT. lie was Il tdi, uduuSOme young
fellow, with blue eyes and dark hair.
He was IN artist by profession. He
had but few patrons, but that fact
did not trouble him much, as he was
very weil-to-do.
He was idly toying with his watch
chain and watching the smoke Of his
cigar as Ii 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-loveT'
Don't be a fool, Clifton" was his
polite reply, You know l hate girls
like-Iike-"
Softly. softly, my dear sir, inter-
rupted Clifton, ~laughingly, 'the trouble
is you haven't come across the right
one"
And never WILL" interrupted Ar
thur. But enough Of this nonsense. I
heard to-day that your sister Clara was
about to give a grand ball. Is that
sou
"Of course it Is and you're to be in
yited. And, say, Arthur, Cousin Nellie
from New Orleans is coming, too. She
will be a splendid catch for you"
There you go again, Clifton. You
know I am a confirmed bachelor. And
as for Miss Nellie-what did you say
her name is?'
"Forsythe - Nellie Forsythe. But
good-day! / have an appointment
down town." and he hurried away.
Now Arthur Lyle had been in 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 sure that he under
stood n woman. He had even gone
so far as to tell her that If she so willed
1t henceforth 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 Put when she was
married q few weeks later to a 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 one Of her innocent,
surprised looks, answered his indignant
words by saying that he had never
asked her to marry him."
II don't know hat i did, but that
is what / meant and l took 1t for grant
ed that o understood me-"
Yes, but you've no right to take
anything for granted when you are
dealing with a woman" and she laugh
ed at his verdancy.
He had not met her for several
years. He went to visit his friend Cliff
ton at his beautiful villa in the su-
burbs. He had been there but a few
days when he walked out on the piazza
and. TO his amaZement, saw his former
sweetheart walking around the grounds
of a neighboring house with a half
grown child-a little girl-who in many
ways resembled her mother.
Lyle gazed around at the smooth en-
erald lawn, the budding flowers, the
green waving woods, the broad mead
ows and purple hills, realizing as never
before their sweet, serene loneliness.
1T seems ungrateful to be unhappy"
he thought. with a smothered sigh.
He walked on aimlessly, blind, deaf
to everything around him. Thoughts
of his lost love and the fate that had
separated them were struggling to-
gether unanimously in his brain.
The sound Of a horse rushing madly
down the road and a low, startled cry
reused him suddenly from the reverie
into which he had fallen. He looked
up and saw a young lady in great peril.
He darted forward and seizing the
horse by the bit, stopped him.
He smiled proudly down In the an
xious uplifted face.
What n eynnttn yyvA~,arf1 hAnrf -I~
had, this lovely girl with soft, brown
eyes and beautiful golden hair-a quiet
little creature with a charming, refined
face.
Where do you wish to go?" he in
quired, respectfully.
ITO Wayne villa" she replied, in a
sweet voice that thrilled his heart.
II found no one at the depot to meet
me, so / got a horse and thought l
would ride over. but my horse took
fright and / was thrown off, as you see,
but IL you will assist me to remount
/ think l can reach the villa safely"
Arthur lifted her into the saddle and
stood gazing after her with a queer sort
of look on his face as the horse contin-
ued up the road.
1t was a splendid night. The stars
shone beautifully, the air was soft and
balmy. Wayne villa was brilliantly IL
Illuminated; Chinese lanterns shone here
and there among the trees-in fact,
1t looked like a fairy paradise: carri-
ages drove up and deposited ladies and
gentlemen and the sound of music was
heard from the pariors. Miss Clara
Wayne was giving a ball.
When Arthur Lyle was announced
there was a buzz through the room,
as he was Il general favorite and ma
~neuvcring mammas did not quite de-
spair OF catching him.
All! Arthur, how glad I am to see
you!' exclaimed Miss Clara, Selling
him by the hand. II must introduce
you to Miss Forsythe.'
Hang Miss Forsythe!" thought Ar
thur (his thoughts were all centered on
the fair girl he had rescued on the road
that mocning) but he followed Clara
obediently TO the corner of the room,
where a lady who had her back turned
TO him was talking with n party Of
gentlemen.
Miss Forsythe, Mr.. Lyle" said
Clara, presenting him. why what's