Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1893-09-08


For whole year afterward l scarcely
spoke to a man. Then came an end to
school days and my debut.
Presently had curious and disagree
able experience-a proposal which makes
me by turns angry, amused and remorse-
full.
1t was from a young Englishman. His
naughty mo- Ser openly detested America
and regarded American girls as only bear
able if enormously wealthy. Her eldest
son married cool million. Her youngest,
her idol, was so foolish assto fall blindly in
love with n dowerless girl.
He made as much love to me as he dared
under the stony eyes of his mother, and
then ] went with my family to the sea
shore for the summer. Perhaps he missed
me- perhaps she forbade him to consider
me. AT any rate, something made him
follow me
remember that he was playing the "Pil
grim Choir when came in from walk,
and he said Gdmiringly:
"What neat little FLY you arer'
Use the plural please" | said.
"Plural, how" he questioned stupidity.
"Phylis, not FLY. Besides, how dare
you compare me to horsei detest iti''
II hope you don't detest me- for | love
you"
"Nonsensei What would your mother
say if she could hear you wooing girl who
is no heiress-a plebean American at thatl
Take care!''
81 don't care what she'd say | love you
even if you are an American. | love all
America for your sake, although, | confess,
used to hate it. Only an American shall
be my wife, if she will have me, and
my mother shall receive herl The little
American shall hold her own with even my
mother. What does she say?"
"She says this: The little American is
too proud to marry into any family where
she is not welcomed by all. The slurs cast
upon American girls by your mother in my
presence ring in my ears too loudly for me
to hear you. Your mothers pride forbids
you to marry aught save money. My pride
forbids me to marry aught save the man."
Hang me if ! don't tell her what you
/ sayl' he exclaimed in delight. "What "A
high stopper you arel | like you for it.
You ought to be in our family. I'll marry
you yet, and my mother shall be AS glad to
get you as l, for love you, Phyllis"
"If you do, you will never mention the
subject to me again, for not only do rot
love you in the least, but can't even re-
spect a man of your well known habits.
I've demonstrated with you often and you
won't even try to give them up. You make
bad lover; you would make worse hus
band"
'I'll reform if you'll marry me. If I
could be with you always, couldn't help
being better"
"Try it alone first You are going down
hill fast. BE man for the sake of your
own manhood and not to please weak
woman"
81 can't. | need your daily help"
You shall have it," | said eagerly
Come and see me every day if you like"
mo, | mean your hourly presence.
must be sure of you first. Iwant to reform
for my wife. Dear Phyllis, please say
Yes"
mo, nol' said. 81 hope you wont think
me unkind, but can't"
"Unkndr he echoed. II think you ar,
the cruelest girl | ever knew. don't be
lieve you love me at all"
"Why, of course l don'ti Did you
think"-
81 think that you have driven me to de
spair And when the worst comes Just say
to yourself: This is my work. / alone could
have saved him, and wouldn't"
81 shan't," said hastily and inelegant-
ly. Because it isn't. 1t won't be. |
don't"
/ phyllis, you little think what you have
done today. If you persist, you have de
liberately destroyed mans soul. Mems
souls are in the hands of women. Mine is
in yours What will you do with it?'
AS usual, was badly frightened. felt
faint, but | stood up and held out both
hands to him, saying tremblingly:
Il give it back 10 you just as received it,
dare not undertake the responsibility
Make of it what you will"
He crushed both my hands in his and
then flung them from him.
'Ill go to the devil thenr' he said, and
i think he kept his word.
One day came an offer from man who
had loved me ever since was little girl
and who is the only lover | ever had who
became my friend afterward. 1t seems to
me must always have known that he
loved me, and he is still so unselfish and pa
tient friend that always think of him as
unchanging. All that he said was:
phyllis, we have gone thus far in life
apart. Can't we 90 the rest of the way to-
gether!" And when said mo" and be
gan to excuse myself he stopped me:
Dear girl, don't say that to me. | have
loved you much too long and too well not
say. Trust me as | trust you, and forget
everything ] ever said, except that my
neart aches with love for you. Remember
that always Shall we walk onY"
was so dismayed by his abrupt dis
missal of the subject that ! nearly feel,
down instead. How conventionality helps
one through crisisl
The last one was from man at ball
On his dress coat, as he claimed me for q
waltz, was long, white thread | smil
mgly called his attention to it and took il
: off, My sister saw me- and knowing thing
were in that interesting condition when q
,, word would precipitate matters thought Il
tease me by saying:
"Whois it that saysif a woman will take
the trouble to pick thread from man.
coat that man may have her for the ask
ing?" She laughed gleefully at our dis
comfiture and iloated away.
The first time we stopped to promenade
my partner glanced down at me, and there
caught in the flowers of my gown, was this