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

ing in Il low, rose covered house on the edge
of town. Although 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 a man
"a universal beau-as skilled in the art of
flirting as | was unskilled. He fattered
me until my head swan and went through
all the first stages of a Irritation without
once limiting of marriage. In u confused,
| blind way felt that something was wrong.
| was ashamed to tell any one, but
thought he ought to know that l 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 frankly
myself.
One day when we were driving he sud
denly threw bis arm around me and tried
to kiss me. Frightened out of my wits,
sprang up and actually had my foot on the
step prepared to go out over the wheels
when he caught my hand.
"Sit down, childl'' he said. II won't
touch you"
Never shall l forget the humiliation of
that moment. AS | look back, / think
nothing more unfortunate ever happened
to me than that attempted kiss. 1t bis
tered the unspotted page of my childish be-
| lief in men, and the welt has never been
smoothed out.
There was no harm in what did" he
went on. at 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," said abruptly. In
the silence which followed, my thoughts
spun round and round. | could not fornu-
| i l.. i II
turned and looked at him. 1t was the
irst time he had spoken that word
Yes, love you," he said.
II am very sorry" l faltered, losing my
new found courage and Indignation at once.
"Sorry?" he echoed.
Yes very sorry, for l 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 wayf"
Love me for few weeks?" | said, puz-
zled. How do you mean?"
He laughed in a slightly embarrassed
way without reply, so | went on: WAS
that cold water? did not mean to be rude
only meant to be honest. | do not want
to give you any unnecessary pain"
He regarded me curiously.
so you think you couldn't love me?" he
asked.
Not well enough toto marry you," /
said with averted face and deep embarass-
ment. 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 III vehemently with:
YES, do want you, and you will marry
me, won't youy"
"Oh, mol Please don't ask me. | was
afraid of this, only l couldn't tell you soon
en-" faltered, quite alarmed by his ear
nestness. He persuaded and coaXed, and
grew almost fearful in denying him. Final
ly he said
"We!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 rs he help
cd me down at our own door he added: Il
shall never get over this. ! shall never
marry"
He did not come in with me, thereby
making everybody on the porch smile, as
my guilty aspect could not have failed to
do. His tone was so tragic that | thought
perhaps he would kill himself But-he
did not He married another girl.
The next was from a man who professed
to care great deal for me. 1t came about
in this way: | was standing at the top Of
the piazza steps as he came up the walk,
and overhead the honeysuckle and nephetos
roses met and made an arch No one was
in sight, but my mischievous cousins were
behind the closed blinds and heard every
word, especially as they said Mr.. John
talked louder than ever in moments of ten
derness, so they claimed that his proposal
could have been heard out in the biz
road" He took off his hat and stopped at
the foot of The steps. Without a word o.
preface he said;
"If | could see that sweet picture every
night when / came home, | wouldn't ask
the Lord to give me another thing! Do you
think you could do it for me?"
"What, stand here every nightg' | said
laughing, thinking it merely a compliment
10 my white dress
"Yes, stand there every night and let m,
know that yours was the face of my wife,
was too stunned to answer.
"Will your"
"Oh, Mr.. John!' gasped.
II love you, sweetheart" he said. "Yol
are the only woman have ever loved"
certainly heard a sound behind the blinds
= but did not dare to look around
Ont MI oOhu. 6dlu AGAIN, ike al
ID idiot
could you love an ugly old fellow lik
mes" he pursued, describing me in thre
equally fattering words, which forbea
to repeat.
"Oh, | don't think you are SO very ugly,
said eagerly, trying to be both polite am
honest.
A subdued Tapping of the curtain behin
n me made my hair rise, and my confusio
}. was complete when Mr.. John threw hi
y head back and laughed so heartily he neal
= ly lost his balance. He interrupted m
q apology and grew suddenly grave.
TOO ugly and old for you to love m'
= sweetheart, but not too old and ugly I
4 love you. Pretty soon you'll go back u
north, but you'll not forget that there
one old fellow down south who loves 20
: and would marry you, no matter how oil
"a you were-you couldn't be ugly-any tim
is you wanted him"
"Oh, how good you areW exclaime
sincerely, for his offer seemed. to my inc,
| perience, a very handsome one.
Al L.