Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1894-08-30
1T WAS VERY SUDDEN.
In Fact 1t Was DoubIy So. but the Ran
at the Telephone Came In First.

In Fact Tt Was DoubIy So. but the EEao
at the Telephone Came In First
An event has occurred in Michigan,
near Detroit, which appears to confirm
the idea that courtship, as well as
most other things, will hereafter be
greatly facilitated by recent inven-
tons It seems that there is-a lady re-
siding in Detroit who for some time has
been the recipient of the attentions'of
two young men, one a young professor
at the Michigan State university at
Ann Arbor and the other a travelling
salesman for New York wholesale
hardware house, whose route extends
through Michigan and parts of Canada.
One day recently the New Yorker ar
rived in Detroit late in the afternoon,
and, of course, Immediately started to
make the rounds of the retail hardware
dealers, with the 1audable purpose of
selling each a good stock for the WIN
ter before the reprcsen tative of any
rival concern should PIT in an appear
ance. He had hoped to visit the object
of his affections in the evening, but
business wtss brisk, and o'clock found
inent dealer to take six dozen axes,
four dozen grindStoneS and a half car
load of wooden pals. At this stage of
the proceedings a younger brother of
the young lady dropped in to get new
jack-knife, and accidentally mentioned
that the Ann Arbor professor was up
at the house. It instantly occurred to
the progressive hardware and cutlery
drummer that the college man came
for no other purpose than to lay his
heart at the feet of the young lady he
himself adored. For a moment there was
struggle in his heart, but he speedily
got control of himself and decided that
he could not possibly leave the store,
as the dealer was just on the point
of deciding to take the pals. But the
thought of giving up the lady, who had
been for months constantly in his mind,
waking and sleeping. was unbearable.
Light suddenly dawned on him. Hand
ing the merchant circular explaining
the merits of his new double-bladed
chopping knives, he requested the use
of the dealers telephone for five min
utes. stepped to it and rang up the CEN
trail Office.
A moment later the telephone bell at
the residence of the young lady rang,
sharp and decisive. The professor had
been there for an hour talking pleasant
ly of the grand educational work they
were doing in the department of fos-
silolOgy at Ann Arbor. When the bell
rang, the young lady's father being alb
sent Che is a physician, she excused
herself and proceeded to the adjoining
room to answer it. The professor heard
her step to the telephone and saw
yes make short pause and say
Eyes" again. Then there was longer
pause, and he heard her reply: ''Why
-why-really, this is very sudden"
Then there was a still longer pause,
and he heard her say yes very softly,
and then ''good-by,'' and then she hung
up the receiver and came into the back
room. The college man moved closer
to the lady, and remarked that it was
warm evening, and he thought it was
going to rain, and then resumed his
talk about the great work at the uni
versity. Fifteen minutes later there
was a ring at the front door bell. The
lady responded to it, and a district
messenger boy handed her plain gold
ring, which she slipped on her finger
and returned to the parlor. ''MiSs
-" said the professor, five minutes
later, 81 want to ask you very i'm
portant question this evening. Ex-
cuse me for putting it bluntly, but will
you be my wife?' But we need go no
further with this. Two minutes later
the professor went down the front
steps, and shook his fist at the tele-
phone wire and took the first train for
Ann Arbcr:-Har.5 WIRE.