Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1895-06-08
JOHN ALLISON'S
PROPOSALS..

s..,l IlUl VUHuU
We were, and still are, both mem
bers Of the same club, John Allison
and |. am married man, with til,
dearest little wife and the cosics
suburban home in the world, and JOIN
is 10, handsome, rich--and a bachelor
| sometimes fancied that when h,
came out to spend quiet evening
with us, when the dinner was particu
larly good, and Alice as charming Il:
she always is, that he almost envied
me my good fortune.
1t was then wondered that Allison
had rot married, for knew that he
was not Il woman hater, as the florist.
bills testified, and that he liked the
quiet and rest of the domestic fireside
SO, after dinner, one night, when
Alice had gone up stairs to put the
baby-our baby-to sleep. and John
and sat in front of the ruddy library
fire, in the midst of Havana smoke
wreaths, | asked him the question
which puzzled the little girl who
climbed the old mans knee.
"Allison, why have you no children
why have you no home?
Allison smiled at the turn of phrase
and took his cigar meditatively be-
tween his thumb and foreiinger.
THE same question, Mac. have
asked myself hundreds of times.
am quite as much mystified as any of
my friends when | look back over my
40 years and find myself still single.
When | was 20 set out with the de-
termination to marry the first pretty
girl who touched my heart. found
her, but | did not marry her. Ny
heart was susceptible in those days
and the power Of pretty face over
me was strong; but | have never made
Il proposal Of marriage to any woman;
never quite come TO the point. There
is no case Of love buried beneath the
daisies in my experience. Ny ideals
have proved disappointing, that is
ALL"
Ills better to have loved and
lost you know, Allison" interposed.
Allison laughed.
You remember Daisy Bell, Mac =?
The very prettiest, daintiest piece OF
blonde temininity that ever crossed
my path? believe she married a
count or something, afterward. Well,
] met her at Judge Sommers' ut dinner
one night. A pair Of deep.blue eyes,
Il bcwitching bang of fluffy golden
hair, slender little figure, set off in
cause of palest blue, flashing limples
and ruby lips-sounds like the Ouch.
css, doesn't it?-brought me literally
to her feet. | should have proposed
then and there, for | was impulsive
and hotheaded then, and Judge Som
mers' conservatory was quite the most
suitable spot in the universe, with all
the world shut out and only we two
in paradise, and the harps in the hall.
way beyond playing Loves Dream
land Yes, the spot was appropriate,
but it would hardly do to offer ones
self at Il first meeting. Fortunately,
| waited | saw great deal of her
at receptions and balls and teas after
that mostly after dark, when the soft
lights and music were bewitching.
Her very daintiness impressed itself
upon me. Such Il trim, delicately-
clad, bright-eyed little creature, pour
ing coffee for me three times day
across my own table. The very
of that filled me with rapture.
"But, alas Fate had other arrange
ments OH her program. Dick Brown,
Il fellow noted for getting up things
on the spur of the moment, was Fate's
He came rushing into
my chamber one morning with the
idea of Il picnic at Fort Thomas in
his head. 1t was o'clock then and
the party was to start at 10. We
were to invite the girls.
"Of course | went straight to Daisy
Bells. As | pushed the electric but
ton at DIR. Bells and waited for the
front door to be opened my mind was
filled with all sorts Of delightful
| had even selected the
particular spot in which the long de-
layed proposal was TO be made. |
knew just what | should say-every
fellow does you know-beforeh and. |
pictured Daisy's soft clinging arms
about my neck and actually felt the
thrill of them, but the front door did
not open. | rang again, with no bet
ter result, and then walked around the
house to the side porch. | almost
wish hadn't now. The roses thickly
up The trellis Of the porch
hid the interior of the dining room