Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1895-05-29
PARALYZED.


My emotions-meaning by that those
feelings Of the heart which tend to make
man see all women as the only perfec-
ton Of creation, and some one woman
as the aggregated perfection of all wom-
emmy emotions, as / was about to say
when interrupted myself, are utterly
paralyzed and have been since the 14th
day of last September at Is minutes aft
er ii o'clock a. M, eastern time
AT that hour and for several hours
previously l was in the act of spending
my SIMMER vacation at delightfully."-
quiet and retired resort ON the Atlantic
coast, where also, among a number Of
other fortunates, were Miss Ruth Allen,
Miss Myrtle Morton-such a sweet name
that, used to think land Jack Foster,
the bane Of my existence and the para
lyzer of my emotions
Foster was dashing fellow, while
was merely dashed fellow, and because
Of that possibly was less fortunate in
my heart affairs than he was. In any
event, never loved dear gazelle, as
the poet has it, believe, but some day,
sooner or later, the nervy Foster came
that way and chose her for his mate,
the result of which invariably was that
lost her.
Several times during the summer ]
had, for these depredations Of his, been
tempted to drown him, for was fipe
sailor and he wasn't, though he often
went out with me, because, as he said,
ne felt safe in my hands, and he had q
large life insurance policy in addition
Then he would laugh at his time tried
and fire tested insurance joke, and all
the girls would laugh also.
BAIL The idiots, to laugh at an old
chestnut like that A cocoanut was
equally as funny and much larger.
However, as time moved ON Jack gave
me o chance, and, left to nay own de-
vices, 1t was not great while before !
was paying undivided attention to Miss
Allen and Miss Morton. These two were
my choice, and one, felt sure, would
be chosen, but as yet had not deter
mined which one.
The time for decision came at last.
though, for my month was nearly up,
and ON that sweet September morn had
an engagement TO go walking with Miss
Allen. l felt that morning that she was
the one woman of all women for me,
and asked her to go with me, so that
might have an opportunity to ask her
far more important question. am
sure that she knew my purpose. for !
had more than once almost told her what
was in my heart.
''Miss Ruth" I said as we strolled
! along the shore returning to the hotel,
"may ask you question:"
Certainly, Mr.. Bryting," she re-
piled as sweetly as girl could reply or
a bird could sing.
at is not an every day question, T"
said as slight preparation to her, but
one of great importance to me-.
1T isn't conundrum, is it?' she ask
ed nervously. For hate conundrums. I"
eyes, it is, / answered. ''At least
it is about something l don't want to
give up"
There wasn't anything funny in that,
but laughed at it and she joined in it.
giving me to that extent an addition to
my courage.
''Well. You don't have to give 1t up, :"
she said. "You surely can answer your
own conundrum
mot this one, fear. !"
"Goodness; it must be hard one.
Don't ask me- I'm sure can't answer
it.
Eyes, you can, :" L insisted lyon
know" and I became serious, lyon
\ know, Miss Ruth, that for some time
past have been thinking of you great
deal, more indeed than should have
done, for there was SO much uncertainty
in it all have been thinking of this
very moment, and Of you, and Of what
1 should say to you and how l should
say it, to win the answer desired above
all things earthly"
'Well, but what is your conundrum9"
Miss Allen asked.
ssSimply this, Will you be my wife?"
I said, dropping on one knee in the sand
| 'sGoodnessl can answer that easily
enough. No. | cannot marry you. /"
The unhositating way in which she
spoke made me almost hopeless, yet !
persisted
| but you couiu tcstEh, APAc&ttAcu ehcAS
| in the sand--fool that was to think
| that a wcnGn could learn to marry a
mani Whoever heard Of such a thing?
ssNo, +" she said. Il could not learn
| for-for-f0r''-
Don't finish the sentence, " said
bitterly as rose from my devotional at
titude. .Don't finish it. pay. 1 know
yon win say that you love another, and
that utterly precludes your taking les
sons under my instructions. OF course,
went ON. bratally enough, I'm sure,
sit would have been utterly impossible
for you to have prevented me from max
|