The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-03-09
PROPOSED BY PROXY.

should ever be anything that can do for
| you, swear to do it, You are rich,
poor. You are somebody, I am nobody.
But the time may come when the promise
will be worth something, and will keep
it,
An hour before this speech was made
Frank Willard had saved Paul Holbrook's
sister from a watery grave.
And SO it came to pass that, walking
down Fifth avenue one day, they met Rose
Lewis. Frank introduced her to Paul,
they turned and walked a block with her,
and few evenings afterward Frank took
Paul to call upon her.
She was beautiful. But that tells you
nothing about the woman-the frank,
sweet, womanly woman with whom Paul
fell in love before he had known her O
month.
was in love, and so was drawn nearer and
nearer to the whirlpool, until, when the,
truth at last dawned upon him, there was
no retreat.
That she could care for him never en-
tered his mind. But it was true never
theless.
Rose said, eff he cares SO little for me-
will make very sure that he does not
guess I care one whit for him. Paul
said, ''She shall never laugh at me, though
she does not love me.'
And so they met and parted, day after
day, and no one guessed that anything
troubled the heiress but Frank Willard
and only two the same Frank Willard and
PauPs sister Ruth, saw how pale Paul
grew.
4ihey were together good deal, Frank
Willard and Ruth. 1t had entered Paul's
head at times that this fellow liked his
sister very we'll; of late that it was possible
that he loved her. But Ruth, at II,
seemed a child to him.
At last he resolved to try what charm
there might be in absence-to leave the
city, forbidding himself to meet the wom-
an he hopelessly adored-and availing
himself of an offer which promised to be a
stopping stone to his professional success
put barrier of miles of land and water
between himself and Rose Lewis.
At the same time Rose, scorning herself
for the infatuation which she could not
control, resolved to go to Europe.
The days flew by. Rose was ready for
her tour, Paul for his departure. Frank
had seen good deal of both.
One morning he sat in PauPs room and
talked as people do when their minds are
on some subject which they hesitate to
mention. At last he asked:
"Have you hidden goodby to Rose
Lewis?''
Paul flushed and shook his head.
cit does not MATTER he said. "We
shall not probably meet again, nor will
she care.''
81 think she would said Frank. "You
will hurt her by going So"
''She will not care. Why should she?'
"Paul, you know I am neither BASH
full man nor a coward in most cases, but
every man becomes one or both under
some circumstances. / have a favor TO
ask of you. You remember your promise
to refuse me nothing I could ask of you
The time has come when have need of
your aid. Will you give it to mes"
''TeIl me what you want me to do.''
"I want you to see Miss Lewis. / want
you to tell her something which have not
the courage to tell her myself-to tell her
a love story, in fact, and see what she says
to it. Will you do it?''
Paul stood dismayed. So Frank, her
mate in wealth, position and appearance,
loved the girl also.
81 do not refuse, Frank he faltered,
fbut you need not fear. She will love
you. You are not one to sue in vain.''
at am a coward, 3" said Frank. "You
are good fellow, Paul. and you will do it.
Tell her a story-this: You know man
who has loved her long, but who has never
dared to say SO. He feels that his own de-
serts are too small to entitle him to hope,
but on the eve of parting he can restrain
himself no longer. He must tell her that
life is nothing without her, that her love
is the only thing worth striving for. He
must ask her in this strange way, because
he has not courage enough to Go otherwise,
to bid him hope or despair. Then she will
ask who this lover is, and you may tell
her, not until then-not until all the story
of the love is told. And you will bring
me the answer"
eyes,
Then he sought Miss Lewis.
''You have come to wish me bon voy-
age?'' she said as she held out her hand,
but he only bowed and seated himself be-
side her. In a moment he said:
81 have come upon an errand that will
surprise you, Miss Lewis. I am commits
stoned to tell you q story.
81 know a man who has loved you for
long time" he went on. "For months he
has thought of you by day and by night
until there is but one woman in the world
to him-you. He has seen no token of
any liking for him in your face nor heard
it in your voice, yet he would have you
hear his story and know his fate ere you
are parted from him. His name
He paused for an instant. In that in
slant Rose turned toward him and put her
hand in his.
"My love is not worth so much" she
said tearfully. But since you value it So
highly it is yours. 1t always-has been
since first knew you"
And what could he do but take in his
arms this woman whom he adored, and
who had just admitted her love for him
under the impression that ne mad proposed
to her.
His utter joy and his woeful shame
mingled themselves in his soul, as, having
hidden Rose adieu, he found Frank Mil
lard waiting for him.
Chow can ever make you believe that
have not played you false?' faltered |
Paul, and Frank burst into laugh.
You have proposed to her, he said, |
and she has accepted youT'
Paul could not answer.
"Do you think I wanted to marry Rose
said Frank, "or that dreamed she would !
accept me? 1 read your hearts too we'll
saw two who were made for each other