Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1897-12-16
Technique Of Proposing.

Ills hopes were DlSuLGQ LOT ever. he
had just asked a girl to marry him and
had been rejected. She was nice
girl; he had known her for three years
and for TWO OF them he had been, in
Lis subcOnsciousness, looking forward
to this day-not this day as it had
turned out, but as it ought to have
turned out. When he came to Fifth
avenue he paused an insant, debat-
ing whether to go down to his club or
up to the park. For some reason the
club seemed to offer fewer attractions
than usual, and he concluded to go up.
1t was a perfect January day, clear
and crisp. There were more carriages
in the park than usual, and Kendall
knew a good many of the occupants.
AS he recognized the various familiar
faces under the nodding expanses Of
flowers and plumes, and raised his hat
in acknowledgment of the different
smiles of greeting directed his way,
It occurred to him how self-possessed
women always were; how seIf-pos-
sessed she was, back there in the par
lor in Fifty-seVenth street, while he
was all tangled up in his rhetoric and
oratory. He absently seated himself
on one of the wooden benches pro-
Vided for the deIectation of weary
pilgrims, and, regardless of park regu-
lations, began to flip off with his cane
the ends Of some of the prescribed
'tWigs' near by; his face reddening
again as he recalled her GOODNESS and
composure when he had intimated
that her refusal struck the sun from
his heaven and made his future a
blank.
Its delightful to sit down for a
little and cool off, after walking in
this sultry weather, don't you think 2"
said fresh, cordial young voice at
his elbow; and, turning, he became
aware Of the fact that Hope Brewster
had taken the vacant place beside him,
and was smiling across at him out of
frank, clear eyes; a disarming smile
that he could not resent even in his
present mood OF cynical detection.
Hope was different from the other
girls, more original independent, and
boys and could do all the things they
could. She did things now that a girl
OF q less secure social position could
not have dared do; the miss Brew
ster' part of her name covered the
multitude OF little sins against the
cOnyentionalitieS which were commit
ted by Hope" She was girl whom
n h7If
made love to. She sat beside Kendall
now as naturally and unconcernedIy
as il she had been d fellow member OF
one OF his clubs. She wore a military
coat with a turned-up Collar, and "a
sailor hat that always had a Jaunty
look on her bright head.
Isn't it d beautiful day." she in
quired inyItingly, gazing with interest
at the passers-by.
Fine" assented Kendall with the
enthusiasm OF the menagerie polar
bear in July.
Lots of people out" pursued the
young lady cheerfully, tapping her
small boots briskIy on the pavement
to keep up circulation.
mo ead,' agreed Kendall, without
manitestlns . dlsproportionate degree
of warmth on the subject.
You don't seem to be very Jolly
this afternoon. Has anything gone
wrong? was Miss Hopes next ven
ture, as she turned square around and
gave him the benefit OF one of her
level, direct chances.
That's the time you were mis-
taken, said her companion with some
stiffness; Il was never in better spirits
in my life"
Hope smiled at him.
They seem like good spirits" she
observed; the mirth and hilarity ex-
hibited by the pIumes on a hearse.
III tell you what | believe the trouble
With you is, Jack. You have been pro-
posing to Madeline Arnold and she
has refused your
III kendalls ancestors who fought in
the Revolutionary (thus kindly en-
titling their descendant to belong to
the Order Of ''Sons'') had been less
numerous by one, he would have been
unable to stand this sudden audacious
fire without hinching But blood
will tell, when it is really blood and
not simply the coIOrless sap of hypo-
thetic pedigree trees, and the young
man did not turn renegade at the first
danger signal.
What makes you think so?" he in
CURED with a pasgable show of in
difference.
Why" explained Hope, nothing
daunted, Its one Of those things
that are automatic. | can't tell you
any reason; l simply know that no.
thing short of being a, rejected sutton
could possibly bring you to the dismal
PASS l see YOU in today. And when we
set that far, the rest Is plain sailing;
for every one has known for year
or more that your heavenly constel-
lations have risen and set IN a certain
house two blocks from the park, and
that to all ether Iuminaries you were
totally blind. She's a lovely girl,
Jack. She's my best friend and l am
on your side. Now, what made her
refuse you?
Why, Of course" said Kendall,
yielding before the superior tactics of
the enemy with something Ike relief:
for, after all, there was a melancholy
comfort in talking with sympathetic
and compromising soul like this.