The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1897-11-09
MAN Proposes"
Frum the French.l

of ladies In the COS.
'-Janes," said she, with her most dig
niiie6 countenance, you are as stubborn
as your father. He, too, objected to mar
rage. He belonged to a club-the poor
man-to the Bachelors club. and had sef'-
ously sworn to remain faithful TO its
principles. But you. TOO. you VIII come
to it,
..Bu then. in my fathers day. young girls
were brought up more simply; they aspired
no higher than to play the piano prettily,
write correctly, and make graceful cour-
tesy. Then, on leaving school, young girls
came into their families With enough In
struction TO understand the pages of ro-
nance and follow a conversation, not
enough to humiliate their parents, and
often their husbands. They were then
really home angels.
"You exhaust my patience. and 1 can't
bear such prejudices. Home angels IN
deedi As If one must be a fool or nom
entity TO be domestic. bright woman
could never be satisfied with the role you
assign Ter. If you had rot wasted your
time AZ college. you would not be so afraid
OF comparisons"
"You are too severe
do YOU pretend that Latin and Greek
are incompatible with modesty. sweetness,
and domestic qualities In woman!
AZ am certain of itp'
VERY well, then; we VIII speak no more
Of marriage. You will accompany me to
Desjardirs, for you will meet the twin SIS
tiers, and you may judge for yourself,
since my experience is not worth your
own"
Poor little mother! / knew she and her
old friend, Nine Desjardins, had plotted
t,rcb hal a
girl with the degree OF B. A. was enough
to frighten me into it more securely than
ever. When we arrived at Nine. Desjar-
ans, she greeted me as little James"
This exclamation upset me.
l expected her TO ask me If had brought
my marbles along, but instead of that
| she presented me to her daughters. The
| twin sisters resembIed each other only i'll
their dress Mile. Martha was a very
beautiful brunette-a Greek goddess. with
pure, straight features. Nile. Rose was
| less imposing, a sweet, pretty blonde. L
| was sure that in spite OF her Is years she
still played with dolls. She certainly was
not the learned young woman my
mother had proposed I should court; 1t
| must be the other ore. There was dancing,
and offered my arm to Mile. Rose. After
| a waltz we chatted. She was witty and
| a little sharp, this meek-looking little
| blonde. l started a conversation on COM
| monplace subjects, and in a short space
| of time had judged my companion TO be
| a most charming little woman, and it was
with much reluctance 1 left her side.
Blue eyes, blue gaCze, smiling lips, and
| a cloud of golden hair were all mingled
| in my sleep that night Why not the
stately, statuesque, dark beauty my moth
laa.e
| ter?
In another week I must again accom-
pany my mother to the weekly reception
Of Mime. Desjardins. and then they would
come to my mothers Friday ''at home
Thus twice a week 1 saw her, and nat
urally fell in love deeper and deeper.
Dear little Rose" thought I. true homo
angel What wife she will be to make
home bright and happy-for some one"
A strange fear came over me when l re-
called many instances where Rose had
appeared anxious to avoid ne, perhaps OFT
of cons deratlon for her sister. or perhaps
to save me from disappointment.
Under the torture Of this sudden sus-
pepse, flew to my mother. II must make
clean breast of It, mother dear; 1 love
Rose, and you must help me to gain her."
20, James, is not this somewhat sud-
den? And those convictions you have
cherished-'
Nonsense, mother; listen, this is ser-
Gus. You will admit that so sweet and
unpretending girl is seldom found now. No
more words, please, but do, like the good
mother you are. go and ask Nine. Desjar-
dins for the hand of her daughter"
MY dear child, 1 VIII teach you how
to he consistent; I can not go back on
my word. 1 will have nothing 10 do with
the arrangements Of marriage for
you
She said all this with such an amused
smile that l could not think her serious.
determined however, 10 put an end to this
suspense and soon found an opportunity.
There was concert and ball at the Des-
iardIns' beautiful country home. When
bending over her mothers hand, l saw
but one being. and heaven entered my soul
as caught the light of her eyes. 1t SEEM
ed but ar instant before We Were outside,
wandering about the grounds. The words
were on my lips to speak, when some one
called to us, Come, La Mariani is going
to singI" What care 1 for Mariani? But
Rose FASTENED her steps, and / followed,
hoping she would at least stay outside. AS
we reared the house, she led the way TO a
corner of the veranda, and there the words
and voice of the wonderful singer reached
our ears and entered our hearts.
Ny soul is full Of dreams,
My soul is full of love
Those words are mine, Rose, do you
understand? Don't you see how / love
you? You are the woman l have dreamed
of since have known how to dream. You
are the companion have longed for,
Rose; could you not love ne?''
In a low, sad voice, she murmured:
My friend. 1 am not the companion you
have dreamed of. Too often you have de-
scribed her 10 me, your ideal woman. You
love me because You think me simple, as
young girls should be-and you think be-
cause you have sometimes seen me at
tending TO household duties that 1 would
make a good domestic wife. but you will
love me no more when you are undeceived.
When you know Her voice had been
firm until now, and though her words puz-
ziei me and PANIED me, l became aware
CT the sorrow in her vo.ce-a sorrow which
meart more than sympathy.
Rose, II the name of heaven, what is
to-
She mastered herself in moment
How often have you cruelty tod me you
would never marry a college graduate
biuestocking, as You called her, and yet
ycu oughe to have known-your mother
Knows"
The foo, I had been, And how wished
7 could fall right there on my knees TO
ask her pardon. And yet how could I
have suspected that 50 much feminine
g;ace could be united TO a ripe and mature
intellect?
20. Rose. Speak 10 ne Speak IN
Latin, in Greek. IL you will Only say you
forgive me ard will love me-"