The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-11-21
THE TECHNIQUE OF PROPOSING.


Young Kendall walked along the street
rather less briskly than usual. His hopes
were blighted forever. He had just asked a
girl to marry him and had been rejected.
She was a nice girl; he had known her for
three years. and for two of them he had
been, in subconsciousness, looking forward
to this day-not this day it had turned
out, but as it ought TO have turned out.
When he came to Fifth avenue he paused an
instant debating 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 perfect January day. clear and
crisp. There were more carriages in the
park than usual, and Kendall knew a good
maay of the occupants. AS ne recognized
the various familiar faces under the nod
ding expenses of flowers and plumes and
raised his hat in acknowledgment Of the
different smiles of greeting directed his way
It occurred to him how possessed women
always were: how self-possessed she was.
back there in the parlor in F1fty-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 delectation of weary pilgrims,
and, regardless of park regulations, 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 from his heaven
and made his future blank.
Its delightful to sit down for little and
cool off after walking in this sultry weather,
don't you think?" said a fresh, cordial
young voice at his elbow. and, turning, he
became aware of the fact that Hope Brew
ster had taken the vacant place beside him
and was smiling across at him out of her
frank, clear eyes, dsarming smile that he
could not resent even in his present mood
of cynical detection Hope was different
from the other girls more original, indie
pendent and individual. She had grown up
with boys and could do all the things they
could. She did things now that girl of a
less secure social position could not have
dared do; the Miss Brewster part of her
name covered the multitude of little sins
against the conventionalities which were
committed by Hope" She was a girl whom
the young men all liked but never made
love to. She sat beside Kendall now as
naturally and unconcernedly as if she had
heen a fellow-member of one of his clubs.
She wore military coat with a turned-up
collar and a sailor hat that always had
jaunty look on her bright head.
Isn't it beautiful day?' she inquired,
invitingly, gazing with interest at the pass
ers-by
Fine" assented Kendall with the enthu-
siasm of the lnenagerie polar bear in July
Lots of people out ~ pursued the young
lady cheerfully, tapping her small boots
brisxiy on the pavement to keep up circula-
ton.
mo end" agreed Kendall, without mani
Fasting a Observation-Disclosures of -,
the subject.
You don't seem to be very Jolly this
afternoon. Has anything gone wrong?"
was Miss Hopes next venture, as she
turned square around and gave him the
benefit of one of her level, direct glances.
That's the time you were mistaken"
said her companion with some stiffness; II
was never in better spirits in my life
Hope smiled at him.
They seem like good Spirits" she OBJ
served; 1.-The mirth and hiIarity exhibited
by the plumes on hearse. I'll tell you
what l believe the trouble with you is,
Jack. You have been proposing to Madeline
Arnold and she has refused YOU"
If Kendalls ancestors who fought in the
revolution Ghus kindly emitting their de-
scendant to belong to the Order of "Sons')
had been less numerous by one, he would
have been unable to stand this sudden au-
dacious fire without flinching. But blood
VIII tell, when 1t is really blood and not
SIMPLY the colorless sap of hypothetic pedi-
gree trees, and the young man did not turn
renegade at the first danger signal
what makes you think So?" he inquired
with a passable show of indifference
Why, explained Hope, nothing daunted
1T s one OF those things that are automatic
cant tell you any reason; / simply know
that nothing short Of being a rejected suitor
Soulu possibly bring you to the dismal pass
see you IN to-day. And when we get that
Tar, the rest is plain sailing; for every one
has known for year and more that your
heavenly consultations have risen and set
IN a certain house two blocks from the
park, and that to all other Iuminaries Won
were totally blind. She's lovely girl Jack
nS my N.Y. pest ST. TREND and am on your side.
why. OF course, said Kendall. yielding
before the superior tactics of the enemy
tnere was melancholy comfort in TALKING
MIN MIN sympathetic and comprehending soul
IKE this. Why, of course. I'm not half
good enough for her, and"
Wen, you knew that before. didn't YOU ?'
interrupted MISS Hope sharply; land yet
you went mt, ahead head and asked her just the
olIerent answer. You know you did
~. hoped began Kendall correctingIy
precisely You hoped she was not averse
to you, and every one else thought so. 7
thought SO. The course of true love pro-
crosses with ideal smoothness up to the
point to-day, and then everything suddenly
goes to pieces without warning There
must be some reason for this. and | can
think of only one that is supposable: YOU
must have done it wrong"
Done it wrong?" repeated Kendall stu
pidly. Done what wrong?"
The asking, of course You must have
gone at II in some senseless way that
spoiied everything. 1 haven't a doubt of it
myself, and Hope smiled blandy at some
one she knew in cart that was passing
and looked if she were saying She had
made a bowling score of two hundred and
fifty.
But" protested the young man reused
Dy various considerations and differences to
indignant combativeness granting what
you seem so sure Of that l havesmade a
fool OF myself, you don't mean toStell me
that a moments stupidity a casual blum
der would upset a girls entire opinion of
man? That is little too much, Miss
Hope. even from you!'
1t does seem queer" Hope admitted can
didly; but you know we women aren't al
ways swayed by reason, but often by that
indefinable thing which is called by all sorts
of names. from intuition to impulse 1t is
that mean one is going to marry a man.
you know; and the moment before she SAYS
them a girl sees all the cons a great deal
more plainly that she ever did before in
her life And If. JUST at that juncture. a
man doesn't act and speak in exactly the
way that appeals TO that particular girls
nature, why, it's all UP with him and with
her, too before they know it, | haven't a
doubt that you did it quite as you shouldn't
have done it for Madeline. For instance
you probably intimated 10 her, more than
once, that you were utterly unworthy even