Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1898-04-20
4 PROPOSAL 0F Today.


For some time observed Mr.. Mark
ham. I have been beset by the idea of
proposing to YOU
He was standing with his eXcellently
fiat back to the mantlepiece, and Miss
Grea torex was covering q silk bandanna
handkerchief with an opposition pattern
in coIored wools-why, Mr.. Markham
could not make out. There was no one
else in the room, and as was evident, the
gentleman was disposed to be conf
Dental.
Miss GreatOreX smiled.
And why have you not:"
u have at times been half afraid that
you might accept" replied the candid
young man. AT others" he added
(thoughtfully removing an almost invis-
IDLE dust speck from his sleeve), Il have
been much perturbed by the possibility
on. certainly the possibility-that you
might refuse
Il would be disagreable to be re-
fused, remarked the lady, impersonally.
THAT" the gentleman considered,
depends. If | was sure wanted to
marry you, it would unquestionably be
disagreeab,e to be refused
And you are not sure?'
No; very far. indeed, from being So
At times | think | should much enjoy
Ile Io4e OF VII. NrGaCOreN. so TO speak
But not always?"
oh, dear no.-not nearly always
Miss GreatOreX had canary, which
at this juncture began to sing with an
air Of the most uncomfortable merriment.
Mr.. Markham went to a neighboring
drawer and produced thence a cloth, with
which he covered the cage.
You are not sure whether you are in
love with me or no?' remarked the young
LADY,, as the birds indignant silence sue
ceeded 70 his previous irrelevant rhap-
sOdy.
NJ. Markham came back to the mantel-
piece, and, having readjusted his back. he
said in 4 low voice, and looking down
1t the very adjacent brown bent head:
Il admit l am disappointed"
She looked up rather quickly.
Bitterly. I had no idea that you could
be stupid-it is evidently possible
head-as they would say in the old books
he implied a note of interrogation.
It IS stupid not to have grasped the
question. | have for quite Il long time
known that I was in love with you
Ever since luncheOn|
Perhaps not quite so long as that. But
certainly ever since, almost ever since,
Lady Greatorex left the ROOM
The young lady laughed.
WAS my mother such an instance of
George Elot's malign prophet standing be-
hind her daughter and threatening what
she will be-"
= merely meant that the presence of
4 chaperon is Incompatible with senti-
ment.
=" observed the young woman. edo
not mind admitting that | am getting con
fused. You now assert that for more than
twenty minutes you have adOred me- (Mr
Markham's shoulders appeared to depre-
cate the eXaggeratiOn of this rhetOric)
''and moment ago you seemed much to
doubt your love"
Not at ALL That is why lately called
You stupid. [ am sure that [ am in love;
but ! am very uncertain as to whether
would like to marry the beloved object.
Miss GreatoreX laughed.
i admit it sounds, perhaps, improper.
| merely mean that marriage as the nee
essary denouement of being what is
called in love seems to me quite doubt
full eXpedient.
when there is no question of being in
love" he continued, relaxing himself by
q short walk to the other end of the room
and back, Il think marriage not a bad
arrangement. 1t is then merely a form
of business partnership, and now that it
has ceased to be insoluble has no special
terrors. But you and l have nothing to
gain by that | am exceedingly well off.
so are you. 1 do not need to marry for
position nor do you. We neither of us
need to demand blood like Hamlet's aunt.
In fine, as they say in the Arabian
NlCntS.' you nave nOC01nS TO gam DV me,
and | have no material need of anything
you can supply to me. Markham is just
rs fue place as GreatOreX abbey. and
not i bit finer. When l speak of being
III loge it is purely a personal sensations
I should like it to become chronic
really enjoy being in love. But if we
got marriedr'
You cannot anticipate your love stand
ing that crucial test?'
I honestly admit that I have my
doubts We live i'll a straightforward
age; let me make a clean breast of them
DO you, for instance, like to talk al
breakfast"
Not always"
=, never. If you were licensed by the
ceremony of marriage to inundate me-
with matutinal conversation, | should be
rendered at once miserable. A feeling OF
decency would prevent my showing it:
should suppress it. That suppression
would at once destroy all openness be
tween US"
You take. I think interrupted Miss
Greatorex, "a morbid view of the duty OF
conjugal confidence. You would push il
too far"
My views are always high. Perhaps
| Go; but that is how it strikes me. Every
morning | should join you at the break
fast table with the unspoken terror thai
You were about to converse. [ think il
possible that you also like TO talk in the
train and in cabs?
Miss GreatoreX asserted that such was
indeed the case; Mr.. Markham sat down
on chair at some little distance
Exactly. And to talk in the trai1
only makes me less passionately angry
than having to speak to anybody, above
all 10 answer their questions. in Il cab"
of course" remarked the young lady
wishing to allay the anxiety of her friend
you will recollect that the present dis
cpssion is purely academical. l have
never definitely asked you TO be my hus
band''
No." he admitted, very handsomely