New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-03-13
A PROPOSAL OF TODAY.

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He was standing with his exceilerty fiat
beck T. the mlntcpece ard Miss GreatoreX
was covering a silk bandanna handkerchief with
On opposition pattern in colorcd 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 confidential.
Miss GreatoreX smiled.
AID why have you not?'
IL have at times been half-afraid that you
right accept" replied the candid young nan.
AT others" hc added Ghoughtfully removing
an almost invisible dust spccl from his seeve).
II have been much perturbcd by the posi-
,rity-oh, certainly the rossibi,y-that you
nigh, refuse"
at woul be disagreeable TO be refused" re-
marked the lady mpersonay.
That" the gentleman considered, depends
II was sure wanted to marry YOU 1t would
unnues;innably be- disagrceabe to be refused.
Ard you are not sure?'
NO; very far. indeed, from being 50. AT
TINES | think l should much erioy the role Of
M Grcatorex 80 to speak
"E;.t Mt alwayg?"
"Oh dear nO,-not nearly always"
Miss Greatorcx had a canary. which at this
iunctu:c began 10 sing with an air Of the most
uncomfortable merrment Mr. Markham went
TO a leighboring drawer and produced thence
cloth with which h covered the cage.
You are rot sure whether you are in love
with me or no?' remarked the young lady, as
The birds Indignant silence succeeded to his
previous Irrelevant Rhapsody.
NJ Markham came back to the mantelpiece
and hayir% rcaGjlsicd his back. he said in
lJw voice. ara looking down at the very ad-
jacei.t lioWn. bont head
81 admit dsappontcd.'
Che looked ny rather quickly
bitterly. had idea that you could be
stup:d-it L. cyidenily possible"
From tn motion of Miss Greatorcx her head
cs they would say in the old books-he implied
- note OF Interrogation
1T is stupid not to have grasped the question
I have cor quite a long time known that was
IN love With you
Ever since luncheon"
"Pcrha, 5 rot quite 50 long that But GER
tainly ever since almost ever since, Lady Great
orex lief; the room
The yOuns lady laughed.
"Was rly mother su n an instance Of George
Eliots ra!:%n prophet standing behind her
Cuchtcr AID threatening what she will be-
Il merely meant that the presence Of chap
cron is incompatible with sentiment
a." observed the young woman, do not mind
admitting that am getting confused. You no"
assert that for more than twenty minutes you
have adorcd me- Cir. Markhams shoulders ap-
,eared to doprccate the cXaggeration Of this
rhetoric, and a moment ago you seemed
much 10 doubt your love"
Not at all. That is why | lately called you
cupid ! that am in love; but am
very uncertain as to whether | would like to
mary the beloved object"
Miss GrcdtOrcX laughed
Il admit it sounds perhaps. improper |
rlcrcly mean that marriage as the necessary
announcement Of being what is called in love
seems to me quite doubtful cxpedicnt
"When there il no question Of being in love"
ne continued. relaxing himself by short walk
to the other ord Of the room and back. II think
marriage not a bad arrangement. Ii is then
merely Il form Of business partnership and now
that ii has ceased to be insolube has no special
teTrprs. But you and have nothing to gain by
that. | am exceedingly well off. so are YOU |
do not need to marry for position, nor do you
We neither Of need to demand blood like
Hamlets Aunt. In fine. they say in the
Arabian Nights you have nothing To gain by
me. and have no material need Of anything
you can supply to me. Markham is just as fine
a place as Greatorex Abbey and not "A bit finer
When | speak of being in love il Is purely "A
personal sensation; should like ii To become
chronic really enjoy being in love. But If We
got married."
you cannot anticipate your love standing
that crucial test?
II honestly admit that have my doubts We
tive in q straightforward age: let me make a