The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1898-10-26
Some Odd Proposals.

he c:scT c: marriage. ii he did not
want her to become his wife lie GER
tainly would not ask her Therefore,
, to avoid the modification of posi-
bic refusal it is always best for the
lovesick swain to be sure of his ground
before he ventures To ask the momen-
tous question. There are a thousand
ways III which any man can tell with
considerable accuracy whether wo-
man will refuse him or not. 1t is a
hard matter Tor woman-cspecially
very young one-to conceal from q
male object Of her affection that she
loves him. The eyes, those tell-talc
windows of the soul, are pretty sure
TO disclose the fact 10 sircwd, obscr-
want man, let their owner try ever SO
hard to make them tell different
story. If man is absolutely cure
that girl loves him the manner of
his proposal is a matter of little mo
ment. In such case he can often
take the lady's answer for granted, as
in case Of young man | knew Of,
who, after courtiag girl for long
time, was so sure of favorable an
swer that one night, without having
previously spoken word of love to
her, he said 81 heard something
about you to-day"
about me? Pray tell me what i
was exclaimed his sweetheart.
After great deal of coaxing he
said, "a fellow told me that you are
going to marry me in June instead of
waiting till fall"
June is as good as any other
month, responded his inamorata, and
the matter was considered as settled
from that time without another word.
l think great many proposals are
made In just some such way as that
Most men court Il girl long time be-
fore they resolve to propose marriage
to her, and by the time they are ready
to carry that resolution into effect
they know her SO well that the max
ing of an offer is seldom the formal
affair that most novels represent it to
be- have known cases where chill
dren have been the medium through
which proposals have been made. A
noteworthy instance was related to
me by plump, rosy matron, who was
one Of the chief actors in the scene
she described, which I will let her tell
in her own words.
II had an older sister, and when I
returned home from finishing school
for young ladies', where had com
pleted my education, I met young
gentleman with whom [ must confess
| fell deeply in love at first sight. He
came to our house very often after
that, and I always thought his visits
were intended for my sister, greatly to
my grief and dismay, though I never
allowed anyone to know what my
feelings were, and I thought that he
of all others was the very last one who
could possibly suspect them.
"On one occasion he called when both
my mother and sister were out, and as
he was an old friend Of the family
by this time, and the butler said he
had asked particularly to see me, and,
moreover, as ny little brother George,
who was at once the delight Of my
life and the plague of my existence,
was already in the drawing room with
him, | thought there could be no i'm
propriety in my going down. After
the first greetings had been exchanged
he began to tell me of the approach
ing marriage of dear friend of his,
whereupon George blurted out, Sister
Ethel (my name is EtheD would like
to be married, too. rs that so 2
queried the friend of the family; then,
come here, George, and let me whisper
TO you.
George climbed upon his knee and
after something had been whispered
in his ear the little rogue came running
to me, exclaiming, %, Ethel, he says if
you want to get married he will marry
you whenever you say, and will give
you a solitaire diamond for an engage
ment ring. The friend of the family
rose from his chair and was standing
by my side before the little rascal had
finished the speech that had been
taught him. Il mean it, every word,
with all my heart, Ethel he said.
"What is your answer, dearest, yes or
no p
When she had reached this point in
her story the plump. rosy matron held
out the third finger OF her left hand,
on which shown wedding ring, and
pressed her lips to the glossy golden
curls Of sweet little four year old