Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1899-08-12
al lIltllIIIllIIIllI;lIlII
. ManProposes,

ncrvously up and down the room. She
opens the door and appears In smart
walking costume.
Can You really spare me little
time? | wanted very much to see you to
tell you something that | have tried to
tell you for very long while, only you
never would give me an opportunity. 1t
will not take half an hour to say, because
it is not long story. You know what it
is-just this-that | love you. Ethel.
She taking out her watch)--Is that
all? Oh, | wish I'd timed you. But it
certainly didn't take half an hour. l
should not think it took much more than
half second. And you have told me
tnat very story before too. You know
you have.
IIe-I wish you would not make fun of
everything. You do not seem to realize
in the least what my feeling for you is;
that it grows with every day, instead of
decreasing, rs you said it would do.
Shc-Don't look so bothered about It,
dear old doctor. | shall survive it.
Hc-Will you try to be serious for once
If You knew that my heart
She intcrrupting)-Oh, not physiology.
l always think our interiors are horrid
and try to imagine that mine Is made of
sawdust.
1Ic-I am certain one part of your
physical structure is of stone
Shc-My heart, l suppose you mean?
Well you need not he injured if 1t is.
have not thrown it at you!
He-No, ] wish the deuce you would.
She with saucy glance and smilc)-
But are you Il good enough catch?
Ile-Iou know | have excellent pros
poets for Il young man
Shc-And | doubt whether they would
keep me In thcatcr tickets and cigarettes
for the present!
He-Oh. well, If you want to marry
for money
Shc-Wunt to marry! Not Mt ALL Pray
don't run away with such mistaken
idea. l have not the least intention of
saddling myself with husband Mt my
age.
Hc-But do you seriously think that n
woman is happier unmarried?
Shc-No. | never think anything seri-
ously. 1t would make two horrid little
ugly lines between my eyebrows.
Uc-S0 you refuse to answer my ques-
ton?
Shc-Wcll, l suppose 1t really meant
DO | think any woman could be happy
without the society of n man? OF course,
the society OF men is indispensable to her,
or there would be no one to-kind Of
like her. But the same one man always!
Oh, ugh. 1t would be like always having
mutton for each meal. Though | did not
of course mean, In using the word NUT
ton, to inSinuate that there was anything
shecpiSh about you.
IIc-I wonder if every girl makes bad
puns all the time that she is being pro
posed to, nowadays?
She-Iou are in better position to
judge of that than l am. Dc they?
He-Iou know quite well that | have
never loved any other girl but you.
She (consolingly)-Never mind, there is
plenty of time yet. Besides, after all,
how much has love to do with proposals &?
Did all the other girls to whom you have
''donc the honor. etc." chaff you?
He (stillly)-EXcusc me- but | never
have made and never will make an offer
of marriage to any girl save under terms
of mutual love.
Shc-Oh, you are on your high horse
Is 1t cold up there? Let me know when
you have come down. and we can go on
talking. Or would it be worth while hay
ing II telephone laid on?
He 0aughing)-IIavc you ever been Sc
riouS?
She Never, Except, perhaps, on some
very frivolous subject.
He-1 must say | should like to hear
you really In earnest for once.
Shc-oh, no. you wouldn't. You would
cease to like me on the spot Men get
their bread from one another; they expect
the women to provide the wine
1Ic-What is the exact, plain meaning
nf fhut rnnprl-1 I Col
metaphors. | always think that you are
''gctting at" me when you begin to talk
in them
Shc-Not Mt nll. l couldn't if tried
1t is not safe to dive in shallow water.
Ic-That depends upon the proficiency
of the diver
She 0aughing)-II'm-wc you had me
there. will concedc you that point with
unparalleled generosity. Let's talk Of
something else.
lc-By all means, if you will talk of
the one subject nearest my HEARTH you
will really consider for one moment the
possibility of becoming my wife.
Shc-But ii isn't possibility 1t Is m
impossibility. If were to become your
wife, where are the Bond street hats and
the Paris gowns that would become me?
l should have to give up my profession
and consequently my income, to say moth
ing of my freedom.
lIc-But, dear, l will work like n slave
for you; | will see that You have plenty
of froCkS. or course, my wife will be
suitably clothed.
She Yes, that is just itas your wife.
Then ! shouldn't be my own self any
more, hut-"your wife" | would rather
be myself. Now | am drifting into
eprn"StncSS, and the subject really is not
frivolous enough for grave consideration,
besides which it is nearly :, and l am
afraid shall have to say goodby.
llc-So this is your answer?
Shc-llavc | given you an answer?
That is just what | thought | had sue
cccdcd In not doing. You see, nowadays,
man shelves the question. Your qucs-
ton is on a top shelf mt present. Per-
haps some day-if it is still therc-I will
take il down and look ut it, and if it isn't
there perhaps shall break that heart of
Ilinc, which you say is stone, and may
be might find your answer in the kernel
More metaphors?
She Never mind. Do not try to un-
ravcl the meaning of this one. Well,
must say goodby again, unless you would
like to walk with me as far as Ashley
place,
IIc-May |? Oh, thank you.
CThcy 90 out together -Gcntlcwoman.
| Names of DenmHrk's Kings.
Dcnmnrk's kings for 3S4 years have all
/