Akron daily Democrat. [volume] (Akron, Ohio) 1892-1902, 1899-07-29
utlITiIlIiIiIifillIIltli
ManProposes,

opens the door and appears IN a smart
walking costume.
Can you really spare me little
time? ! wanted very much to see you TO
tell you something that l have tried to
tell you for a 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 1t
is-just this-that love you, Ethel.
She taking out her watch)-ls that
all? oh, wish I'd timed you. But 1t
certainly didn't take half an hour.
should not think it took much more than
half a second. And you have told me
tnat very story before too. You know
you have.
He-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, as you said it would do.
She-Don't look so bothered about it,
dear old doctor. l shall survive it.
How'll you try to be serious for once.
II you knew that my heart
She Gnterrupting)-Oh, not physiology.
I always think our interiors are horrid
and try to imagine that mine is made of
sawdust.
He-I am certain one part of your
physical structure is of stone.
She-My heart, l suppose you mean?
Well, you need not be injured if it is. |
have not thrown it at you!
He-No, | wish the deuce you would.
She with a saucy glance and smile)-
But are you good enough catch?
He-You know l have excellent pros
poets for young man
She-And I doubt whether they would
keep me in theater tickets and cigarettes
for the present,
for money
She-Want to marry! Not at all. Pray
don't run away with such a mistaken
idea. / have not the least intention of
saddling myself with husband at my
age.
He-But do you seriously think that a
woman is happier unmarried?
She-No. | never think anything seri-
ously 1t would make two horrid little
ugly lines between my eyebrows.
Hc-So you refuse to answer my Ques-
ton?
She-Well, | suppose it really meant
Do | think any woman could be happy
without the society of a 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
sheepish about you.
He-I wonder if every girl makes bad
puns all the time that she is being pro
posed to, nowadays?
She-You are in a better position to
judge of that than am. Do they?
He-You know quite well that l 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
done the honor, etc." chaff you?
He (stiffly)-Excuse me, but | never
have made and never will make an offer
of marriage to any girl save under terms
of mutual love.
She-Oh. you are on your high horse.
Is it cold up there? Let me know when
you have come down, and we can go on
talking. Or would it be worth while hav-
ing a telephone laid on?
He Qaughing)-Have you ever been Sc
rious?
She-Never. Except, perhaps, on some
very frivolous subject.
He-I must say l should like to hear
you really in earnest for once.
She-Oh. no. you wouldn't. You would
cease to like me on the spot. Men get
their bread from one another; they expect
%br fhn
He-What is the exact, plain meaning
of that remark? | can never follow your
metaphors. | always think that you are
in them.
1t is not safe to dive in shallow water.
He-That depends upon the proficiency
of the diver.
She Qaughing)-H' m-well, you had me
there. l will concede you that point with
unparalleled generosity. Let's talk of
something else.
He-By all means, if you will talk of
the one subject nearest my heart-if you
will really consider for one moment the
possibility of becoming my wife.
She-But it isn't a possibility. 1t Is an
tmpossibility. If l were to become your
wife, where are the Bond street hats and
the Paris gowns that would become me?
/ should have to give up my profession
and consequently my income, to say moth
ing of my freedom.
He-But, DEAR will work like slave
for you: will see that you have plenty
of frocks. OF course, my wife will he
suitably clothed.
She-Yes, that is just it-as your wife.
Then | shouldn't be my own self any
more, but-'your wife" / would rather
be myself Now 1 am drifting into
earnestness. and the subject really is not
frivolous enough for grave consideration,
besides which it is nearly 5, and l am
afraid shall have to say goodby.
He-So this is your answer?
She-Have l given you an answer?
That is just what l thought 1 had sue
ceeded in not doing. You see, nowadays,
when we are free, man proposes, and wo-
man-shelves the question. Your ques-
tion is on top shelf ut present. Per
haps some day-if it is still there-I will
take it down and look at it, and if it isn't
there perhaps | shall break that heart Of
mine, which you say is q stone, and may
be l might find your answer in the kernel.
He-More metaphors?
She-Never mind. Do not try to IN
ravel the meaning of this one. Well, l
must say goodby again, unless you would
place.
He-May ]? Oh. thank you.
(They go out NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS..