Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1900-11-03
A Proposal of Today.


ld"n OF proposing to You.
He was standing with his cNccllcntly
Hat back to the mantelpircc, and Miss
GrcatOrcX was covering Il SILK landau
nh handkerchief with an opposition
pattern in colorcd woolS-why, NJ,
Markham could not max" out There
was no one else in the room, ana, rs
was evident, the gentleman was DIS
posed TO he confidential.
Miss GrcatorrN smiled.
And why have you notE
II have ut times been half afraid
that you might accept replied the
candid young man. AT others, ne
added Uhoughtfully removing IN al
most invisible dust sprck from his
slcrvcI, Il have been much prlturb"d
by the possibility that you might re-
fuse
ut would be diSagrccnhlc to he re-
fused" remarked the lady, imprrsonnl'
ly.
''rhnt," the gentleman considered.
depends. If was sure | wanted to
marry you, it would be mqucstionably
disagrecahlc to be refused
and you are surr:'
mo; very far indeed from being SO.
At times | think should much enjoy
the role of Mr.GrcatorcN, 50 to speak
''Hut not alwavs|
"Oh. dear no, nearly always
Miss GrcutorcN had n canary, which
Mt this juncturc began to sing with an
mir of the most uncomfortable n"rri-
mcnt. Mr. Markham went to II neigh
boring drawer and produced thence Il
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 succeeded to his privious irrclc-
want rhapsody.
Mr.. Markham came back to the man
trlpiccr and, having rradiustcd his
back, he said in n low voice. and look
ing down mt the very adjacent brown,
bent head
IL admit | am disappointed
She looked up rather quickly.
bitterly. | had no idea that You
could be stupid it is evidently posi-
BILE
From the motion of Miss GrcatorcX,
books-hc implied note of ntrrroga
ton.
at is stupid not to have graSpcd the
question. l have for quite II long time
known that was in love with you
Ever since lunchnon?"
"rrrh;ipS not quite so long as that. |
But certainly ever since. almost ever |
since, Lady GrrntorrX left the room.
The young lady laughed.
WAS my mother such an instance of |
George F.liot'S malign prophet standing
behind her daughter and threatening |
what she will be-"
II merely meant that the presence
of Il chapcron is Incompatible with
H." observed the young woman. "do
not mind admitting that am getting
confused. You now assert that for
NOR" than 20 minutes you have adorcd
me" (Mr. Mnrkham'S shoulders APP
pcnrcd to drprpciatr the cXaggrratiOn
Of this rhetoric), "and n moment ago
YOU seemed much to doubt your love"
Not ut all. That is why lately
called you stupid. | am sure that I
am in love; but am very uncertain as
to whether would like to marry the
beloved object
Miss GrrntorcX laughed.
Il admit it sounds perhaps. improp-
n. merely mean that marriage ~
the necessary dcnOucmrnt OF being
what is called In love seems to N" quite
4 doubtful cXppdirnt. When there is
no question of being in love-" he con
Iinurd, relaxing himself by shcrt
walk to the other end of tn" room and
back, II think marriage not II Lad ar
1t is then merely II form
Of business partnership. and now that
t has ceased to b. insolublr has 10
special trrrors. But YOU and | have
Nothing to gain by that. | am exceed
ngly well off, so are You. | do not
need to marry for position nor do you.
We neither of us need to demand
blood. like lIamlct'S aunt. In fine, as
hey say in til" Arabian Nights you
nave nothing to gain by me, and |
nave no material need of anything You
AN supply to mo. Markham ~ Just rs
Inc place as GrcntorcX abbey. and
not II bit finer When speak of bang
II love it is purely Il personal scnsn-
ion: should like it to become chronic.
really enjoy being in love. But ii
We got mnrrird.'
"iou cannot anticipate your love
standing that crucial tcSt?'
Il honestly admit that | have my
loubtS We live in Il straightforward
lgr: let me make Il clean breast of
hem. DO you, for instance, like to
ak at hrcakfast:"
Not always"
Il, never. If you were licensed by
he ceremony of mnrriag" to inurdatr
ne with mat utnnl conversation, |
hould he rendered at once miserable.
\ feeling of dccrncy would prevent
ny showing it; should suppress it,
troy all opcnnrss between us"
You take, | think interrupted Miss
ireatoreX, n morbid view of the duty
# coniugal confidence. You would
lush it too far
MY views are always high. Per-
APPS do: but that is how it strikes mo.
very morning | should Join you at the
breakfast table with the unSpokcn ter
or that you Were about to converse.
think it poSsihl" that you also like to
ak In the train and in cabs"
"Of course, remarked the young
ndy. wishing to nllny the anxiety Of
rr friend. you will rccollcct that the
resent discussion is purely ncndcm.-
al. | have never definitely asked you
% be my husblnd."
mo, he admitted very handsomely