The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1901-07-28
LOVE, COURTSHIP AND MARRIAGE.

fish the letter out with a walking stick.
Unable to do this, he went round and round
the pillar in agony of mind. Fortunately
for him. but more fortunately, l should say.
for herself. the lady refused his tempting
offer Another irresolute lover who con-
fided proposal 20 paper was the once cele-
brated Horne Tocke. y servant posted the
letter for him, but the writer. suddenly re-
penting. went to the post office, and. prov
ing the letter to be his. had it returned
Should Women Ever
Take the Lead by Proposing?
Should women propose. or even give as
much help over the stile as these ladies
did? Even in other years than leap year We
/; think that they may when men would be
too shy to carry the effort through without
them. Queens have to propose, and very
prettiiy did our late gracious sovereign do
this. Take the case Of a woman who happens
to be wealthy. and who not only loves, but Is
loved by man who is poor, and who, for
fear of being considered q fortune hunter,
will never ask her.
1t might be thought that when time
place, circumstances, and the lady are IA
vorable. a man could hardly help propOs-
ing, but men have been sienced by shy
ness at the supreme moment. Professor
Haldane of st. Andrews was one of these.
He had reached middle age without marry
ing. Suddenly he refurnished his house
and frequently visited the home of GER
tain lady. AT last he paid n state VISIT
more carefully dressed. and even more
bashful than usual The lady. quite inno-
cent of any occult intentions. tried to help
out the conversation by talking about his
new household arrangements. Have you
got through papering yet? ! hear your new
carpets are beautiful. Every one says that
your house is just perfect" Here's my OPP
portunity." thought the professor. Ma.
ma Miss Jane he stammered. Its nat
perfect. 1t Gamma be that while there's one
thing wanting What is that?'' asked
t.e lady. The professor caught up his hat
and sought the door, saying as he did So
"Eh. dear me-it's not perfect. 1t Gamma be
till it's got IA sdehoard. Another
Scotchman, who was far less cultivated
than the professor. was, perhaps, for that
reason less shy and hestating. He cas-
ually remarked to Galloway girl 81 think
I'll marry thee. Jean" Not at all offended
at this uncouthness she replied Man Jock
i would be nuke obliged to we if We
woulG.' Augustus Hare tells how a friend
of his. Lord rankervile. proposed to Lady
Olivia Mantagu when they were playing
game in an ante-room at an evening party.
AT first she would not face the question.
BY and by she suggested that it was time
they should return to the rest of the COM
pany in the drawing-room. The lover
pleaded: "But what am / to think? What
may l say?" Say" was the reply that
we have played our game and that you
have wen"
Some Curious Proposals and
How They Were Made.
Even the harmless necessary cat may be
made the medium of a proposal. \ modest
swain went one evening to the cottage of
his lady love. and found her seated by the
fire knitting stockings, large cat ut her
feet. After sitting for some time in silence.
he took the cat On his knee and said. or
rather stammered out Pussy. ask Lizzie
if she'll marry me-" Lizzie b,ushed and
said: "Pussie, you can tell Jamie that I'll
TAX him.
Another bashful lover presented prayer
book to the object of his preference with
the words: wilt thou have this man to be
thy welded hushanc?" underlined. The
book was returned with the momentous
words II WILL underlined
Doctor Thomas Dawson. who was cele-
brated in the last century, did n5t propose