Cañon City record., 1902-09-18
PROPOSAL
BY PROXY

Il want her. She is 4 very adv.n-
tngeous match. Help me to get her.
How can help you:"
"Uncle, you are devoted to her moth
er-don't deny it-and the widow is
devoted to you. Your influence will
turn the scale in my favor"
"Pooh, boy! Do you suppose a man
Of forty-five. an old bach, is n proper
person to interfere in love Affairs?
Besides, are you sure Miss Pickering
wishes to marry you!'
mo. l wish your intercession with
her too
"very well: / will see what l can
do"
The next evening Major Joseph
Stone, feeling in honor bound to keep
his pledge to his nephew, called Mt
Mrs. Pickering's.
Il have come 10 plead u cause he
said nervously Your daughter is II
lovely woman, and l have come with
reference to n proposal-from one
whose heart
The major broke down.
Indeed" The lady looked curious
and pleased. II have noticed the gen
tleman's attentions to my daughter. /
am not surprised"
"He may be little off as to age
THAT would he no objection. l as
sure you
Then his Income is very limited:
but, you see. T.
.'I see very clearly, major. The in
come is of no consequence. My daugh-
ter is very well OF. What she wishes
is man she can respect and love and
be proud Of The hero Of
Pardon me- Heroism has nothing
Not another word. major. Modesty
is the most charming OF qualities. You
will find Ellen in the music room. Go
and plead your cause with her, and
may you have every success. ! shall
be proud
The major disappeared in the music
room, and at the same moment Miss
Pickering opened the door OF tue par
lor, where she had left her mother.
"Ob, Ellen, thought you were In
there. Your hero has come to propose
for you. Fortunate girl! He is return
ing | will leave you here" And as
the major re-cntered the mother dis
appeared.
Mamma was mistaken, major
Here | am"
81 am glad to see you looking SO
charming for woman cannot well
look charming without feeling charm
ing This will make easier n delicate
mission have 10 execute"
81 am listening"
81 came to plead n cause. the cause
OF one who loves YOU"
''oh. mnjorl' dropping her eyes.
.Yct one who admits that he needs
some friend 10 help him"
"He needs no one but my mother
II she is pleased. there is no one else
to be considered"
"Your mother sent me to you. wish
Ing me success. She has noticed the
drift OF this affair, and she will be de
lighted with the match. You see, you
have every good quality. while the
man. though Il trific Young for you
"Ha. ha. What II pleasant irony.
The man is Just the age / would
choose. You know l am a young thing
of twenty-clght."
"Hc has many estimable qualities, l
can assure you. He is-well, he Is n.
bit of trincr''--
"Oh. major. how you amuse me! A.
/ lDu are siiohS uS
you stumbled up San Juan hill"
THAT was an easy job compared
with this" taking out his handkerchief
and wiping the perspiration.
II always said. major, even when n
little girl, that | would marry none
but hero"
"Thats too bad" disappointedly.
"The hcroism I'm this case-the hcroism
of physical courage - has never yet
been proved. but dare say upon OPP
portunity''-
you dear major, You say that as
innocently as II It were really true.
Doubtless You think 1t 80. The great
est heroes are the least aware of their
herolsm. one thing | will admlt-be-
cause II man IL II military hero II
doesn't follow that he has courage In
telling n woman he loves her"
81 confess there Is some cowardice
I'm this case. A man should not en-
ploy any one but himself to plead his
cause with woman"
But mamma doesn't count. you
know. You can't be accused of cow
ardice for speaking to her first Ma
jor, you are as utterly untitled for n.
proposition OF this kind as you proved
yourself fitted to lead men In BATTLE
"Well, then. to cut the matter short.
you acceptr'
II do. most assuredly, and with my
whole heart"
"Thcn. having nothing more to do. !
shall wish you n very good evening
and much happiness" moving away.
Nothing more to do. ma1orf' draw
ing very near and looking mp Mt him
reproachfully.
| a. all oattIoJ