Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1902-05-13

What can't she make come right?7
"Ihe proposal--in her story"
"OhP said Miles. 1t struck him as
a new idea.
$50 | promised that I would get |
man to propose to me, and let her
listen behind-behind the curtain, |
you know"
"But this is preposterous," he ex-
claimed. ono man could propose to
a girl when he knew some one was
listening behind a curtain.
Lance made a little despairing
gesture. ''But it must be done. If
you knew how hopelessly she had
worked over her. story! Three times
she has written the proposal scene,
and when l came-when l saw her
this afternoon she had given up. She
had buried her face in her arms. 1
did not know how to help her, so I
told her that some one was coming to
see me and that he might-and that
she should sit behind theportiere and
listen. And she said she wouldn't
and all that-but 1 showed her that
if she wanted to succeed in her writ
ing She must do some things that one
doesn't do ordinarily. Oh, 1 talked
an hour"
And your part? When I pro-
pose to you dOyOu accept me, or reject
me?"
lit really doesn't matter" she
said, "does it?'
'No-no," he said, reluctantly.
But if you reject me you won't need
to explain to her afterwards that it
was make believe"
'Poor fellow" unused Lance to
herself, "is it that he can't bear the
idea Of being accepted in jest;"
'Well," said Miles as he hailed
cab for her, "Tll try it Miss Shep-
pard, but you could have chosen a
better man for this sort of thing
among your dancing friends. Illcall
this evening, then, at nine o'clock;
but feel very nervous"
'Tm sure" said she, chat every
thing will come out beautifully"
And she nodded from the cab window
with happy face.
Miss Austin was not at dinner. His
neighbor remarked that Miss Austin
was dining out. Her name was con-
stantly in Miles thought. 1t repeat
ed itself musically to him, although it
could hardly have been considered a
musical name. And the more insist
emily it repeated itself, the less it
seemed possible for him to propose
to Lance Sheppard with a girl listen
ing behind the curtain.
And yet-what if he dared make
this mock proposal into a real one.
What if he dared snatch this golden
prize from all others.
A butler in knee breeches showed
him into the drawing-room. Anita
Austin was there reading a book.
She was often there, but Miles hur-
ried in now with an eager exclama-
ton. He was glad in his heart to see
her and then he felt that he was in
deed saved from a most absurd situa-
ton.
81 didn't know you were herer
"You came to see Lance? She will
be down in a minute. She has just
gone upstairs" There was a Slight
stiffness in the girls manner. tire
acted on him and yet he had never
seen her look prettier than tonight.
81 came to tell her-well, l made
her a promise and
"Ah! don't let me interrupt YOU
Pm going in a minute, as soon as
Lance comes down" She looked f.
away from him.
"No-yes-don't 60, urged Miles.
81 have come to tell her l couldn't .
fulfill the promise 1 made her" l |
had rather you stayed; 1 will takeyou .
back, if you will let me after l see
Miss Sheppard Don't go, and
stronger than ever grew the convic-
ton that he could not associate the
idea Of a proposal Of marriage from
himself with any one but Anita Aus
tin. 1t was an Internationally long
time before either Of them spoke
again. Miles felt vaguely how much
more the beautiful surroundings fit
ted Anita than the boarding house
had ever done. He dismissed the
idea Of finding companionable men
to live with him in a fiat, and every