The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1902-02-27
! Man Proposes
A Dialogue.
BY EDWIN PUGH.
BY EDWIN PUaH.

Stafford went on. "Some lorcrs ,lq.
l know, but 1atter myself I'm not
that kind of man at al.
Eyes, you fatter yourself" NUT
tered Jim.
"Eh? Oh, only wish yo,, knew
herr"
81 know hundreds of her.
"She's not like other girls"
"Of course she isn't"
.SIn the first place, as | have told
you, she is perfect
"And in addition to that?"
ooh, you wouldn't understand.
Jim, if she refuses me, shall die!"
"Otherwise | suppose YOU have de-
termined to be immortal
@Jim, advise me. You're man
of the world
"'That is why l shall do nothing
of the kind
81 wish you would. ! assure you
I'd be only too pleased to take your
advice If
eff | advised you to do as you
think best. And what would be the
use of that 1t would be like spur
ringea boiling horse
Look here!!" said Stafford. with
an air of inspiration. I've jolly
good mind TO speak to her point
blank and be done with it. | cant
go on like this. It's making an old
man of me. And at the worst she
can only condemn me to lifetime
of misery"
S'And what is lifetime of misery,
after ali ?" asked Jim: sYou can
easily compress it into a few weeks.
Look at me. for instance"
"You?' Stafford looked slightly
incredulous.
"When | was mere boy-ah, it
must be some six months ago now"
said Jim solemnly, 81, too. was in
love. But she told me she would al
ways be my friend. and she hoped
that | should find some one more
worthy of me-" He shook his head
mournfully. "Well," he continued,
ito cut long story short, she was a
better friend to me when she said
that than she ever expected to be.
And as for the some one more
worthy their name is legion, but
none of 'em are worthy enough
81 hate that kind OF cheap talk,
Jim" said Stafford impatiently.
$50 do l." Jim replied. "But
they all say it. It's their way of
letting you down lightly
Stafford looked at him reproach-
fully. Jim rose and clapped him on
the shoulder.
'sMv dear old chap he said. "the
world isn't going to stop laughing
because a girl has curly hair and a
man takes himself seriously about
it. If you marry this girl, and
equally if you don't, you'll soon
learn to laugh again yourself. You'll
have to-we all have to, to keep our
hearts from breaking. | am not one
of those who would see love slaugh-
tered to make an Ally Sloper's Half
Holiday but all the same am not
going to encourage you in the belief
that you are not more than slightly
ridiculous. Here is a girl good and
charming and all that, I've no doubt,
and here are you, such as you are,
pretty ordinary and right. You
love the girl and want to marry her.
Well, tell her so. Take my word
for it. she is very ready to be told.'
"Jirn, old man. said Stafford.
smiling wanly. 81 feel that | can't
talk to you any more about this. It's
too sacred And you're so unsympa-
thetic. You mean well, but you
don't understand 1t isn't as if she
were one of your frivolous society
girls
'sThey are quite as much yours as
mine,' protested Jim.
"She is an angel" said Stafford.
with conviction.
"Sot yet
81 could die for her
"Nhy waste charming widow p
81 know you think I'm being
bit extrayagant," said Stafford, "but
really and soberly do believe there
is something divine about that girl. =
cts her expressions" said Jim
gravely.
GLOW did you know that ?" cried
Stafford.
cts either that or the way she
sings"
eyes," Stafford responded eager
ly, ''she does sing, you know, only
privately, of course"
"Not much, but often jim sug-
gested.
1t was the last straw. Stafford
picked up his hat.
81 bpliay1 Won ORC f11rT,inc ipto q