The Lexington dispatch. [volume] (Lexington, South Carolina) 1870-1917, 1902-02-12
Man Proposes
A Dialogue.
BY EDWIN PUGH.
A Dialogue.
BY EDWIN PUGH.

j know, but latter 1nyseIf 1 IN not
that kind Of man at all"
eyes, you fatter yourself" l." NUT
tered Jim.
"Eh? Oh, I only wish you knew
her."
81 know hundreds of her.
j "She's not like other girls"
"Of course she isn't.
'EIn the first place, as I have told
you, she is perfect
"And in addition to that?"
"Oh,. you wouldn't understand:
Jim, if she refuses me, l shall die!
"Otherwise suppose YOU have de-
termined to be immortal"
EEJim, advise me. You're a man
of the world"
''That is why shall do nothing
OF the kind"
Il wish you would, I assure you
I'd be only too pleased to take your
advice if
'sIf / advised you to 10 as YOU
think best. And what would be the
use of that? 1t would be like spur
ring boiling horse" =,
"Look here!" said Stafford, with
an air of inspiration. ''l,ve a Jolly
eood~mind to speak to her point
blank and be done with it. ! can't
90 on like this. It's making an old
man of me. And at the worst she
can only condemn me to lifetime
of misery"
':And what is lifetime Of misery,
after ali ?" asked jim. "lou can
easily compress it into few weeks.
Look at nc, for instance
"You?" Stafford looked slightly
incredulous.
'.When l was mere boy-ah, it
must be some SIX months ago now"
said jim solemnly, Il, too, was in
love. But she told me she would al
ways be nv friend, and she hoped
that | should find some one more
worthy of me-" He shook his head
mournfully. .'<Wel," he continued,
''to cut long story short, she was Il
better friend to me when she said
that than she ever expected to be.
And as Tor 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 de- J." Jim replied. ''But
they all say it. It's their way OF
letting You down lightly"
Stafford looked at him rcproach-
fully. jim rose and clapped him on
the shoulder
':Mv dear old chap" he said, 'Sthe
world isn't going to stop laughing
because a girl has curly hair and
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-wc 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 hetold."
"Jim, old man. said Stafford,
smiling wanly, Il 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
we're one of your frivolous society
girls
''rhcy are quite as much yours as
mine,' protested jim.
"Shc is an angel" said Stafford,
with conviction.
'<Not yet"
II could Gie for her"
"Why waste charming widow"
"I know you think I'm being Z
bit extravagant," said Stafford, s'but
really and soberIy l do believe there
is something divine about that girl"
dts her expression" said Jim
gravely.
"How did YOU know that" cried
Stafford.
Its either that or the way she
sings"
'FYes," Stafford responded eager
1y, "she does sing, You know, only
privately, Of course"
<cNot much, but often" Jim sug-
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