Hattiesburg daily progress. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 18??-1909, 1903-12-03
THE PROPOSAL.

The garden was wonderful in its
fresh spring beauty, the delicately
tinted liliacs, the fruit trees that were
immense banks of bloom, and the
sunshine that played upon it all,
throwing some of the coiors into high
relief and shading others, glowing
richly in the soft shadows; tender
perfumes lowered in the warm air,
while fragile, delightful rustlings and
whisperings were all that broke the
silence
Jean de GAGE, as he opened the
gate, drew in a long breath of happi-
ness. From where he stood he could
graceful trees and winding walls, his
heart grew light, and, smiiing, he
bowed deeply to this paradise.
A white skirt fluttered near the
edge of the little wood, moving with a
quick, rustling notion he recog-
nized the parasOl the dainty rose-col-
ored waist. and the white skirt, and
as the owner of the parasol turned
the corner he caught a glimpse of a
beautiful face.
M. de GAGE felt happier and young
er than ever; his forty-fvc years slip
ped away from him as a dead leaf
from its branch; he did not know
what it was to grow old. He had mar
ried very early in life, and his wife,
whom he adored, had died soon after
the birth of their son; and since then,
on account of the passionate eager
ness with which he had thrown him
self into his work, he had scarcely
perceived the passing of the time.
There was no touch of white among
his brown hairs nor in his short mus
tache, and his step was quick and
alert.
But during the last year since the
Mainfroys had moved into the coun-
try house that adjoined his own es-
tate he had grown younger than ever;
he had scarcely noticed that his son
Robert had left for Japan, as attache
to the French Embassy, nor that Miss
Maud. his finest mare, whom he had
entered for the Oaks race, had sud-
denly gone lame. He was absorbed
in one dominating thought that he
was in love with Helen Mainfroy, and
that, in all probability, should he ask
her hand, it would be given him.
Suddenly she called to him,
II have just been down to see your
horses run; Norfolk is simply SUI
perb."
NJ de GAGE was enchanted, not with
the complimented bestowed upon his
horse, but with the bright joy of Hell
ems smile. He looked thoughfully at
her, delighting in each fresh aspect
of her beauty, and then, feeling that
ut was time for him to mako some re-
ply he asked;
rs your father here?'
YES" she answered, conscious of
his emotion, "he is settling his ac-
counts in the summer house. | heard
the little tinkle of the bell by the
garden gate, and, thinking it was
you, | came to meet you
How good of you,-GUess, if you
can, who dropped down upon me yes
terday, fresh from the skies, or rath-
er from another world?"
From another world?"
yes; it was Robert, r,y young
diplomat. l didn't expect him for an
other month, but he came through
without stopping, and arrived with
out even sending me a telegram. He
seemed to think it was an everyday
affair to come back from Japan"
II shall be very glad to meet him."
said Helen, lowering her parasol
'One reason of my coming here
now was to ask your permission to
bring him to call tomorrow said NJ.
de Glac slowly He was silent for a
moment, as If to give moro emphasis
to his words. and then he went on,
his words coming crisply and his
eyes fixed upon the groun-l
Robert is now definitely settled,
his career is established, and he has
nothing to do but to so ahead; he
was still a good deal of boy when
he went to Japan, but he has come
home man; | do not need to worry
any longer about him. A, q it is this
fact that has decided me to take. with
your fathers permission, step with
whose nature have already acquaint-
ed him.
In spite of himself the man looked
up to watch the effect of his words;
Helen was standing motionless, while
the quick color played in her cheeks
Her little hand trembled uTon the
handle of her parasol as she traced
vague patterns in the garian walk.
NJ de GAGE longed to take possess
sion of this little hand. to tell her
how much he loved her ard ask her IL
she would be his wife. e felt in
stinctively that the nom III was di-
vine. Had he been younger, he would
have done it, without paaSing for an
instant, but certain ages have their
certain bashfulness. He was silent,
timid, and trembling, as il he had
been only twenty
You know we are always glad to
SEQ you,' said Helen simply, break
ing the long silence.
Every well, then, will come to-
morrow l will not disturb your faith
er now"
why, are you going already? We
bare scarcely seen anythlEs Of you