Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1903-04-17
MATRIMONIAL SELECTION

| This took a bit of thinking out.
thought it out. The result of my re
Elections was that 1 decided to seei
expert advice; to pick up wrinkles from
one or other of my married friends.
pitched on Dollie Dulverton, who haG
been lately absorbed by young Catti
| stock, of the Bays; and to her / went.
After unfolding to her my scheme in
general outline, said:
"All that l wish to do, at the first
| going off, is to change the personality
of the proposer, not the method of pro
posing. One must not attempt toe
much all at once. Therefore, I have
come to you to ask If you can give me
| any useful tips, based upon your own
experience as past proposee."
"Ah," said Dollie, smiling, "you wish
me, in fact, to coach you up in the
manners and rules of good proposing?"
Il wish you to tell me-" 1 answered
"what phraseology Mr.. Cattstock
made use of when he proposed to you.
1t may serve me as useful line"
Dollie thought for moment or two,
uD tie VI
Then she rejoined:
''Very well, my dear, you shall have
precise account of all the circum-
stances. The affair took place at Lady
KS dance. Frank began by remark
ing that the room was devilish-he
begged my pardon-confounded hot.
l acouiesced. Have you made a note
of that, my dear?"
$50 on" 1 remarked, with some i'm
patience. 81 wish to get to the kernel
of the nut. These little preliminary
breakings of the outer shell are i'm
material"
May" answered Dollie, 'you can
not get to the kernel without these
little preliminary breakings of the
outer shell. 1t is an integral part of
the process. However, will proceed.
Franks next observation referred to
the floor, which he declared to be a
ripper. 1 concurred. Then he said,
give him such floor and a partner
whose step suited his, don't you know,
and, by Jove, what more could fellow
want? 1 said nothing. I only looked
hard at the toes of my satin shoes.
knew now what was coming, and that
the less | interrupted the quicker it
would come. Frank cleared his throat
and tugged at his mustache. Then he
grammatical rigmarole, in which
'Partner-step suited-ball Of life
heaven on earth We're the only distinct
and ineligible expressions"
Dollie paused.
"And that's ALL" she said.
"Do you mean" | demanded, "that
he never asked you, in so many words,
to marry him?'
"Never! Without another remark
We We're in corner of the conserva-
tory behind two oleanders and a plas-
| ter Anollo-he took me in his arms.
offered no objection. So there We We're
| That settled it,"
We'll" l said, after 4 brief rehec-
| tion, Il shall meet Charles Wilton at
Mrs. Us dance tomorrow night; and
1 will see what can be done-if L get
| the opportunity"
eff my dear?" cried Dollie. "There
is no if in the matter. The proposeI
makes his opportunity"
81 suppose he does" I was fain tC
admit. There are good many things
to learn about this new role, after all. ,
''It is an art and has its technicalities
like every other" she replied
Which was so undeniable that
agreed to it without comment.
Next evening, l went to Mrs. rs
dance. There, as anticipated 1 me-
Charles Wilton. l cast about how
should make my opportunity. Bu
this proved to be unnecessary. HI
asked me if 1 would sit out the fourtl
waltz with him. l did. The grount
being thus cleared, it only remained fol
me to put into practice Dollie's man
ners and rules of good proposing.
| began:
Don't you think the room-er-very
hot?"
Now he ought to have acquiesced
But he didn't. He answered. instead:
"Do you think so? L find it jus
comfortable"
game rather puzzled me. What was
to do? l decided to ignore it and pro
ceed as though it had not occurred.
IF you ask me-" he answered, "
should say that there is trihe to-
much beeswaX on it."
This reply was still more upsettine
. However, | made a bold dash.
"Given such a floor and partne
whose step suits one, what could n gil
want more?"
/ He was not silent He did not star
: at the toes of his pumps. He did nc
5 evidently know what was coming.
Instead, he answered genially:
5 Don't matter a button-top to m,
=. The only dancing / ever do is to wal
= through square. But l dare say tha
G what you suggest is very jolly for thos
!; who like it."
: This was too vexing. 1t quite kille
: my opening for that metaphor abor
: "The Ball of Life" and Heaven o
: Earth" so 1 was brought to a stant