Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1903-11-18
THE PROPOSAL.

The garden was wonderful in it's
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 colors 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 long breath of happi-
ness. From where he stood he could
see the green sweep of the lawn, the
graceful trees and winding walls, his
heart grew light, and, smiling, he
bowed deeply to this paradise.
A white skirt fluttered near the
edge of the little wood, moving with
quick, rustling motion; 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 glimpse of
beautiful face.
M. de GAGE felt happier and young
er than ever; his forty-fve 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,
IL have just been down to see your
horses run; Norfolk is simply SUI
perb."
M. de GAGE was enchanted, not with
the complimented bestowed upon his
horse, out with the bright joy of Hell
ems smile. He looked thougnfully at
her. delighting in each fresh aspect
of her beauty, and then, feeling that
1t was time for him to make some re-
ply, he asked:
SIS your father here?'
eyes" she answered, conscious of
his emotion, che is settling his &C
counts in the summer house. l heard
the little tinkle of the bell by the
garden gate, and, thinking it was
you, l 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?"
eyes; it was Robert, my young
diplomat [ didn't expect him for an
other month, but he came through
without stopping, and arrived with
out even sending me telegram. He
seemed to think it wa" an everyday
affair to come back from Japan"
II shall be very glad to meet him"
said Helen. lowering her parasol.
Zone reason of my coming here
now was to ask your permission to
bring him to call tomorrow, said M.
de Glac slowly. He was silent for a
moment, as if to give more emphasis
to his words, and then he went on,
his words coming crisply and his
eyes fixed upon the ground.
Robert is now definitely settled,
his career is established, and he has
nothing to do but to go ahead; he
was still a good deal of boy when
he went to Japan, but he has come
home a man; l do not need to worry
anv longer about him. And 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
I'D to watch the effect of his words;
Helen was standing motionless, while
the quick color played in her cheeks
Her little hand trembled upon the
handle of her parasol as she traced
vague patterns in the garden walk.
M. de GAGE longed to take posses
zion &c hhic little hand. to tell hel