The Grit-advocate., 1903-12-18
THE PROPOSAL
FRANCOIS DE MON.


v,
the fruit trees that were one Immense
bank Of bloom. and the sunshine that
played upon it all. throwing some OF the
colurs into high relief and shading oth-
ers. glowing richly In the soft shadows.
tender perfumes hovtred in the warm ar
while fragile. delightful rustlings an"
whlsperIngs were all that broke the ST.
lencc.
Jean de Gac". as he opened the gate.
drew in a long breath of happiness. From
where he stood he could see the green
sweep Of tn" lawn, the graceful trees.
and winding walls; his heart grew iight.
and smiling, he bowed deeply To tbis
paradise.
\ white skirt nuttered near the edge of
the little wood moving with a quick.
rusulnE motion, he recognized the para
sol. the dainty rosc-c"lored waist and lhe
whit" skirt, and the owner of the
glimpse of a beautiful face.
NJ, de Gace felt happier and younger
than ever, his furty-tive years slipped
away from him as "A dead leaf from its
branch, he dld not know what il was to
grow old. He had married very carly in
| life and his wife whom II. had adored.
| had died soon after the birth of their son.
| and sirre then, on account of the pas
sionate eagerness with which he had
scarcely perceived the passing of tho
| 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 sine" the
| Mainfroys had moved into the country
house that adjoiued his own estate. ha
| had grown younger than ever. he had
scarcely noticed that his son Robert had
| iett Tor Japan, as ntthchc to tn" French
| Embassy, nor that Miss Maud. his finest
mare, whom he had entered FOR the
| oaks race. mad suddenly gone lame Va
| was absorbed in one dominating thought
| that he was in love with Helen Maiufroy.
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 superb"
NJ. de Gao" WAS enchanted. not with tho
| compliment bestowed upon his horse. but
| with the bright JOY of Iiclens smilr I!o
looked longingly at her. dclighting In each
| fresh aspect Of her beauty and then.
| feeling that it was time for him to max.
| some reply, he asked:
is your father here"
Yes" she answered. conscious nf his
emotion, he is settling his accounts IN
| the summ"r-house. ! heard the litii" TN
kle of the bell by the garden gate, and
thinking it was You, came to meet y"'!.'
How good of you'-Gu"ss. If You can.
| who dropped down upon me yesterday.
| fresh from The skies. or rather fr"iG an
| other worldr'
From another world
| Yes, it was Robert, my young dipln-
mat. | didn't expect h.m for another
| month, but he came through without
| stopping. aud arrived without even send
| ing me "A telegram. He seemed to think 1t
was an everyday affair to con- ok
| from Japan
! Il shall be very glad to meet hin.
| said Helen, lowering her parasDl.
| "onc reason of my coming here now
was to ask your permission to bring him
| to call tomorrow said Al de tiace sI""
| to give more emphasis TO his words and
| then he went on, his words coming crisp
| ly and his eyes fixed upon the ground:
| Robert is now definitely settled, his
| career is established, and he has nothing
to do hut to go ahead, he was stif 4
| good deal OF a boy when he left f"r
lIv, ~
! do not need to worry any Longer about
him And IT is this .nct that has decided
me to take with your fathers nerm'r-
| sion step with whose nature Il nave al
| ready acquainted him.
In spite of himself. the mar ,.2:i-d up
to watch the effect Of his words Helen
| was standing mOtipulcSS, while the quick
color played in her checks, Her little
hand lremblcd upon the handle of her
| paraSUl as she traced vague pattJi':S IN
the garden walk.
NJ de Gacc lpnged to take possession
of this little hand, to tell her how much
he loved her and ask her if she would
be his wife. He felt iustinctively that the
| moment WAS divine. Had he ben young
er. he would have done it, without pans-
| ing for an instant. but certain ages have
their certain bashiulness. lie was silent
timid, and trembling, as If he had been
only twenty
you" said Helen simply. breaking the
Very well, then. / will come to-mor-
| why. are you going already? We have
scarcely seen anything of you lately
| You are good to say So
Yes Helen WAS good. she was bchHl!-
| ful. and she was charming NJ. de Gace
| kept repeating the words to himself - -
walked beneath the tail, spreading e.!us.
where at the end Of the driveway. a
| groom stood waiting. holding his horse
| With naive care he constantly assured
himself of her love, remembering how
| she always came to meet him, and her
smiles and soft handshakcS. Was IT.
| after all. only sympathy that she felt
for her lonely, agreeable neighbour But
| no. she had bushed just now, She under
stood the hidden meaning of his words.
| and she had said 'To-morrow.' Besides,
perhaps HeIen's father had told her?
He stopped short, relnIns III his horse
Suddenly.
because | am rich and the Baron de
Gacei'
lie drove the thought away with Il
quick exclamation Of anger, knowing It
unworthy of the girl he 10 we'd. ana,
touching his horse with the spurs, ha
galloped home. AS he turned the corner.
n. saw his son Robert, flashing down
the road in front of him. on his bicycle.
and from his scat upon his splendid ani-
NAL NJ. de CAGE compared hi'hseii Win
his son, thinking rapidly
''On the whole, am better than he.
The next day as the father and son en-
| tered the Manfroys' parlor, they sur
priscd Helen busy arranging hef ho"etS;
She had not looked for them so soon, ana
had not heard the carriage. ana, sup
uosing herself alone for some time ye
She was still dressed in her loose, morn
ing dress her arms bare and her halr
sinnIy tied with a rbbon.M. de GaCe
uttered a smotnered exclamation at the
lovely picture she made among her HOW
crS. =,
MERCY me lot me run away! Sho
cried seeing them stand suddenly before
her ,,.,,,.,
Before you go. please let me Introduce
NV son " said the baron, SWliinE, ana
please forgive us for coming 50 soon
I'VE really couldn't wait ,.-..
| TO those of the young man, standing ="
ian and straight beside his father Their
looks met and fingered. moment at'r
10 bad disappcartd closing the door be-
hind her. r,-, ..,a,.
charming she is, and now prct,y
49, indnen md ] unlerstand better