The Camden chronicle. (Camden, Tenn.) 1890-current, 1903-06-19

The FIRST thing to do, Of course, was
to pick out my NANNY ideal mate.
That was simple. In fact / had al
ready had my eye on him for some
time. His name was Charles Wilton;
his age, thirty-hve; his pedigree, un.
eXceptionable; his person, progresses
ing; his manners, agreeable; his pur-
suits, athletic, aud his moral charac-
ter above reproach. Moreover (but
this Is incidental. and I'm no wise In
fluenced my considerations. he had
lately inherited from his father for
tune of 100000.
That, then, was done My ideal nate
was selected. Next to apprise him of
my selection and to invite reciprocity.
This took a bit Of thinking out.
thought 1t out. The result Of my re-
aech0ns was that l decided to seek
expert advice; to pick up wrinkles from
one or other Of my married friends. l
pitched on Dollle Dulverton, who had
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 1 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 too
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 a 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" answered,
what phraseology Mr. Cattistock
made use of when he proposed to you.
It may serve me as a useful line"
Dollie thought for a moment or two,
picking up the threads of recollection.
Then she rejoined:
Every wen, my dear, you shall have
4 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 on-confoundedly hot
I acQuiesced. Have you made a note
Of that, my dear?'
go on" l 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"
NAY" answered Dollie, you can
not get to the kernel without these
little preliminary breakings Of the
outer she'll 1t is an integral part of
the process. However, I will proceed.
Franks next observation referred to
the floor, which he declared to be a
ripper l COncurred. Then he said,
give him such a floor and a partner
whose step suited his. don't you know,
and, by Joye, what more could fellow
want? I said nothing. only looked
hard at the toes of my satin shoes.
knew now what was coming and that
the less l interrupted the quicker 1t
would come. Frank cleared his throat
and tugged at his mustache. Then he
embarked upon a confused and I'M
grammatical rigmarole, in which
Partnership 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" l demanded, "that
he never asked you, in so many words
to marry him?"
''Neyer! Without another remark
we We're In a corner Of the conserva.
tory behind two oleanders and a plas
ter Apollo-he took me in his arms. ]
offered no objection. So there we were
That settled it,"
"Well," I said, after a brief refec
ton, Il shall meet Charles Wilton al
Mrs Us dance tomorrow night; anC
1 will see what can be done-if l gel
the opportunity"
J eff my dear?' cried Dollie. "TherC
is no if in the matter. The proposes
; makes his opportunity"
Il suppose he does" I was fain t.
admit. There are a good many things
/ to learn about this new role, after all
2 ut is an art and has its technicalitiei
} like every other" she replied
Which was so undeniable that
: agreed to it without comment
] Next evening, went to Mrs. ~
dance. There, as anticipated 1 me
l Charles Wilton. I cast about how
j should make my opportunity. Blu
] this proved to be unnecessary. H
! asked me if I would sit out the fourtl
Z waltz with him. l did. The grounl
+ being thus cleared, it only remained 70
, me to put into practice Dollie's man
= ners and rules Of good proposing.
, I HOGAN.