Omaha daily bee., 1903-02-08
A Wireless Proposal
A Short Story.

during the voyage home. And now she
could triae with me in this fashion!
But ] resolved TO be inexorably specific,
60 I penned and sent my second love mes
sage vibrating through the air. 1t read
Miss E. r Rtves. Steamer Minneapolis:
Proposal Of marriage. Must say yes.
GUY MANNING 90
could see the operator smile as be read
the message, but be said nothing.
II was a sleepless night for me. as no
reply came and I feared the boats might
get SO far apart that we could not com
municate. though the captain. assured me
TO the contrary. On our third morning
out. while / was in the reading room try
ing to get interested in a novel. a dis
patch was brought to me ! tore Il open
and read this astonishing Communication:
Guy Manning Steamer Bismarck. What
inducements do you offer?
MISS E. F. RIvEs"
Was the girl trying to make a fool OF
mel 1t looked so. could see that some
thing Of what was going on was becom-
ing known aboard the ship from the way
the passengers began TO look at me. and
wondered II the whole passenger list OF
Minneapolis was laughing at my expense.
The lover who stuck his rhymes on trees
in the forest OF Arden made fool Of him
self exposing his lovesickness TO any
chance pRsser, but l, II seemed, had
plastered the atmosphere with my pro-
posals for the amusement OF every ship
that possessed the requisite apparatus 10
| catch them. However ! resolved 20 be
firm. and after an hour or two OF delibera-
tion, during which ! gazed at Eleanor's
| picture for courage, ! prepared this mes
sage
Miss E. F. Rives, Steamer Minneapolis:
Lifelong devotion. health and fortune.
GUY MANNING"
That afternoon a terrific storm came up
and continued to increase in fury through
out the night Every effort was made to
continue communication with Minneapolis
but after a time no responses were OBJ
I tanned, and the officers said that il was
/ quite unlikely that we should be able TO
| get In touch with the boat again during
the voyage. During the next day the storm
| wore away, the ship plowed along steadily.
| the sun came out. and the waves ceased
! their fury, and as l was chatting with the
/ Of1cer at the wireless telegraph station
he chafing me good naturedly on the diff
/ culties of conducting a courtship by the
/ Marconi systematic instrument began to
click. and after messages regarding the
storm had been exchanged this dispatch,
labeled urgent" was clearly made out
Guy Manning. Steamer Bismarck: Pro-
posal accepted. Meet me at New York.
MISS e. F. RIvEs."
l pass over my subsequent emotions.
Those who know by experience need not
be told how l felt, and those who do not
know don't deserve to be. My only anx-
| iety was TO reach the dock and greet my
I afaanced bride: my oDlv ANNOYANCE the
snoring Of my fellow voyager and the
odor OF stale beer that seemed to emanate
from his quarters,
As was expected, we landed well in ad-
vance OF Minneapolis, and / had time to
20 uptown and return with flowers for
| Eleanor. When the boat entered the slip
formed one OF an eager crowd TO well
come it. AS soon as possible / went on
board and asked for Miss Rives. felt
! somewhat conspicuous with the flowers,
but in a tumultuous assembly Of hurrying.
ehattering people. giving ana receiving
greetings, no one is especially noticed, and
suddenly heard a voice from behind say
ing;
Miss Rives. sir.
Eleanor" cried ioyously turning to
salute her. why, no-there is some mis-
take" / gasped, seeing that the lady,
though undeniably one of the most beau
tiful Of her sex, was not Eleanor. Il was
looking for Miss z. F. Rives Of Boston"
That is my name and address," she said
! with entire compOsure.
But you are not Eleanor" ] exclaimed.
"No, / am Elizabeth" she said. smiling
''Oh. I see-I beg your pardon-it was
mistake. due to the similarity Of the
names. Quite remarkable. am sure. Hope
you'll pardon me for troubling you. but I
must excuse myself, as I am anxious to
hnd Miss Rives."
Pardon me. but there is no other Miss
! Rives on the boat"
Are you sure =?
I Absolutely certain"
but I communicated with her by wire
less telegraphy during the voyage. ] was
on Bismarck"
She smiled demurely. You are Mr. Guy
Manning, are you not?"
I That's my name" / said. more mystihed.
Il know you by sight. Have often seen
you on the foot ball field. and know Of your
family in Boston. So when / received your
proposal OF marriage by wireless telegraph
!. though much RStonished at first, thought
II would be too bad to dissppOint you. You
seemed 30 determined"
But. Miss Rives. I-yOu know-the mes
sRge-oh. what shall ! say?'' stammered.
growing more confused every second. A
I nnAeA oNAANhNN var kaAhCiAhb
'oh, Mr.. Manning. ! only answered as !
thought the other girl should. II she does
not care TO rstify my agreement. that is a
matter ! can't control"
But ! think I shall hold you 10 your
promise" She was charming. and then
I thought IL was time TO turn the joke.
Il don't know about that" she replied.
blushing. ''You see. the promise was made
for the other Miss Rives. Pardon me II I
hurt your feelings. I must go now. Should
be pleased 10 have you call on us in Bos-
ton We live not far from your house"
With that she left me. Ny predieament
was most unpleasant. / turned away, con
soling myself with the reflection that
was the pioneer in the art OF proposing
marriage al sea by wireless telegraphy.
The progress Of my suit with Miss Rives
which the reader can surmise-has led
me TO write this for the benefit OF the
AmRlgamRted Association OF MRtriculated
I Matchmakers
p0uIEp 0E n0pcAU INTrpHcTc