Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1903-12-30
HOte, She
MANAGED IL
tOriginal.l


ry?'
with pleasure. Now. This is very
comfortable, you at one end of the
] divan, l at the other. Have another
pillow. There. 1t fits into the small of
your back delightfully."-. Now tell me
what you want with me-"
what l want with you? Why,
want you
"Well?"
ITO be-
"Well?"
ooh, can't put it that way. 1 must
begin at the beginning"
''The beginning of whatY
'Of what? This ENHANCEMENT, of
course"
"What ENHANCEMENT"
with Mr.. Flagler."
"You mean you've encouraged him."
"Please don't say that" reproach-
fully.
"Well, he's getting engrossed-too
much engrossed-and you're afraid
that if you don't shut him off he'll pro-
pose to you, and you're too honorable
to let him do so since you don't want
him."
"How nice it is to be understood.
That's because you're so much older
than l."
perhaps. What do you want me to
do?"
"Why, would you mind being great
deal with me for awhile so that he
can't get at me? think in few days
he'll get used to it and won't try any
more
"Do you suppose that making man
| jealous will drive him awayY
"But would he be jealous Of your
"True, I'm old enough to be your ia
ther"
Nonsense. don't want to do any
thing to make him worse. I want to
have him see that what he expects is
impossible
"Why don't you tell him 500"
"How could do that unless
81 see. It's the man who speaks
first of love. Well, you want me to
head him off by being near you con-
stantly myself. l confess think that
would only drive him on. Now, if you
were engaged he would accept the in
evitable and get over his passion very
easily"
"You fatter me-"
81 mean that's the best way to ham
die him."
"Will you be engaged to me-"
"I?"
"Yes."
"Why not find younger MANI"
81 don't need younger man. You're
not a Methuselah."
"You are welcome to my services.
When shall we begin?"
"At once"
"Will you tell him that we are en-
gagged"
Certainly not. That would be
false"
'"Then suppose must do So"
'It would be false for you as well as
for me-"
''Then how is he to suppose we're en-
gaged?"
"Why, by seeing us SO much togeth-
err"
"There will be nothing inevitable
about that. He must know positively
| that we are engaged"
"How provokingw
"We might go through the form Of
an engagement. 1 might ask you to
marry me; you might accept. Then
when this man whom you have led on
to-
II have not"
81 mean when this man who is in
love with you is told that you are en-
gagged to me and has given you up we
can break our engagement"
''That's not very nice of you.'
"Isn't it the intentionY'
81 thought it was the lady's privilege
to break an engagement"
Certainly I'll let you do it."
81 should think so. I don't want to
be engaged to a man and become used
to his attention, his devotion, then
have him suddenly give me up for
some one else"
"But, my dear girl, it's only to help
you get rid of Flagler."
"Aren't we to have any of the COM
forts Of an engagement
"Such as
'Do you intend always to sit at the
other end Of the divanw
Certainly not, If you wish 1t other
wise. There! That's nicer, I admit"
"What do people say when they pro-
poser
~ don't know. I've never proposed.
II this were a real case between US my
words would be very brief and simple,
coming directly from the heart"
"Say them"
"Kitty, sweetheart, ! love you. Be
my wife,"
My arm was around her waist, and
her head sank down on my shoulder.
"Your answer is?'
eyes"
/ was speaking with Kitty's aunt,
who was my confidential friend, Of my
engagement and telling her how 1t &C.