The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-10-12
THE PROPOSAL.

The garden was wonderful in its fresh
spring beauty, the delicately tinted IL
/ lacs, the fruit trees that were one inn
nlense bank of bloom, and the sunshine
that played upon it all, throwing SONS
! of the colors into high relief and shad-
Ing 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 a long breath of happiness.
| From where he stood he could see the
! green sweep of the lawn, the graceful
/ trees. and winding walks 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,
Tustling motion; he recognized the par
as0l, the dainty rose-co1ored waist, and
| the white skirt, and as the owner of
the parasol turned the corner he caught
a glimpse of a beautiful face
| M. de GAGE felt happier and younger
than ever; his forty-five 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 married 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 eagerness with which he
had thrown himself into his work, he
I
the time. There was no touch of white
among his brown hairs nor in his short
mustache, and his step was quick and
alert.
But during the last year, since the
Mainfroys had moved into the country
house that adioined his own estate. he
had grown younger than ever he had
scarcely noticed that his son Robert had
left for Japan, as attache to the French
EN- bassy. nor that Miss Maud his finest
w he had entered fOr the
Oaks ra.ce. had suddenly gone lame. He
was absorbed in one dominating thought
that he was in love with Helen Main
troy, 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 superb"
NJ. de CAGE was enchanted, rot with
the compliment bestowed upon his horse
but with the bright joy of Helen's smile.
He looked longingly at her, delighting
in each fresh aspect of her beauty and
then. feeling that it was time for him
to make some reply, he asked:
rs your father. here?"
Yes she answered, conscious of his
emotion, "he is settling his accounts in
the summer house. I heard the little
tinlxle of the bell by the garden gate.
YOU
How good of you!-Guess if you can,
who dropped down upon me yesterday,
fresh from the skies. or rather from an
other worId?'
From another world?"
Yes; it was Robert, my young diplo-
mat I didn't expect him for another
month, but he came through without
stopping, and arrived without even
sending me telegram. He seemed to
think it was an everyday affair to come
back from japan"
Il 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 NJ de GAGE
slowly He was silent for moment, as
if to give more emphasis to his words,
and then he went on. his words coming
crisDly and his eyes fixed upon the
ground.
Robert is now definitely settled, his
career is esta blished, and he has nothing
to do but to go ahead: he was still a
good deal of a boy when he left for
Japan, but he has come home man; L
do not need to worry any longer about
him. And it is this fact that has de-
ciaed me to take. with your fathers
permission, a step with whose nature
have already acquainted him.
In spite of himself the man looked up
to watch the effect of his words; Helen
was standing motionless, while the
quick color played in her cheeks Her