Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1904-04-13
A WINTER
PROPOSAL
lorIglnaI.l

severity is marrying a girl against heI
parents wishes
I glanced sidewise at Clara TO see
how she took this statement. | had
been to her father to ask his permits.
sion to pay my addresses to his dauah
ter. He commended my honorable ac,
ton in speaking to him first. but in.
formed me that he had other plans for
her.
THAT must be splendid" she said.
splendid! Why so?'
Think of the exciting episodes be
tween lovers with an ak hanging over
the mans headr'
Then you do not approve of the
interference of parents In such mat
tersT'
II didn't say that. But how are
marriages arranged in that countryY
when a man wants a girl-without
speaking to her-he goes to her par
ents and asks for her hand"
And suppose they refuseT'
"Then there is no hope for him."
"Unless he has great courage and
would rather die than lose her"
Certainly
But supposing the parents are will.
ingT'
"In that case they inform the girl that
she is sought in marriage. Possibly
she may never have seen the suitor
or may not even know his name. On
an appointed day the girl. her parents,
friends and the sutton meet at feast,
and the man and maiden especially in
terested are placed opposite each other
at table. so that they can look each
other over and converse"
Il wonder what they talk about?"
remarked Clara musingly.
after the banquet all go to an open
space where what they call the race
for wife takes place. The usual dis
lance is about quarter of mile. and
the girl Is given a start of q third of
the course. If she wishes she can
easily reach the goal before her sutton.
In that case 1t is plain she doesn't
want him. If she does want him she
will make so poor a race that he can
catch her.
We walked on medltatively. didn't
know what Clara was thinking of. nor
did she know what was thinking of
Nevertheless | felt that our thoughts
were not far apart.
"Supposing," l said; 'supposing that
you were girl
That's not hypothetical: it's an ak
iom."
who had n lover"
'Well?" she said softly.
-"and that lover should propose to
you the Laplanders' race for a wife
Would you consentp
"To marry himf"
"No. no-you know what l mean
to the racer
ooh yes! II he wanted to ask me
to be his wife in that fashion l would
have no objection to giving my reply
in the same way"
Snow brings singular stiffness. and
as we ceased speaking all about us
was as silent as we. I paused and
turned TO look down upon the frozen
landscape, while Clara trudged on.
what a straight piece of road" she
called, pointing before her, her voice
sounding loud above the stiffness. l
went to where she was standing and
looked at the bit of road she referred
to. 1t was straight as an arrow, and
at its farther end was bridge.
Just the place for foot race"
said.
To this there was no response.
would you like to try which of us
can reach that bridge firstT' asked.
II don't mind" she said under her
breath.
well, since you are a girl, | must
give you start. Go as far as you like,
while l stay here. When you are ready.
wave your hand"
Without a word she started on, but
slowly, oh, SO slowly. 1t seemed to
me she would never get TO the starting
point. She walked half the distance
then, after as much delay as she could
find an excuse for, waved her hand
and started to run.
There was a great change in her mo-
lions the moment the race began. In
deed she ran so fast that / thought it
would be impossible for me TO catch
her, though l am fleet runner. Was
she intending TO reach the bridge be-
lore me? No. Soon her speed began to
slacken. l increased mine. Then she
started forward again. l Jagged. Once
more she lessened her pace, and l,
taking heart, ran on like the wind.
She was within hundred yards of the
bridge, | two hundred, when she made
another squirt. She came within ten
feet of the goal and stopped short.
When / came up with her, she turned
and threw up her arms in token of
surrender. l cIasped her, and she let
them fall upon my shoulders.
We did not break the winter stiffness
by word. Nor was there sound of
bird or beast or human being. Whether
seconds or minutes passed l do not
know. l only remember that we were
recalled to our surroundings by far
distant jingle of sleigh bells ringing