The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1904-02-13
WHEN MAN PROPOSES

10 iOOh ESiICNNis
Polly, climbing into the wrong side OF the
sleigh and trying to tuck the laprooe
around the dashboard. Because, she
went on beginning TO take off her gloves
and then. as she recollected herself, nerV-
6usly drawing them on again, though
you might not suspect it, Im-a-litte-
excited to- I've just finished getting pro-
posed to-
1 gave the check rein a violent jerk
that must have insulted a horse like Marc
Antony.
Il wouldn't even ask who'-I began.
"Oh. YOU needn't" said Polly. 1T was
only Bobby Paddlngton.'
l started. The check rein slipped from
my fingers and l let the whip fall with a
thud into the snow.
why. what is the matter" asked Pol
Iy 1T isn't polite TO be surprised when
a girl gets proposed TO. 1t looks as if
you thought she couldn t."
"Oh. it isn't that" said l. Anybody
could get proposed to by Bobby Padding
ton-and in leap year"
POOH" said Polly, as l stepped into
the sleigh and tucked the robe around
her. Leap year has nothing 10 do with
ll-IlOT 6DDBN d4ulIAS LplLs tlAAAS4 IL d 81
has really made up her mind. Leap year
merely gives her a privilege which a woGl-
an can take whenever she likes. It's
like the kiss under the mistletoe entirely
a joke. You wouldn't dare kiss any girl
under the mistletoe whom you wouldn't
dare kiss anywhere else. And no girl
would think of asking a man to marry
her on leap year or at any other time
that is, girl with a particle Of common
sense or deIicacy."
"Or womanliness.'' I declared.
"Or knowledge Of men," said Polly.
"Or breeding"
"Or experience"
Il wonder, l said, IF any woman ever
did use that leap year privilege
Never" said Polly, ':since she has had
the every year privilege Of making man
propose to her. 1t would have been SO
very unnecessary. Any woman who uses
a little tact and sets out to can get
proposal. The difference between propos-
ing herself and making = man propose TO
her is the difference between using a
whip and spur. You don't nave to whip a
horse-that is, horse worth having-do
you? But you do often have to spur him.
when you c>me to a jump. a man is like
a horse; he hates a whip, but he minds a
spur"
'Oh, see said I, chuckling TO Mare
Antony until the sleigh sped over the
frozen road; a proposal is like a hedge.
A fellow wants to get over it, but he is
afraid of what is on the other side. He
may land in a tangle-or he may get
cold-water dousing."
'.Or he fancies there might. be a ditch
somewhere"
''Or a trap" 1 suggested gently
Exactly" said Polly. and that is why
1t needs little mental suggestion from
the girl to spur him on. If she attempts
to drive him with a whip he balks. But
metnal suggestion-'
That isn't anything nke-hypnotism-
is it. Polly?"
Wen. a little, acknowledged Polly.
It's making somebody think something
that isn't so"
Making him think that there isn't cold
water on the other side?" 1 inquired
Yes, or tangle, said Polly. THE
average man dreaus getting tangled up
worse than he does plunging into cola wa
ter. But if you can hide all the cords of
binding engagement ana al the bonds
of matrimOny, or can make them look
like garlands. or cover them with silk and
can persuade him that a proposal isn't a
hedge at all. but just bower Of roses
that he can slip over without any discom-
fort, and that the water on the other side
couldn't possibly be cold. but just warm
tears of affectionate sympathy. and that
there aren't any bitches in which 10 be
entombed alive. or any traps in which TO
be caught. and then can make him be-
lieve that you don't care whether he takes
the leap or not
He will go pell-men on to his doom,
finished, tragically.
Like Bobby Paddington," Polly sug-
gested.
oh, Bobby Paddington," 1 remarked
with disgust. He is just like some fool
horses that would take any hedge if it
was a brick wall-and always land on
their feet. There is divine Providence
that protects Bobby
I'm very sure you're very uncompli-
mentary. said Polly And. besides
Bobby Paddington landed right in the ice
cold water this time l refused him-as
hard l could"
looked down at the demure little bun
die of fur beside me. with one curl and a
nose sticking out of the big collar
Did you do it for my sake. Pony?" 1
asked. softly.
No." said Polly. for Bobby's. He
needed the lesson. His conceit was some
thing atrocious. Besides. had made
Polly stopped.
''Well?" l suggested.
oh. well-that I could-that he should
II mean-oh. don't you understand Nh.
Heavyfeather-by y o'clock. l finished re-
fusing him at five minutes Of while you
We're waltzing with"
How do You know with whom I was
WALKING"
"oh. had only to keep one eye and an
ear on Bobby-and not any heart, said
Polly. sweetly.
/ melted beneath Polly's smile as the
snow melts beneath the sun.
Polly" said tell me how YOU man
aged the mental suggestion in Bobby's
case-how YOU manage It. anyhow
With Bobby Oh. yes. ! began by tell
Ing him that the Jam was in the closet.
but that the door was locked
Il don't understand said ].
Il told him said Polly. that / never
intended to marry. never
l jerked the reins SO suddenly thst Mare
Antony threatened TO stand upon his hind
legs
What did you tell him that for?'' ! ex-
claimed